“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me (the Messiah), Because He has anointed Me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent Me to announce release (pardon, forgiveness) to the captives, And recovery of sight to the blind, To set free those who are oppressed (downtrodden, bruised, crushed by tragedy)…” —Luke 4:18 AMP

I had a conversation with someone…

…and within this conversation, this person said—

sorrowfully,

longingly

…with great uncertainty…

“…I hope I get to make it to heaven one day…”

And I said to this person,

“You don’t have to just ‘hope’— that you can have everlasting life… you can KNOW that you HAVE IT, by the assurance that comes from the Holy Spirit, and from the confidence that comes from trusting the Word of God!”

And we carried on about what the Word says…

But all of this stirred something up within me…

There is a lie of deception,

that “I have to settle“

within the prison of torment,

of just “wondering“…

But I can have assurance—confidence in Him, by His Spirit,

and by trusting in His Word…

He wants to walk this out with us, that we may experience

the JOY of our salvation

as we live here each day—here and now! 💖✨

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”—Psalm 16:11

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.“—John 5:24

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”—Ephesians 2:9-9

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“—1 John 1:9

“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”—Acts 2:38-39

“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”—John 20:31

“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,“—Romans 8:15-16

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.“—2 Peter 3:9

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.“—1 Peter 1:8-9

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”—John 15:11

And after this conversation,

I began hearing the lyrics of a hymn flooding into my heart…

“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. 

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.”

Sin can keep us blinded

and bound…

tormented

within our own iniquity.

But Jesus came

to set the captives free! ☀️

He came,

He lived,

He died

and He rose again—for you and for me.

Oh, Lord Jesus…

You are

still

HERE, by Your Spirit…

to heal the brokenhearted

and to set the captives free. ⛓✨

How You clear it all up—this “path of life”…

How You give us eyes,

that we may see…

Your truth,

that sets us free.

I ask and pray, Father, that You’ll send Your Spirit of repentance to stir and awaken hearts…

a “new heart of flesh”

to replace the old and cold “heart of stone”…

“‘I’m going to give you a new heart, and I’m going to give you a new spirit within all of your deepest parts. I’ll remove that rock-hard heart of yours and replace it with one that’s sensitive to me.”—Ezekiel 36:26

 

Will You call out to these ones,

will You draw these ones…

who so

desperately

need to be healed

and set free…

…as You have so faithfully

done for me… 💖 ☀️

Will You infuse these ones…

with the JOY and the CONFIDENT HOPE that comes

from KNOWING Your Salvation!

“Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”—Psalm 62:1-2

“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.”—Jeremiah 15:16

Thank You, Father. 💝

-Heather 🌺