We have so many spiritual blessings to be thankful for. Christ’s presence is everything. A relationship with Christ is the greatest gift any of us will ever have. He is the anchor that keeps us from sinking into the depths of darkness as we press into Him through prayer, worship, and by meditating on the Scriptures. Without Christ, there would be no hope or true life.
With Christ, we can find rest in our souls by surrendering our worries to Him. We truly have more than 10,000 reasons to sing Him praises.
Every day is a day to give thanks, because of Christ’s never-ending love for us. A heart that’s filled with thanks will always be a heart filled with joy.
May you rejoice in the gifts you’ve been given through Jesus Christ. He is with you and will never leave you or forsake you.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your never-ending mercy, grace, and kindness. Let us rejoice over the gift You have given us through Your son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for enabling us to live with an abundance of hope, joy, peace, and love. Let our gratitude flow from our hearts every day and let us always seek after that which is good. Help us share Your love every day and always do good to each other. Let us never stop praying and be thankful in all circumstances. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
I was sitting in my great room praying when the sunlight coming through one of my windows captured my attention. My mind was filled with thoughts of Christ and His glory as my gaze was transfixed on the golden rays. I sat in stillness with no words as I was captivated by the brilliance of the light.
I’ve always loved how the light pours through my windows in the morning, but on this particular day, I was mesmerized. The brilliant light was a reminder to me of how Christ had overcome the debilitating darkness of my past.
Suddenly, I had a clear revelation about how Christ’s light is revealed in our day-to-day moments. As we keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, His light consumes the darkness in our lives. It’s impossible for the darkness to overtake us if we are consumed with Christ.
As I sat there with my focus on the light flooding into the room, the words in Isaiah 60, verses 1-3 dropped into my spirit. “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”
Though darkness may be increasing upon the earth, Christ’s light is flooding out the dark forces in the lives of those who are fully yielded to Him. Our level of experiencing God’s light and glory is dependent upon how spiritually hungry we are. We can either spend our lives craving the things of this present world or we can wholeheartedly seek after Christ and experience His glory in unimaginable ways.
The glory of the Lord is not easily defined. To me, it’s HEAVEN touching the earth. It’s the splendor and magnificence of God’s presence tangibly felt in a powerful way.
After pressing toward Christ with heartfelt prayers, He’s been pouring His glory upon my life in an unprecedented way and filling my heart with compassion for those trapped in darkness. Every soul is in need of the glory of God to overpower the dark shadows.
My prayer is that every person who is longing for redemption and seeking to know Christ on a deeper level will catch some of the glory that’s being poured out by God. There is nothing that God’s power and glory cannot remedy. As we turn away from the darkness and fall into the arms of our Creator, we can arise, shine, and rest in the glory of Christ’s light eternally.
There is a place inside every person’s heart that needs the love of a father. As humans, we are wired for needing a father’s love and encouragement. Yet, due to death, divorce, deployment, and many other reasons, not everyone has a good father present in their lives. When that need for a father goes unmet, it can cause deep pain in the soul.
Thankfully, our heavenly Father loves us perfectly and He promises never to abandon us. In Hebrews 13:5 it says: “God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’ ” A tangible sense of our heavenly Father’s presence can be felt continually as we press into Him through repentance and prayer. As we draw near to God, His love has the power to heal broken hearts and take away our pain.
Through every hard challenge, God has walked along side me and revealed Himself as a GOOD FATHER. I remember a time I felt weak and restless as I was facing a challenge that seemed impossible to overcome.
With tears rolling down my cheeks, I bowed down at the feet of the Father. I cried out for strength. I prayed, “Father, the obstacles on the path laid out for me feel too big.” His warm embrace enveloped my heart as His love washed over me. His Spirit soothed my soul and the sweetness of His presence encircled me profoundly. In my heart, I could imagine Him whispering words of encouragement.
Child, nothing is too big for Me. I’ll never ask you to do more than I created you for. Rest in Me. Rest in My love, rest in knowing there is nothing I’ll ask of you that will ever be too big. My grace is sufficient for you. In your weakness, My strength is made perfect. Arise my child. Let me put a new song in your heart. Let My love lift you up and carry you.
As His love permeated me with warmth, my soul was restored in an instant. He breathed new life into my spirit and strengthened me. Joy replaced the tears. Peace covered me and made me ready to begin a new day with a new song in my heart—a song of joy for celebrating the love I had found in my Father’s arms.
With the fatherly love of God and His strength—life is made beautiful. He carries those who completely depend on Him.
May you feel the heavenly Father’s love every day and may He meet the unmet expectations that your earthly father may not have been able to fulfill. Whether you have a good earthly father or not, you can enjoy the priceless gift of God’s perfect love and rest in knowing that a daddy’s love flows from the compassionate heart of our FatherinHeaven.
