Your hope lives, friend!

"Somehow I imagined the morning to be different." 

The student standing in front of me was completely perplexed. "When it said we were attending a school service this morning, I was expecting something completely different. I thought I had to leave my problems at the doors of the church to somehow fit into this holiness. And then I experience something like this...rad."

This cool-looking student had shed all his coolness that morning and experienced the warmth of God's love. He had gladly prayed along when I invited him to do so at the end of this school service.

Apparently, he had always wanted to hear from God. He had always longed to have a relationship with Jesus. But until now, he had only ever been told that was not for someone like him. 

friend, I felt sad that so many people have a longing for God inside them, but spend their lives thinking they are not good enough for Him, that they had better leave their troubles at the doors of the church in order to fit in.

Yet the living God longs for you, friend. The Bible says, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost." (Luke 19:10 NIV)

THIS is the truth. Even back in Habakkuk's day, people took spiritual detours. Instead of believing that God wanted to hear from them personally, they worshiped idols!

"Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak." (Habakkuk 2:18 NIV) 

friend, I want to encourage you today to examine your life. Don't stop at the doors of God's heart with your worries because you think you're not good enough. Also, don't stop in front of an idol, whatever it may stand for in your life. 

Take the direct path to God, because He has made this direct path possible for you through Jesus!

You are a miracle!