The devils highest priority is to keep you disconnected from Jesus.
And why is that? Because the single most important thing in your life, to the absolute exclusion of all else, is your relationship with Jesus, and he is exceedingly aware of this. You’ve probably heard that before, and I admit, it can all to easily become a nice idea that has no application to real, everyday life. But if we can get a hold of this truth, not just at a head level, but deep in our hearts; and if we can allow this to become a real, living revelation, I guarantee you it will change your life.
Our relationship with Jesus is the very heart and centre of our lives. It is, above anything and everything else, what we were created for. Only in the context of knowing Jesus will we ever become who we were made to be. When Jesus taught this to His disciples, He used the example of a vine and its branches to illustrate this essentially important truth. Jesus said:
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit;
apart from Me you can do nothing.”
John 15v5
The only way we are able to produce anything of true value in our lives; the only way we will ever be able to live a life that really counts is by being connected to Jesus. There honestly is nothing of greater importance. All goodness, fruitfulness and meaning in life flow out of our intimate connection with Jesus. Jesus’ greatest goal is connection with us. It was for connection that Jesus came to earth and died on that cross; it was for the sake of connection that God placed the sins of the world upon Jesus. The veil that separated us from the presence of God was violently torn in two. Incredibly, man was once again able to have fellowship and connection with God.
It is this connection that changes everything.
Only when we are deeply and intimately connected to Jesus will we find true and complete wholeness in our lives - spiritually, emotionally, relationally and physically.
There is no other source of true joy and tangible peace apart from Him. In Jesus alone can a life of purpose and meaning become a reality.
Only in Him will we be healed and set free from our hurt, pain and disappointment. He alone can liberate us from the crippling weight of sin, shame, failure and condemnation.
Jesus holds the solution to every problem we face, and He has the answer to every one of our questions.
Jesus not only offers us life, but a life that is beautifully and extravagantly abundant; a life that becomes a reality when we are connected to Him.
And so obviously the devil will do everything in his power to keep us disconnected from Jesus, so none of this can ever happen. Because while Jesus offers us an abundant and fulfilling life, it is the devils consuming passion to steal all joy, peace and hope from our existence; to kill everything good; and to brutally destroy our lives, and ultimately us. Jesus will not force His way upon us, and so the devil knows that if he can keep us so busy and distracted that we don’t have time or energy left for Jesus, he has won the battle for our attention, and therefore our lives. Without Jesus we’re just going to be an angry, bitter, burnt-out mess with no capacity or ability to live how Jesus desires. And that’s exactly why we need Him, desperately, every moment of every day. Because without Him we are finished.
So please, I encourage you with all my heart, don’t be too busy for Jesus. Make time for Him in your life today. Set aside every distraction and obstacle, and make your connection with Jesus the absolute top priority in your life. You honestly can’t afford not to. Again, this may all sound really nice, but if we want to see this become a reality in our lives, we must, absolutely have to act upon it.
I implore you, right now, get alone with Jesus. Ruthlessly rearrange your life; cut out and remove everything necessary to cultivate your connection with Jesus. There is nothing more important.
Maybe it looks like shutting yourself in a quiet room and literally calling out to God; or getting into His Word and letting its truth wash over your life; or putting on some music and passionately worshipping Him. Maybe it means sitting in silence and just soaking in His presence; or confessing your failure and receiving His overwhelming forgiveness. It may even look like staying up late tonight, or getting up early tomorrow morning, just because you are so desperate to know Jesus more. God promises that we will find Him if we seek Him with all our hearts. He is waiting and longing to respond to us.
Even right now, the devil will seek to harden your heart; he will try to distract you from the matter at hand, because he knows just how important this moment is, and how powerful it can be in changing your life, should you choose to act upon it.
Joshua stood before all the tribes of Israel and made his choice. He made this powerful declaration over his life, and I encourage you, make it over yours:
“…Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River,
or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.
But as for me and my household, we will sere the LORD.”
Joshua 24v15
Jesus, thank you so much for being interested in our lives. It’s incredible to think that You, the God who created the universe, would desire connection with us; a connection that is so important to You, that You would go so far as to die to make it possible. Holy Spirit would you stir up in us a greater hunger and desire for You than we’ve ever known before. Would our yearning and passion for You consume our lives God. Help us prioritise, above all else, our connection with You. We really, desperately need You in our lives God. Come and fill us afresh, right now. Fill us with Your peace, Your joy and Your life. Holy Spirit we surrender completely to You. Have Your way in us.
I feel it is important that I quickly mention the importance of walking this whole journey with others. While much of the time we spend with Jesus will be alone (and that is needed), God designed knowing Him to be most deep and complete when it is done in the context of community. We need each other. You need people to encourage and build you up, and people need you to have that same life-giving influence upon them. So get people around you and keep each other accountable; find someone with whom you can share your walk with God. If you don’t have anyone, ask God to bring them into your life. If you have no one else right now, and need someone to talk to, please send me a message.
Only in community can we keep each other encouraged and accountable to stay on fire for Jesus.
The devils highest priority is to keep you disconnected from Jesus.
