This July MID-month encouragement is coming to you later in the “mid” than usual. Greg and I intentionally cleared our July calendar for spontaneity, and as a result, we’ve had the privilege of being available to several extended family members in their times of need and it has just occurred to me I had not shared the eGOOD NEWS yet.
I always aim to share a current word the Holy Spirit is speaking as I listen and observe what God is saying and doing. As we’ve had an active July, we see many ways in which God has orchestrated GOOD through difficult circumstances ~ and has suddenly answered big prayers. Had I written earlier, this word would not have been the subject this month. God’s timing is always best.
I feel God’s Presence on me as I speak what I believe the Holy Spirit wants me to share with you, as He helps me convey this Truth I’ve pondered through His Word.
God wants to KNOW you and be KNOWN by you in a personal way, so you recognize His voice in order to really hear what He’s saying, and so your prayers will be heard by Him when you speak to Him and so you will be able to follow His leading in your life.
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 that we are to use God’s mighty weapons (full armor of God, faith, Holy Spirit, the Word and prayer) to knock down the devil’s strongholds (MOSTLY IN OUR MINDS…aka fear, anxiety, panic, depression and proud arguments / obstacles) that keep us from KNOWING God.
While dwelling on this scripture earlier this summer, I realized that our spiritual enemy’s main goal is to keep us from really knowing God because when we know Him, we love Him, obey Him, understand our identity in Christ, and we hear His voice. Knowing God at the fullest level of relationship He offers us, allows us to experience freedom from the things that keep us in mental turmoil, relational hurts, bitterness, anger, fear and all the other things that keep us from living a life of peace and joy inside.
There is a huge difference BETWEEN having some knowledge or an awareness of God – AND – knowing God! Experiential, relational understanding of Him is realized when we spend time with Him by engaging in conversation, leaning in to hear Him through the Word and prayer, and in resting in His Presence and trusting in His Promises.
When it comes to believing we can ask a favor of someone, or tell them something personal, or agree with them in prayer or in an action towards something we have in common, we have to first take the time to get to know them. We build a friendship by spending time together and as we become authentically vulnerable in sharing our hearts, we build trust. We get to know them and we become known by them. Then, when we or they are in need, it is natural to ask. We trust they have our best interest at heart. The relationship built before the request usually results in helpful responses.
Want some Good News? Through God’s son, Jesus, we get to build an even better relationship with our heavenly Father, who loves us and is ready to respond to our ask!
I cannot tell you specifics of my most recent private requests I’ve made to the Lord, but I can tell you He heard my heartfelt requests and He responded to specific prayers made by a relative, when suddenly, at the final hour, at just the right time, God came to the rescue of the one we were united in prayer for. We got to see the evidence of God’s love being poured out in ways we had not imagined possible. His way is better!
I’ve SEEN the goodness of God and I’ve HEARD the voice of the Holy Spirit leading. I’ve followed His instructions. I know Him and He knows me. Do you know Him too?
One of my dearest friends and I recently decided to start meeting once a week for one hour to seek the Lord in prayer together. We make our requests known to each other and to Him and we get on our knees and pray in agreement with God’s will and His ways! I have taken notice how God has been sweetly leading our prayer time, which has not been the same way each week. We do, however, intentionally take time to prepare our hearts, listen and hear Him, and follow His lead.
It should not come as a surprise, but as we are using God’s mighty weapons, we are knocking down strongholds and getting to know the Lord better. He knows us and He hears our heart’s cries and He is answering our prayers! Oh, to know Him even more!
Listen! What do you hear God speaking to you?
GOOD NEWS from the Word of God:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I KNOW them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27
Suzanne: He Reveals to Heal!
Greg: Keep Faith’n it!
Greg & Suzanne Grimaud,
Authors – Speakers – Coaches