Dear Reader,

IT IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE KNOWN BY HIM!

‭‭In John‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Jesus says…

14 I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—

15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

And in Matthew 10:30 NIV Jesus said…

30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

You are known, you are loved, and you are cared for. God's plans and path for your life are not void of the realization of the Father's love and attention towards you. You are not “going it alone” – you have help and He is closer than you feel. God is the one who has equipped you and He is the one who has sent help to assist you along the way. It’s not only about the destination, but also finding God in the journey. Seeing God, through it all. 

Seek and you shall find (see Matthew 7:7)...

Through the ups and downs, and all of the challenges that have come your way, if you seek God, you’ll see where He was, right there with you, through it all. He opened those doors, He held your hand and still is (see Isaiah 41:10, 13), He told that person to reach out to you, He sent that person to give you a good word that’ll make your heart glad. He comforted you in the midnight hour. He allowed you to cry and let it all out. And He embraced you fully while you did so. After all, He knows exactly what it feels like.

Hebrews 4:15 says…

10 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus was tempted to quit and give up, yet He didn’t. Ultimately, He submitted to the will of the Father. There was nothing “comfy” about carrying the cross, yet He did it. You may be going through something that is very unpleasant right now. Know that just like Jesus, God is with you through what seems unpleasant. Remind yourself of the truth, “Although this is unpleasant, it is temporary.” He is holding your right hand (Isaiah 41:10), helping you make it through to the other side. It’s unpleasant, but you’re growing. It’s unpleasant, but you’re stretching. It’s unpleasant, but it is necessary. 

Moses and the Israelites did not feel pleasant while being chased by Pharoah and his army. But as Moses kept His faith and trust in God, He made a way for them.

It’s not a pleasant thought to know you’re about to get thrown into the lion’s den, literally, yet God shut the mouths of the lions and made sure that Daniel was not hurt.

Joseph did not feel pleasant while being literally sold into slavery by his own blood brothers…yet God used what they meant for bad, and turned it for good, with the outcome of Joseph being promoted to a position of power, second of command next to Pharoah.

Job did not feel pleasant losing everything, and through all of Job’s ups and downs, God never left him. Job ended up with twice as much as he had before because of the goodness of God.

It may be unpleasant now, but God ain’t done! Don’t let the enemy or the time that is going by kill your dreams!

Don’t ask God “Why am I going through this?”

Instead, ask God “What can I learn through this?”

Not all, but certain circumstances can cause us to put more attention in areas that we have overlooked before. What do you do once you realize this is something you can learn and grow from?

Step One: DO NOT CONDEMN YOURSELF

The enemy would love for you to keep feeling bad once you realize the problem was……you. No one likes finding out they were part of the problem. Acknowledge it, pray and repent.

Once you know that you are saved and are in Christ…….NEVER AGAIN TOLERATE feeling bad and tormented about it! Because Romans 8:1 NIV says…

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Humility opens the door for answers. And you can’t be humble and condemned at the same time. Do not accept condemnation, and walk in humility. Humility opens your eyes to SEE what you have not saw before. Humility causes you to rise to a HIGHER place. 

As you seek God with a humble spirit, you’ll walk through the door with confidence along with latching on to wisdom that you have not had before that is better equipping you for the next level. Next level of what? Next level of trust that God has for you. And with that next level of trust you’ll be better equipped for that new job, relationship, promotion, the move, and everything else God has for you. 

“What you learned in the previous battle is necessary for sustaining the next level.”

Remind yourself…”What I am learning through this, is needed for where I am going.”

And that entire time, God has been with you, closely, through the entire season.

And guess what, He’ll still be with you through the next one, and the next one, and the one after that!

I pray for you every single day!

Remember, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE IF A PERSON BELIEVES!

Please make the time to write down these scriptures, hold them close in your heart, do not forget them, and read them very often until they just get embedded into your spirit! 

Terry Minor Jr