Closer to Cross

When You Truly Believe in Me…   Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. John 14:12 . Did you know that those who believe in Me can do the works I did on earth? If you are not doing those works of faith, it’s either because you have not yet realized the power and authority I have given you or because you don’t understand what I mean by believing in Me. Believing in Me is not simply holding the opinion that I am God’s Son. Churches are filled with people who say they believe yet live contrary to My teachings. Many even call Me Lord, but they don’t do what I say. The person who says he believes in Me but doesn’t do what I say is deceiving himself. To believe in Me is to hunger for My words and to follow Me by obeying My teachings. Child, I know you want to follow Me. You hunger for My teachings, and you strive to obey them. That’s why My promise to those who believe in...

 Unite with All My Followers  May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. John 17:23 ,  On the night of My arrest, I prayed for My disciples and for everyone who would believe in Me through their message. I prayed that you and all My followers would be united. You may wonder, With all the different doctrines and churches, how could unity ever be possible? Unity is possible only when people make following Me their greatest priority. It would be impossible to unite if the basis of unity were agreement on doctrinal issues. I never said doctrines were to be the focus of My followers. The focus of My followers should be Me—discovering and doing what I say. When I told My apostles to make disciples of all nations, I didn’t say to make disciples of people by perfecting their doctrines. I said make them disciples by “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The only way to follow Me...

 I Know Your Desires, and I Understand Your Weaknesses  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. Matthew 26:41. For more than three years, I poured My life into My disciples. I loved and nurtured them. I met their every need. I gave them the authority and power to perform miracles. They confessed their faith in Me. And yet, when My heart was breaking and I asked them to keep watch with Me while I prayed, they couldn’t stay awake. I asked them to keep watch and pray, but they failed. Though I was deeply saddened, I did not condemn them. I knew that in their spirit they wanted to serve Me, but they simply did not have the power to do so in their flesh. I know the same is true with you. There are so many times that you want to obey Me. Your spirit is willing, but your flesh is weak, and you fall short. I do not judge you; I understand you. I understand your weaknesses far better than you do. When you fall, know that I ...

When You Pray…  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13  Satan and his demons know how to tempt you. They are smarter and more powerful than you can imagine. You live in their domain. And when you fall to their temptations, the consequences can be devastating to your soul, to the lives of others, and to your intimacy with the Father and Me. My child, if only you knew the amount of temptation you face that could be avoided if you would but ask the Father to lead you into paths away from temptation. Pray that He will deliver you from the path and power of the Evil One. Satan knows what you react to, and once he creates a spark, he knows how to fan the flames. He knows how to appeal to every aspect of your human nature to lead you into greed, arrogance, lust, envy, jealousy, and anger. Pray at the beginning of your day and throughout each day that you will be delivered from those temptations. If you don’t, it is because you either underesti...

  Courage to Replace Your Fears . Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid. Matthew 14:27   It was the middle of the night, and the sea was rough. When My disciples first saw Me walking on the water, they thought I was a ghost. I told them to be courageous and cheerful. I told them, “It is I” and gave them a simple command: “Don’t be afraid.” And so it is with you. You never have to be afraid. Whenever you see adversity ahead, it is only natural to feel afraid. But whether the adversity you see is far off or just around the corner, I want you instead to see Me. Even in the middle of your greatest trial, you can know that I am with you. No storm that comes your way has taken Me by surprise. I knew about it before you were born. It’s okay that fear might get the best of you for a moment. But open the eyes of your spirit and see Me. I am here! Run to My promises, and dwell in them for as long as it takes. I will talk to you and reveal My presence. I will show you how to walk close...

When You Pray… Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Matthew 6:12  Forgiveness is the greatest gift you have been given and the hardest gift to give. It’s natural to want to withhold forgiveness. After all, when you are hurt by the words, actions, or neglect of others, the pain continues long after the wound is inflicted. But you won’t be truly free of the pain until you forgive. When you don’t fully forgive a person, you remain in bondage to him. Not forgiving becomes a root of bitterness that grows into a forest of anger and resentment. It changes who you are and prevents you from experiencing intimacy with Me. But these aren’t the reasons the Father demands that you forgive even your enemies. He requires you to forgive because He has forgiven you of all your sins against Him. He wants you to be so grateful to Him for His forgiveness that, in faith and obedience, you forgive all offenses against you. Not to forgive is arrogant and belittles Him, His gre...

 Your Sorrows Will Turn into Joy  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 My dear one, I know your sorrows, and I understand your grief. Even though I knew I was only minutes from raising Lazarus from the dead, his death broke My heart. In Gethsemane My sorrow was overwhelming, nearly to the point of death. But for all who know My Father, sorrow is only temporary—it need not control your heart. As you express your heartaches and sorrows to My Father and Me, We will comfort you. Though your grief may be great, know that the Holy Spirit’s miraculous comfort will be greater. In this time draw even nearer to Me. Pray continuously. Listen with your heart to My comforting assurances. The eternal things of your life are as present today as they were the day you came into My kingdom. All other things, even people’s lives on earth, are only temporary. But your comfort and hope, your joy and your life with Me are eternal. Because I live, you shall live also....

