Despite having a very busy and, in some ways, a difficult few weeks, I can confidently say that I have known the love, grace, gentleness and peace of God. On multiple occasions He has made me feel so held, understood and filled with confidence to face the challenge. Praise God! I am so grateful that He is alive, active AND answers prayer! So this week, I pray the Lord gives you a fresh revelation of how He is our advocate (John 24:26 & Romans 8:34) and treasures you so deeply (Jeremiah 31:3 & 1 John 3:1). When thinking about what to share, I was reminded of this recorded word that I heard a number of years ago. You may want to listen to this when you have a spare or quiet(er) 10 minutes. God really spoke to me through it and I believe He can do the same for you. Be encouraged God’s beloved, He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7)!

Yesterday I was talking with Loretta about God's timing.

We were reflecting on things that we can easily get anxious or concerned about because we can see what's best in a situation, and we pray into it, but time goes by and there's no change.

Yesterday God spoke to us about things 'coming to pass'.

In my experience, I have become convinced that God's timing is perfect.

It is often in the waiting that we have an opportunity to grow... as Kathryn shared yesterday, grow in our faith and trust in God.

And Lewellyn and Rejoice encouraged us yesterday, this growth/maturity often comes by our confession in the waiting. Being thankful and praising our Lord for who He is and for all He has already done for us.

There are times in our lives when the Lord is just waiting for us to mature (grow up) before the next step He has for us, and there are times when it is a simple change in our confession (how we speak) that we start to see breakthrough.

Be encouraged, no one knows us better than our heavenly Father. We can trust Him in the waiting, His timing is always perfect.

This verse struck me today…

1 John 2: 2

(Talking about Jesus)

He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins - and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

Practical application

More loving ourselves and others and being thankful.

Less trying to make others what we want them to be (and ourselves) and more pointing them to the one who has done it all for them. 

Recently I read an article by someone who had climbed Mount Everest. Some things struck me about their journey.

They encountered someone struggling on their way - they did what they could to help, but supplies were to a point where they could not give anymore, without jeopardising their own safety. At which point they shouted to the person, 'Fight for your life, fight for your life!' I was relieved to read they had made it back down the mountain again to safety!

I'm learning that there are times when I can lean on others, the journey feels too hard, and I have no strength to hold my arms up. I'm thankful for the people in my life who have held my arms up when I had nothing more to give. There has also come a time, where I needed to dig deep myself, to persevere, to seek God, like I've never seeked him before, and to literally, fight for my life.

More and more I'm being challenged that it's what I do with what God has given me that matters, it is the moments of intimacy with Him that count, not necessarily the public, Sunday morning me.

Every step towards Him is a step towards the fullness of life He has promised, and will fulfil in my life. Each wrong step or distraction, is an opportunity to stop, take stock and adjust course again, back to the goal ahead. I do not need to linger in the place where I put a wrong footing, but simply adjust course and keep climbing and keep fighting.

I'm so thankful to God that He is the one teaching me and guiding me through it all, and that my climb is never done alone, even at times when there is seemingly no other people in sight.

Here is song for you today!