Thank You for loving us with a perfect, fatherly love. Thank You for bringing healing to our hearts in the places we’ve been wounded. Please help us look to You moment to moment for every need we have. Help us to rest in Your presence and know that You will never leave us, nor forsake us. Help us look to You always as our provider, our nurturer, and our protector. Please fill the hearts of every earthly father with Your love so that they can be conduits of Your amazing grace to their children and grandchildren. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
Joy exudes from within the souls of those who know that Jesus Christ is the resurrected son of God and those who have experienced His transforming love. Christ is the greatest gift to mankind and His resurrection is the reason we can live abundantly even in the midst of a chaotic world.
The resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead is able to lift us out of the pits of despair as we place our trust in Him. Christ is truly the only one who has the power to rid our hearts from addictions, anxiety, bitterness, depression, fear, worry, and every other burdensome thing. In Christ, true abundant life exists because he sets our hearts free and releases us into the heavenly places where no darkness can abide.
On this Resurrection Sunday, I can imagine Jesus whispering words of love and grace to the world.
I am risen! Celebrate My resurrection. Come live fully in Me every moment of every day. Don’t give one thought to the difficulties of life on Earth. You can rest in knowing these are light and momentary troubles compared to the glory of Heaven. Keep your eyes fixed on Me and on eternal things not seen. As you live in Me, you will rise up on eagles’ wings and soar continually. Don’t be afraid of anything I ask you to do. Simply obey Me. Live in the fullness of My joy. Shout to the world of My goodness. Glorify My name so that those in need of Me will know the truth of who I am. Let this day be a day of new beginnings—a day to rejoice in My perfect love for you. My heart longs for you, My beloved bride. I am coming back for you and will live with you for all eternity. Come with Me to high places and never stop singing praises over all you have found in the gift of the cross.
May you experience Christ’s resurrection power in every area of your life and be filled to overflowing with resurrection joy.
Beloved Jesus,
We adore You and we are in awe of the sacrifice You made for us. Thank You for paying the penalty for all of our sins. Thank You for giving Your life so that we can live freely and eternally. Help us to experience Your resurrection power every day in miraculous ways. Let us receive all the gifts You have for our lives and help us to live as recipients of Your amazing grace every day. Help us to share Your love with those around us and invite others into a life-giving relationship with You. We love You with all our hearts and we pray in Your name, Christ. Amen.
Walking with Christ is the securest place to be when life is filled with hard challenges. It’s through a close relationship with Him that we can find perfect peace and hear His guiding voice in our hearts. The more we sit still and seek Christ through prayer, the more we can discern the direction He is leading us.
The Lord promises us that He will make firm the steps of those who delight in Him and He will uphold us with His hand.
When we turn to Christ in our hard moments, we can rest in His love, walk with confidence, and know He has us in the palms of His hands.
No matter what you may be facing today, Christ has good plans for you. Lean into Him when you’re afraid or hurting. He will strengthen you. You can trust Him because He is perfectly trustworthy.
Thank You for Your amazing love. Thank You for being our rock and rescuer. Help us when we stumble and keep us from falling into the darkness in the world. Give us strength when we are weak. May You always keep us in the palms of Your hands and lift us up daily. I pray in Your name, Christ. Amen.
I hope you enjoy my new favorite song by Aaron Cole. May Christ’s peace flood your soul and may you dance in the hard moments of life.
Grace and peace to you,
Amy
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In times of sorrow and tragedy, we can hold onto the hope that comes from our faith in Jesus Christ. As I was praying for those devastated by the recent school shootings, I thought about how our hope in Christ is the anchor of the soul.
Our ultimate hope is for a perfect and peaceful world when Christ returns to EARTH. Thankfully, even as we wait for His return, we can rejoice in the hope of His ability to restore and heal us in the midst of the painful trials of life.
As soon as I heard the news about the students shot earlier this week, I began praying for a miraculous healing for those who are wounded and praying for peace for those who are mourning.
Romans 12:12 says, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
We can walk in hope and be patient in times of tribulation because of Christ’s promise to never leave or forsake us. As we trust Christ and persistently pray faith-filled prayers in His name, we will see miracles come out of the most horrific tragedies.
Hope is everywhere if we open our spiritual eyes. Three days ago, a praying woman set up a Facebook page and requested prayer for her young niece, Lily. The little girl, Lily, was in a near drowning accident and her family is praying and believing Christ to heal her completely.
The page “Prayers for Lily” has over 125,000 people connected to it already since Monday. Only Christ could orchestrate an army of praying people so quickly. Christ is on the move in amazing ways and I believe He will heal little Lily as the army of God prays passionately for her healing.
