Do not let your heart get anxious about your brothers and sisters. Show them compassion and be willing to speak truth into their lives, but know that I have everything in my hands. Your responsibility is to speak the Word and to live boldly with the love of the Savior, but only through grace shall they know the love of the Savior. Do not deceive yourself to believe the power to save others from sin is in your authority. Have faith in me and place your hope in me. As your heart is burdened for the brokenness of your family, know that I have dealt with you time after time. I ask that you remember the acts of mercy I have shown you. You know there were days where my light seemed so impossible to approach, but look at yourself now: by my grace, you walk in light. So be comforted. As you see your brothers and sisters forgetting the beauty of grace and ignoring the voice of the Spirit, know that I shall return and find my Bride blameless and pure. My Bride shall not be blameless and pure because of the works of the believers it is comprised of—this would impossible for sinful men to accomplish— but it shall be in such a state because of my grace. Do not be weighed down by the sad sight of brokenness in the family of God. Instead, I ask that you rejoice in the magnificent sovereignty of God and the reconciliation of all things.
My child, you keep asking for my presence and you keep begging me to touch you, but do you not know that I shall draw near to those who draw near to me? Come to me. Not just in prayers of repentance! Not just with songs of worship! Not just in daily readings of the Word! Come to me with all that you are. If you truly desired me, as you say you do, you would be willing to let go of the things blocking you from encountering my sacred heart. I speak the truth when I say that you have little patience and you have chosen to let your heart harden. But I am more than willing to pour out my Spirit on you. All I ask is that you draw near to me, my child. Seek me, not just after you sin and not just when needing wisdom. Seek me at all times and do what must be done to keep your heart seeking. I will give you the grace needed to encounter me and walk with me. Just draw near to me and I shall draw near to you.
The grace of my cross has the power to cover all, but that is not an excuse to turn back to the ways of that carcass you left behind. Remember, in the grace of my cross you have taken up yours. Do not act as if I saved you after one plea and you can go off into the world joyfully sinning. How could one who believes such a broken sense of grace have a heart of repentance? You do not. You may feel some shame, but you go on and on letting your heart be hardened to my ways. You speak to me and act as if you truly desire forgiveness. Don’t you know that your salvation must be worked out with fear and trembling? You have no fear—and you should have fear. For I AM.
I am calling you to let go of the things you let your heart tangle itself to. I am calling you to flee from the things that flood you with darkness. I promised that my yoke is easy, but do not forget that I said that you must take up your own cross! Stop avoiding the pain of living for my name. In that pain, you will discover true joy. Remember, it is only by my grace that you are able to suffer for my kingdom. I have paid it all and what I have done is sufficient, but how can you know the sufficiency of my grace if you avoid it’s power? For the power is perfected in weakness.
I promise you that the world shall not knock you down if you cling on to me. Things may appear dangerous, but why do you fear what cannot kill your soul? As the darts come flying at you, simply trust in me. As the world shakes around you, simply trust in me. None of this will take you down. You have seen the beauty of trusting in me before and you will see it again. To lean on me in trust may seem impossible, but remember, my child… I will give you grace where grace is needed. Even if it is simply to lean on me.
I have loved you despite your sins and I will give you joy despite your circumstances.
You are screaming as if there is a war on your soul. Believe it or not, the battle is won. Remember when the blood was shed? Remember when he rose from the grave? Why can’t you believe this is sufficient? Don’t pull out my name for a victory. Live in my victory.
You have been hunting for a reason to go on— a reason to live. Remember when I was your reason? Why must such a time be but a distant memory? Why is it not your life now? Remember when I was not just an accessory or something to turn to solely when in despair? You do not even turn to me in despair anymore. When your heart aches, you do not even think of me! Oh my child, I do not desire to simply watch you torture yourself. I have the healing you need. I have the joy you are desperate for. Stop hunting. You will not find your reason in this world. Come to my throne in humility and pour out the fragrance of your heart. Pour out all that you are in worship of me, pour all that you are for my glory, and I will pour all that I am in love. I promise this: I will help you not just go on but live abundantly, for there are beautiful riches of glory in Christ.
You will be a light into the nations. As you shine the light of salvation into this world, your face will not be seen by many, but his will. This is my promise for you, my son.
Is this for you?
How I desire for my river to flow into your life again, my child. You may feel like you are comfortable or “okay”, but deep down you know the staleness of your words in prayer and the lack of care to experience my holy heart. You appear even to your brothers as one living in the abundance of my love but little do they know that you hardly pursue me. Do not complain that you no longer feel me or that you simply cannot believe in me like you used to when you have not even turned to me. There have been others like you, called out to live in grace and holiness, who took their pursuit of me seriously and experienced darkness flood into their hearts in a way much more painful than what you are experiencing now. They felt as if my Spirit was robbed of them. But they turned to me. They turned to me even when they could not muster up passion or desire. They turned to me in obedience and faithfulness. They clung on to me despite how distant I seemed. So I let the light of my countenance expose the lies of the enemy and I revived them in faith, hope, and love. I will do the same for you. I will flood your life with the river of life abundant. Just lay yourself down and turn to me. My child, I promise you that feeling lost makes knowing you are found even richer.
