Dear Friends,
As I sit down to write this letter to you, a New Year is rapidly approaching. A new year never guarantees anyone a new start—for many, it will just be another calendar year. But you know you need LIFE-CHANGE! I’m not talking about starting a religion, I’m talking about starting a BRAND-NEW LIFE—a new way of thinking and living. But your fresh start begins at the END of your old life.
Today, many of you feel as though your life is stagnant, like a tangled-up pile of string—so much chaos and confusion—it’s a mess! Naturally, you’re overwhelmed by it all because you don’t even know where to begin sorting it all out! Let me give you a hint from a life-long knitter/crocheter! In my many years, I’ve encountered countless knotted masses of yarn and have mastered the technique of straightening them out! With a little patience I’ve learned how to unravel and ball them up so that, instead of being thrown away, the material can be used for a great purpose! So be encouraged today! Your life is NEVER too tangled to be straightened out when you surrender it to the Lord! Nothing is too hard for the Creator! Look what He said in Jeremiah 32:27… “I am the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” (NLT)
Your life was always meant to be USEFUL, PURPOSEFUL and POWERFUL! And it all begins by finding the END! Yes, that’s right…finding the end of the string is paramount in untangling the whole mess! But in order to find the end of the string, you must first learn how to relax and loosen the mass. When I need to untangle a mass of yarn, I will gently pull it apart so that I can see how the yarn is tangled. And here is another key principle, in the course of untangling a person’s heart and life—it’s a WORKING PROCESS—meaning, it is a process that takes some patience and time and is worked from the INSIDE OUT! God is not finished with you! He still has great plans for your life! But you must let go of your old ways in order to EMBRACE HIS WAYS!
In the following pages, we’re going to take a deeper look at what it means to relax our grip on what’s gripping us and even strangling us. We will learn how to surrender the tangled parts of our lives so that we, along with the help of the Holy Spirit (and others), can BEGIN AGAIN!
In His Loving Name,
Life With Father Ministries
THE OPEN DOOR
“Happy are those who listen to me, watching at my door every day, waiting at my open doorway.” (Proverbs 8:34 NCV)
The most important piece of information you will ever need in life is to know that you have access to Almighty God through Christ! And with that access comes favor and answered prayer! In the opening verse I want you to noticed that God’s door is NOT SHUT! The Lord has left His door wide-open for us!
Hebrews 10:19-23 greatly encourages us… “And now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the blood of Jesus, and he welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation. For he has dedicated a new, life-giving way for us to approach God. For just as the veil was torn in two, Jesus’ body was torn open to give us free and fresh access to him……And since we now have a magnificent High Priest to welcome us into God’s house, we come closer to God and approach him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out! So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promise!” (TPT)
I love how this passage encourages us to “wrap our hearts tightly around the hope of Jesus”. With one hand we release the things that aren’t working for us and causing us pain such as, worry, fear, anxiety, lies, resentment and anger and with the other hand, grab and hold tightly to TRUTH, who is Jesus. This is the way to find much needed relief for your heart and mind.
While His doorway is open, we are encouraged to approach and connect with the Lord through heartfelt, sincere PRAYER. Isaiah 55:67 says, “So you should look for the Lord before it is too late; you should call to him while he is near. The wicked should stop doing wrong, and they should stop their evil thoughts. They should return to the Lord so he may have mercy on them. They should come to our God, because he will freely forgive.” (NCV) I want to encourage you to feel very sure that you can come before God’s throne today and speak freely as Hebrews 4:16 states, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (NLT)
No matter what you are facing today, the Lord can calm your inner fears and bring you an assurance (peace) that He is working things out on your behalf. Humbly go to Him in prayer today. Unload your burdens and obtain forgiveness. Let Him comb through your heart’s tangled web of lies, hostility, pride and resentment. Decide to trust Him today and let Him direct you into a new path that is both full and fulfilling!
