Just Continue That Thought...

A thought by Steven Furtick from his book, Seven-Mile Miracle: Journey into the Presence of God Through the Last Words of Jesus (p. 91). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) Maybe you need to be reminded of that fact today. Steven says, “Let me repeat that: If you are a child of God, then no matter how abandoned or lonely you may feel, God has been with you and he’s with you right now. “You see, when we come to God, we come through the way that Jesus has already made. We come through the way of the cross. We don’t have to sweat drops of blood in a garden; he’s already sweat those drops for us. We don’t have to feel spikes going through our feet and hands because he’s already endured that pain. And we don’t have to be separated from God either. Not now. Not ever. “Jesus experienced abandonment from his Father so that we never have to. Because he was forsaken, we never have to be.” Steven goes on...

A thought by Steven Furtick from his book, Seven-Mile Miracle: Journey intothe Presence of God Through the Last Words of Jesus (p. 86). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) He isn’t, he really isn’t! Steven says, “There’s a reason for everything he does—and everything he allows. “If you are going through a dark night of the soul, ask yourself, Why is God allowing me to go through this? I can’t tell you the reason for certain, but I can make some guesses.” He goes on, “Maybe he’s using it to exercise the muscles of your faith. If you keep trusting and being obedient even while God seems out of sight, you’ll come out on the other side of this dark night stronger than ever. “Maybe God wants you to focus on knowing him better rather than doing things for him, or him doing things for you. Sometimes a sense of distance can drive you to desperately seek God’s face.” He also says, “Or maybe there’s...

A thought by Steven Furtick from his book, Seven-Mile Miracle: Journey into the Presence of God Through the Last Words of Jesus (p. 69). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.) So is that what you are thinking?   Is that what you are feeling? Steven says, “If you are following Jesus, you are in the closest possible relationship with God. He is your Father. You are his son or daughter.” Now you might ask, “What can I do to increase the intimacy of my relationship with God?”   Maybe you want to be closer to him. Steven says, “The obvious answer also happens to be the right one in this case. You pray. You talk to him. It is impossible to have intimacy without conversation. “Jesus prayed often. When he was busy, Jesus prayed. (Matthew 14:23) When he had important decisions to make, he prayed. (Luke 6:12) When following the will of God seemed almost too much to bear, he prayed. (Matthew 26:3...