A few weeks ago, I followed another miracle story about two young children who were hospitalized for E.coli infections. One of the children, Jaxon, was extremely sick. Christ healed him and his sister as their family, friends, and countless people around the world prayed for them.
Christ is the hope of the world and His love will bring change as we pray.
Let’s hold onto Christ, our anchor, in the midst of our troubles and remain constant in prayer.
Thank You for being our anchor and healer. Our hearts are deeply saddened by the tragic shootings in the schools. I know You are filled with compassion for those families who are devastated. Please send Your ministering angels to be with those who are mourning and those who are injured in Benton, Kentucky and Italy, Texas. Please heal the ones who are in the hospital. Fill them with the hope and knowledge of Your eternal love. Keep them in the palm of Your hand and surround them with Your love and peace. Help all of us to keep our eyes fixed on You and trust You to do supernatural miracles in the midst of this tragedy. Please let us see Your hand working and let us not give up praying for the youth in our nation. We pray in Your name, Christ. Amen.
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Ten years ago, I took a leap of faith after a life coach convinced me to begin writing for an online blog. As I got a clearer vision for my life, I deleted my first blog site and eventually began writing for the Live Abundantly Now website in 2013.
This week, I was searching through documents with my old blog posts and I stumbled upon the first post I ever wrote in January, 2008.
This past year has been a year of stretching, growing, and learning to trust Christ more with my life. It has been a year of highs and lows, sorrows and celebrations. This life is an amazing roller-coaster ride filled with a gamut of emotion. It’s never going to be perfect, but it can be glorious, if we realize that we were created for a purpose. When we seek to find that purpose and begin walking the path of our destiny, we will find the fulfillment that we long for. Christ never promised that the road would be easy, but He did promise an abundant life.
The words I wrote in that post ten years ago are true, but it’s missing a key point to finding fulfillment in life. In order to find our purpose and true peace, we need to pursue Christ above everything else consistently.
Looking back over these past ten years, I realize that I got off track at times and was not pursuing Christ above all else every day. Honestly, at times I pursued other things above seeking to discover Christ’s guidance for my life.
Last year, a burning desire to be used by God arose in my heart. Every day of my life, I want to pursue Christ above everything else, so I can be a vessel of His light and help the world be a better place.
2017 was a hard year for our nation and for our world. The hurricanes, earthquakes, famines, wildfires, political tensions, the mass shootings and other tragedies were devastating around the globe.
What can we do in 2018 to go forward in faith after such a tumultuous year?
We can stop focusing on the things which are seen and focus on the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
We can let our light shine before men in such a way that they may see our good works, and glorify our Father who is in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).
We can take care of orphans and widows in their distress, and keep ourselves untainted by the world (James 1:27).
We can throw away the sins that so easily entangle us and run the race marked out for us with perseverance (Hebrews 12:1).
We can seek first Christ’s kingdom and His righteousness, and trust His promise of providing every single need we have (Matthew 6:33).
We can draw near to the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in times of need (Hebrews 4:16).
Will you join me on this journey of seeking Christ above everything else? Let us pray and ask the Lord to satisfy the longings of our souls in 2018.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your amazing love and Your incredible patience with us. Please forgive us for getting drawn away from Your presence into earthly things that really have no real substance or meaning. Please quench our thirst for spiritual blessings and help us turn away from the sins that kill our spirits. Let us pursue You above everything else and get to know You more deeply every day. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.
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Fear is one of the most paralyzing obstacles we deal with in life. If we’re being completely honest with each other, we all battle with fearful thoughts at times.
Fear can taunt us, but it cannot have any power over us when we are grounded in Christ. I was greatly encouraged in my quest to conquer fear after I had a powerful dream in my sleep last year.
In my dream, I was alone and trying to find my way home late at night after leaving an event. Unintentionally, I took a road that led to the top of a really high mountain. In the midst of the darkness, I could barely see my surroundings, but I kept on driving anyway. Suddenly, I began to get fearful as I realized I had taken the wrong road and I was on the side of a mountain. As I was turning the vehicle around, I could see I had reached the top without even being aware of it. With amazement, I thanked God for helping me make it safely to the top of a huge mountain in the dark. Then I was awakened from my sleep.
In the moments shortly after my dream, I sensed there was a message Christ wanted me to receive. It was as though He was saying: You have no reason to fear the darkness. I am with you. I will help you.
Fear has taunted me at times throughout my life and it has attempted to get me off course, but thankfully it has not succeeded in stopping me from living courageously.
I am determined not to let fear stop me from following Christ where He’s leading me. When I stand face to face with Christ, I want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” I don’t want Him to wonder why I let fear stop me from doing His will for my life.
Are you battling fears or feeling anxious about the future? Do you have moments when fear paralyzes you or prevents you from doing what you are called to do?