AHHH-SURED OF HIS GLAD WELCOME
“Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come fearlessly into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome.” (Ephesians 3:12 NLT)
“Ahhh”—it’s the sound of relief; like when someone takes a long sip of cold water on a hot summer day. “Ahhh” can also be the expression of realization as when understanding illuminates our minds. It’s the wonderful excitement of brand-new insight that inspires the soul bringing about a new way of thinking and living!
The World English Dictionary defines “assurance” as; a promise or pledge of support, freedom from doubt, or certainty. God has made a covenant with us, signed in His own blood and has sworn by Himself that the covenant is good. His Word is our guarantee and assurance that He will fulfill all His promises to us.
At the end of a frustrating day, I entered into prayer. I can’t say I was feeling all that “holy.” On the contrary, I couldn’t even recount how many mistakes I had made that day (and a few of them were repeated ones!) Ever been there? Days when you’re not sure how to approach the Lord in prayer because you are unsure of your standing with Him so you just put it off altogether? But eventually you realize there’s nowhere else to go—not just to gain forgiveness but strength and peace for your soul. And so, as I went to Lord in prayer the Holy Spirit brought the opening verse to mind. Note that it was the Holy Spirit who brought this scripture to mind because He was the One who initiated the conversation (prayer) in the first place. He was the one who tugged on my heart to pray and He used this scripture to remind me that it was ok to approach Him. It was as if the King of Kings was extending His royal scepter to me indicating that because of Christ I could approach His throne with confidence.
Ephesians 2:18 encourages us saying, “Now we all have received the same Holy Spirit, because of what Christ has done for us. As a result, we can all come near to God the Father.” (EASY)
That day you could say that I was given “Ahhh-surance” of His glad welcome! Instead of heaping on more condemnation, He washed away the guilt and shame and embraced me with open arms. And this is the nature of who Jesus is. He knows when we are sincerely sorry and how much we need His love and acceptance over condemnation. The Holy Spirit is the One who brings the “ahhh” into our lives. He is the only One who can bring insight as well as much needed rest and refreshment.
The great Jehov-ahhh God IS the refreshment you desperately need and He gladly welcomes you into His presence! Jesus went through so much suffering and effort in order to open the way for you to come to the Father. Are you taking advantage of this free access to Almighty God?
TALK TO ME…
“My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘LORD, I am coming.’” (Psalm 27:8 NLT)
The BEGINNING of any new relationship in life requires communication… especially a relationship with the Lord! Unfortunately, our minds can get tangled up with negative thoughts and worries and we forget to bring these things to the Lord in prayer. We complain and express our frustration to people who have no power to remedy our situation. But remember, we have access to the One who can calm us down all the while intervening in our life’s situations.
Too many times I believe we all “think” about praying without actually praying. But when our minds begin to wonder into dangerous territory (negativity, depression, hopelessness, and despondency) we need to heed the Holy Spirit’s call to consciously bring our concerns to the only One who can give us peace.
And this is God’s message to us in a nutshell! He is with us, He is for us, He is IN us, and He wants us to connect with Him on a heart level so that we can receive all the strength and encouragement we need at the time we need it!
David said in Psalm 42:1-4, “I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way.” (NIV) Notice that David didn’t pour out his complaint to other people, but He knew he could be candid and open with His God! The Lord knows the way before us. So in times of stress when our spirit grows faint, the Lord knows just how to sustain us and give us wisdom and encouragement to get through it!
And here’s another thought, there are times when the Lord will allow a situation to frustrate us just so that we learn to go to Him in prayer first, before anything or anyone else. Why? Because He longs for us to get to know Him on a personal level. He wants us to learn who He is and how to trust Him with everything. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” (TPT)
So today, go to the Lord in prayer and pour out all your worries and stress (and leave them there) for He faithfully awaits to give you strength for your journey!
“Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (TPT)
STOP AND SURRENDER
“Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.” Psalm 23:6 (MSG)
There are a variety of things we can allow to chase us! Instead of facing and dealing with them, we can be on the run from a multitude of problems and difficulties. Worry and fear can be a constant weight in the back of our minds causing us anxiety and unrest! The WORST thing to do when weighed down by troubles is to run faster to try and escape them! Have you noticed yet that that doesn’t work? The problems never go away. Once the anesthesia wears off, the weight and pain of what you’re running from only intensifies. In order to get free, you must STOP and SURRENDER your problems as well as yourself to the Lord. Only then can God’s goodness overtake and overflow from you.
As I thought about the opening scripture, a picture came to mind of my late cat, Chico. Chico loved to dart out of any opened door especially since he wasn’t allowed outside. The outdoors was his forbidden fruit that he couldn’t resist! Time after time, he would run out of the door but as soon as I caught up with him in the flower bed, he froze. When he saw me coming, he would crouch down and be still because HE HATED BEING CHASED! As soon as he was still, I would pick up his limp body and take him back inside.
The way I see it, we can’t thoroughly enjoy life when worry or anxiety are tailing close behind us! But here’s the Good News…when you and I find ourselves being chased by the burdens of this life, i.e., How can I make a living and feed my family, where am I going to live, etc., we can get free by surrendering these problems and ourselves to Jesus. No matter how heavy or complicated your situation is, the process is still the same. Stop running, stop ignoring your issues or trying to find a way around your problems but surrender yourself to the Lord and receive His wonderful guidance and peace! This is something that is learned through practice!
Psalm 55:22 clearly says, “So here’s what I’ve learned through it all: Leave all your cares and anxieties at the feet of the Lord, and measureless grace will strengthen you.” (TPT) Sounds like someone whose been there, done that, and learned how to get free and stay free through trial, error, and life experiences. Yep, it’s something that is worked out personally.
If you are struggling today, do your best to remain calm and let go of your anxiety. Allow the peace of God to settle upon you. At first, you may have to continually and purposefully stop your racing mind in order to maintain this peace but the Holy Spirit will help you in this endeavor as you reach out to Him in prayer. And your prayers will not be in vain…He is ALWAYS ready to help in time of need!
“God, you’re such a safe and powerful place to find refuge! You’re a proven help in time of trouble—more than enough and always available whenever I need you.” Psalm 46:1-2 (TPT)
HOW TO GET OUT OF A JAM
“I will feed the poor in my pasture; the needy will lie down in peace.” (Isaiah 14:30 NLT)
One day I participated in a fall festival at an assisted living home. During the course of the festival a young boy came up to my booth asking for help because his grandmother had gotten her fingers stuck in a chair. I rushed over and sure enough two of her fingers were jammed into the triangular hinge of a folding metal chair. I ran over to the popcorn booth to see if I could get some oil to lubricate her fingers and get them free. All I could find was a small bottle of hand sanitizer so I took that and poured it on her fingers. I pressed the tip of her fingers while gently pulling on the other side and without any struggle her fingers immediately slipped right out!
This incident came to mind one day during my quiet time with the Lord. I had been unsettled, kind of uncertain and confused as well as little frustrated because I was seeking clarity on some things but couldn’t seem to get it. As my thoughts tossed around, this incident came to mind and I realized what the Lord was trying to tell me.
When you are frustrated and feel as if you are tossing and turning things over in your mind, when you keep pushing or pulling on things and they just won’t budge (like the lady’s fingers) then you need to just stop what you are doing and ask the Holy Spirit for help. He will come to your rescue in no time with His anointing oil and His deep peace will get you free. Your circumstance may not immediately change (the woman was freed while still sitting in her chair!) but your heart and mind will certainly be set free.
Today, God says to you, be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) What can you do by struggling and striving? What good is progress when you have no peace? If you will lay down what you are struggling with, I will give you success WITH my peace. The Lord wants to pour His wonderful peace and joy into your heart and mind that is not contingent on your circumstances. It is a heavenly thing that will change your life forever! If you feel as if you are jammed between a rock and a hard place allow the Lord to free your heart and mind. His great grace is sufficient to keep you at peace in any circumstance.