And why is that? Because the single most important thing in your life, to the absolute exclusion of all else, is your relationship with Jesus, and he is exceedingly aware of this. You’ve probably heard that before, and I admit, it can all to easily become a nice idea that has no application to real, everyday life. But if we can get a hold of this truth, not just at a head level, but deep in our hearts; and if we can allow this to become a real, living revelation, I guarantee you it will change your life.
Our relationship with Jesus is the very heart and centre of our lives. It is, above anything and everything else, what we were created for. Only in the context of knowing Jesus will we ever become who we were made to be. When Jesus taught this to His disciples, He used the example of a vine and its branches to illustrate this essentially important truth. Jesus said:
“I am the vine; you are the branches.
If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit;
apart from Me you can do nothing.”
John 15v5
The only way we are able to produce anything of true value in our lives; the only way we will ever be able to live a life that really counts is by being connected to Jesus. There honestly is nothing of greater importance. All goodness, fruitfulness and meaning in life flow out of our intimate connection with Jesus. Jesus’ greatest goal is connection with us. It was for connection that Jesus came to earth and died on that cross; it was for the sake of connection that God placed the sins of the world upon Jesus. The veil that separated us from the presence of God was violently torn in two. Incredibly, man was once again able to have fellowship and connection with God.
It is this connection that changes everything.
Only when we are deeply and intimately connected to Jesus will we find true and complete wholeness in our lives - spiritually, emotionally, relationally and physically.
There is no other source of true joy and tangible peace apart from Him. In Jesus alone can a life of purpose and meaning become a reality.
Only in Him will we be healed and set free from our hurt, pain and disappointment. He alone can liberate us from the crippling weight of sin, shame, failure and condemnation.
Jesus holds the solution to every problem we face, and He has the answer to every one of our questions.
Jesus not only offers us life, but a life that is beautifully and extravagantly abundant; a life that becomes a reality when we are connected to Him.
And so obviously the devil will do everything in his power to keep us disconnected from Jesus, so none of this can ever happen. Because while Jesus offers us an abundant and fulfilling life, it is the devils consuming passion to steal all joy, peace and hope from our existence; to kill everything good; and to brutally destroy our lives, and ultimately us. Jesus will not force His way upon us, and so the devil knows that if he can keep us so busy and distracted that we don’t have time or energy left for Jesus, he has won the battle for our attention, and therefore our lives. Without Jesus we’re just going to be an angry, bitter, burnt-out mess with no capacity or ability to live how Jesus desires. And that’s exactly why we need Him, desperately, every moment of every day. Because without Him we are finished.
So please, I encourage you with all my heart, don’t be too busy for Jesus. Make time for Him in your life today. Set aside every distraction and obstacle, and make your connection with Jesus the absolute top priority in your life. You honestly can’t afford not to. Again, this may all sound really nice, but if we want to see this become a reality in our lives, we must, absolutely have to act upon it.
I implore you, right now, get alone with Jesus. Ruthlessly rearrange your life; cut out and remove everything necessary to cultivate your connection with Jesus. There is nothing more important.
Maybe it looks like shutting yourself in a quiet room and literally calling out to God; or getting into His Word and letting its truth wash over your life; or putting on some music and passionately worshipping Him. Maybe it means sitting in silence and just soaking in His presence; or confessing your failure and receiving His overwhelming forgiveness. It may even look like staying up late tonight, or getting up early tomorrow morning, just because you are so desperate to know Jesus more. God promises that we will find Him if we seek Him with all our hearts. He is waiting and longing to respond to us.
Even right now, the devil will seek to harden your heart; he will try to distract you from the matter at hand, because he knows just how important this moment is, and how powerful it can be in changing your life, should you choose to act upon it.
Joshua stood before all the tribes of Israel and made his choice. He made this powerful declaration over his life, and I encourage you, make it over yours:
“…Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve,
whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River,
or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.
But as for me and my household, we will sere the LORD.”
Joshua 24v15
Jesus, thank you so much for being interested in our lives. It’s incredible to think that You, the God who created the universe, would desire connection with us; a connection that is so important to You, that You would go so far as to die to make it possible. Holy Spirit would you stir up in us a greater hunger and desire for You than we’ve ever known before. Would our yearning and passion for You consume our lives God. Help us prioritise, above all else, our connection with You. We really, desperately need You in our lives God. Come and fill us afresh, right now. Fill us with Your peace, Your joy and Your life. Holy Spirit we surrender completely to You. Have Your way in us.
I feel it is important that I quickly mention the importance of walking this whole journey with others. While much of the time we spend with Jesus will be alone (and that is needed), God designed knowing Him to be most deep and complete when it is done in the context of community. We need each other. You need people to encourage and build you up, and people need you to have that same life-giving influence upon them. So get people around you and keep each other accountable; find someone with whom you can share your walk with God. If you don’t have anyone, ask God to bring them into your life. If you have no one else right now, and need someone to talk to, please send me a message.
Only in community can we keep each other encouraged and accountable to stay on fire for Jesus.
Only in community can we keep each other encouraged and accountable to stay on fire for Jesus.
This is an incredible testimony of your parents. I knew them when they first met. I am encouraged to share my faith with my daughter the way your mum and dad have so clearly done with you. Always be so grateful for the love that God placed in their hearts. You are clearly a great man of God. May you and your household be blessed way beyond your wildest dreams. God is good. Phillipa
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