  Waiting to Give You Good Gifts  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11  Everything your heavenly Father does flows from who He is. Out of His love, He gives you kindness, mercy, and grace. Out of His righteousness, He gives you that which is pure, good, and holy. And out of His justice, He weighs the motives and intentions of your thoughts, words, and deeds. Out of love, righteousness, and justice, He has provided a way that you can stand before Him cleansed from all your sin. Because of His love, all the judgment for your sin was laid on Me. By the shedding of My blood, all My righteousness was transferred to you. When you were born again, you were freed from all judgment and condemnation. How could you think that He who loves you so much would withhold good gifts when you ask Him? However, He will not give you gifts that are contrary t...

 When You Pray…   Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11. Child, your Father understands all your daily needs. Yet He also knows that you worry about not having your daily needs supplied. He delights in you when you openly share your heart’s desires with Him in prayer. He wants you to be completely honest in sharing what you want, even if you are afraid it might be against His will. For a brief time in Gethsemane, I wanted to be spared the terrible agony that was in front of Me. But soon after I prayed for My will, His peace flowed into My Spirit, and My desire changed to wanting His will. I could then honestly ask for His will even though I was dreading what lay ahead. I knew I would become the sin I had never known. I knew I would be separated for the first time ever from My Father. Child, your Father does not supply the grace you need until the moment you need it. You need not ask for next week’s needs to be met, because you can live only one day at a time. He wants yo...

 You Don’t Have to Be Afraid  Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? Mark 4:40  It was late at night, and I was sleeping on the boat. The winds and waves became violent, and the boat was taking on water. My disciples woke Me, crying, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Did they really think that any adversity could overcome them when I was in their presence? The truth is, at that moment they had no faith. And without faith in Me, fear can overtake anyone. Without faith it’s easy to believe that your circumstances control your destiny. Child, nothing can overcome you when you are following Me. In My presence you are safely in My hands and My Father’s hands. Nothing can remove you from Our eternal protection. Even death cannot snatch you away from Us. What do you fear today? Don’t panic. Your fear is simply a mirror that exposes your lack of faith. If you will fill your heart with faith, your fears will quickly be replaced with confidence and peace. But the o...

  Speak My Words and Proclaim My Whisperings What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Matthew 10:27 At night before you go to sleep, meditate on My words. Think about them and pray about them. Listen to My teachings. Hear My answers to your heart’s concerns. Discover My commands, and see them in relation to your day as it ends. Then think about My words in relation to the day you will begin when you wake up. Dwell in My words so you can more intimately know the Father and Me. If you will do this, you will hear My whisperings as you go to sleep and as you move throughout your day tomorrow. When you awake, think about what you heard in the night. Throughout the day the Holy Spirit will bring to mind the things I have said to you. With gentleness and humility, share what you have heard with My followers and others who enter your path. Without fear or reluctance proclaim the good news of what I have revealed to you. Tho...

  Why People Do Terrible Things to You   And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. John 16:3,  I know you often are dismayed by the evil things people do to you and to others. You may have thought, How could God allow such terrible things?  From ancient times wicked people have done evil to those who love My Father and follow Me. They are ruled by their self-serving nature. They love the things of the world more than they love God. They love darkness rather than light. Most important, they do evil because they do not intimately know the Father or Me. The only way people can break free from their self-centered nature is to be born again and to enter into an intimate relationship with My Father and Me. Once people truly know Me, they flee the darkness to run to the light. I am the Light of the World. Those who know Me hunger and thirst for righteousness. They become consumed by God’s love, which moves them to bless lives ...

Stop Judging, Show Mercy ..  Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? Matthew 7:1–3.  Before you were born into My kingdom, it was only natural for you to judge, criticize, and condemn others for their faults and wrongdoings. But, dear one, that was then. When you were born again, you became a vessel of mercy. You were spared all of My Father’s righteous judgment, condemnation, and punishment for your sins. Your debt to God was fully paid by My death on the cross. Though you were dead in sin, the Holy Spirit brought you to life. In spite of all your sinful thoughts, words, and deeds, My Father has shown His tender mercies toward you in ways you can’t imagine. Knowing everything He has done for you, can you understand why I want you to be a reflection of His grace and ...

  When you Pray...  This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:9–10  While I was on earth, My greatest joys were found in times of prayer. My heart breaks for My followers who spend so little time praying. When I first taught My disciples how to pray, I told them to begin by remembering whom they are talking to—their almighty Father in heaven. He is to be honored and exalted above all others. He is so holy, so loving, so majestic and awesome that no words of praise can do Him justice. Oh, what a God! Oh, what a Father! And He is your Father. Oh, that your spirit would catch a glimpse of His majesty. Oh, that you would know the joy of His endless love and mercy. He is the Holy One into whose presence you enter when you pray. If you knew Him as I know Him, you, too, would desire His will to be done rather than yours. His will reflects what is best for you and ...