Fill your mind with these thoughts… they never get old!
“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always. Put into practice the example of all that you have heard from me or seen in my life and the God of peace will be with you in all things.” Philippians 4:6-9 (TPT)
ABIDING IN CHRIST
“‘…your life will be fruitless unless you live your life intimately joined to mine. I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from me you are powerless… if you live in life-union with me and if my words live powerfully within you—then you can ask whatever you desire and it will be done.’” John 15:4-7 (TPT)
Plain and simple, supernatural strength to live the Christian life can only be found in the One who is supernatural! He is our source for everything we need in life! For example, if you needed to charge up your cell phone, you would simply plug it into an electrical outlet. The cell phone is not self-sustaining (and neither are we!) The phone must draw power from a power source. And since the nature of “charging up” is not instant, it takes some time while the phone is “plugged in” and stationary in order for it to download all the power it needs to function properly on a daily basis.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” (NLT) The word “still” here is the Hebrew word “Raphah” meaning: to sink down, let drop, relax, abate, let go… and my favorite definition—to show oneself slack! The word “know” is the word “yada’” meaning: to learn to know, to know by experience, and to reveal oneself. This reminds me of the time Jesus assured His disciples in John 14:21 saying, “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” (NLT)
David said it this way in Psalm 131:2, “I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.” (NLT)
David knew that God would not force him to quiet his anxious mind, but it was something he learned through regular practice! There are so many spiritual principles and concepts that Jesus introduced to us that cannot be understood with the natural mind because they must be personally experienced!
Remember the word “still” means, “to know by experience.” In other words, the only way we can fully understand how to get quiet, or to receive supernatural power from the Holy Spirit is by experiencing it for ourselves. It is something that is found and discovered through personal and quiet prayer.
So, let’s not complain that our appliances (or lives) don’t work when we have not even attempted to plug them into the power source. Connect with the Lord in prayer today. Do it simply, honestly, and with child-like faith. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you and to restore your strength and faith in Him. Let Him recharge, refresh your spirit, soul, and body just like He said
He would in Matthew 11:28, “I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.” (TPT)
YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN!
Jesus said in John 3:3-7, “‘I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.’… ‘The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don’t be surprised at my statement that you must be born again.’” (NLT)
It doesn’t matter how good we are—trying to be a good person will never get us into Heaven because salvation is a GIFT from God! What matters is a receiving a NEW NATURE! We must admit we are sinners and are in need of a Savior—Jesus Christ. If you need a new nature then all you need to do is simply believe and ask God for it! “When people work, they earn wages. It can’t be considered a free gift, because they earned it. But no one earns God’s righteousness. It can only be transferred when we no longer rely on our own works, but believe in the one who powerfully declares the ungodly to be righteous in his eyes. It is faith that transfers God’s righteousness into your account!” Romans 4:4-5 (TPT)
If you are not sure where you will spend eternity (and by the way there are only TWO places of eternal residency—with Jesus or without Him!) Today, without putting it off another minute, why don’t you make your future certain and secure. With all sincerity of heart, you can pray the following prayer and be assured of eternal Salvation. And get into a good church as soon as possible so that you can grow spiritually (this is also non-negotiable if you want to mature in your faith).
PRAYER FOR SALVATION
Dear Jesus, I’m so sorry for all the things I’ve done throughout my life. Not only have I been hurt, but I’ve perpetuated that hurt on others. The Bible says that the punishment for sin is certain death. (Romans 6:23) But you took my place and died so that I could be free from selfishness and sin and have eternal life. I acknowledge that you died for me and I accept your death as payment for my sins. Please Jesus, come into my life, make me a new person. Unravel my twisted mind, heal my broken and shattered heart, and remove my callousness and rebellious ways. I choose to make you my Lord and Savior. Guide me and help me to choose what is right so that I can live the kind of life that is pleasing to you. Thank you, Jesus, for your great sacrifice on the Cross. Thank you for giving me eternal life! Amen.