If we continually look to Christ and choose faith over fear, we will be totally free from fear’s grip.
As long as we’re on the earth, we’ll be tempted by fear, but it does not have to control our lives. There are a few strategies that help me overcome fear when it tempts me to give into it.
Praying passionately stops fear dead in its tracks. When I am tempted to give into fearful thoughts, I drop to my knees and pray wholeheartedly until Christ floods my soul with peace.
Meditating on the verses in the Bible is a powerful way to conquer anxious thoughts. The words of the Bible, especially the Psalms, have helped me mightily through the years. Meditating on the Psalms melts away anxiety and fear. If we are keeping our hearts fixed upon Christ and His Word, fearful thoughts cannot penetrate our minds.
Living a life of repentance breaks the chains of anxiety in our lives. Whenever I am feeling fearful, I ask Jesus if there is something in my life that is allowing unrest in my soul. Christ is always faithful to show me an unrealized sin that needs to be stripped out of my heart. Letting Christ sanctify us is a key factor in getting free from our fears. It’s amazing how peace floods into my soul instantaneously as I repent.
Worshiping in Spirit and in truth opens the door to peace. As we remain in an attitude of worship throughout each day, Christ’s indescribable peace remains within us. Worshiping by singing and listening to anointed songs is a powerful way to conquer fear.
Christ is calling us to go deeper in our relationship with Him so that we can crush fear under our feet and never be affected by it again. The deeper we go with Christ, the more of His glory will be released in our lives. No dark force can stand up against the glory and power of Jesus Christ. With Christ guiding and strengthening us, we have nothing to fear.
May you live fearlessly and step boldly into the destiny Christ has for your life.
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Heaven touches us and stays in our hearts the moment we truly realize what Christ has done for us on the cross. We do not have to wait until after we leave our earthly bodies to begin experiencing Christ’s eternal gifts. Eternity begins when we surrender to Christ and allow Him to turn the hard things of life into something amazingly beautiful.
Yesterday, as I was strolling through Gibbs Gardens with my friend who recently lost her beloved mom, I thought of the anchor we have in Christ. The stunning beauty in the gardens reminded me of Christ and His redemptive love. There was an overwhelming sense of Christ’s resurrection power as I gazed at the splendor of the Japanese maple trees.
Christ’s gift of love restores us and heals us. His love is the balm to the oozing wounds in our souls after a loved one passes on. His love restores hurting relationships and rebuilds broken lives. Christ makes even the hardest days remarkable, simply because He is with us.
Whatever you are going through at this moment, be encouraged and know that it is not too big for Christ. The same power that raised Jesus back to life will resurrect you and your situation as you turn to Him and have faith.
Our constant pursuit of Christ and our surrendered prayers move the Lord’s heart to work powerfully on our behalf. Our relinquished lives open the door to God’s glory and the heavenly realm overcomes the darkness around us.
Once we have tasted of Christ’s glory, there is no dark force that can defeat us or bring us down. He is life. He is everything. His love is the greatest gift of all.
Beloved Jesus,
We adore You and we are in awe of the sacrifice You made for us. Thank You for paying the penalty for all of our sins. Thank You for giving Your life so that we can live freely and eternally. Help us to receive all the gifts You have for our lives and help us to live as recipients of Your amazing grace every day. Help us to share Your love with those around us and invite others into a life-giving relationship with You. We love You with all our hearts and we pray in Your name, Christ. Amen.
Grace and peace to you,
Amy
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I hope you enjoy this powerful song by Elevation Worship. Shout out to our King!
The sunbeams were softly touching my face while I was sitting outside early in the morning. The birds were serenading me with beautiful songs as I was slowly and intentionally breathing in the cool air. There were drops of dew on the flowers and plants reminding me of the refreshment that comes in communing with Christ. His love enveloped my soul and the presence of the Lord beckoned me to draw close to Him.
In my heart, it was as though Christ was speaking these words, “Arise, My love and come into My arms. You have stolen My heart, My bride. Let My love wash over you and let Me be the only desire of your soul. Let Me sweep you away into My embrace and carry you into heavenly places.”
After a morning of stillness, I was refreshed once again by the love of Christ and ready for a new day of living in Him.
There is no other love as perfect as the love of Christ. Though we may seek to find pleasure and rejuvenation in other places, only Christ’s love can satisfy us and refresh us. Jesus promises us if we come to Him when we are weary, we will find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30).
May we seek to draw closer to Christ’s heart and let His love renew our spirits every day.
Beloved Jesus,
Thank You for refreshing our souls with Your love. Thank You for the beauty You have given us through song birds that sing and flowers that bloom. Help us to draw near to You every day. Let us carry this message of Your beautiful love to a broken world that so desperately needs You. We love You and are waiting for Your return. We pray in Your name, Christ. Amen.
