Dear Christian young lady,

I wanted to write to you and remind you of who you are in Christ Jesus.

You’re worth to him is incredible, passed our understanding.

Romans 5:8 NKJV — But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Your value does not hang on your works, your possessions, your living status, or anything else you can do or are doing.

He loved you completely before you were even born.

Psalm 139:13-17

No one can remove that from you.

No one can change God.

The truth is the love remains whether you walk in it or choose to ignore it.

God’s love is steadfast, not based on how you feel or look, not moved by the opinions of others.

If you choose to live in God’s love you will find worth, value, peace, and security.

Nothing else can offer the true love of God.

When we accept His love and learn to walk in it, we can live a life of sacrifice, because nothing is more important than Him.

We can walk through the trials of this life and be free from fear, worry, doubt, or even ‘trying harder’ because we realize all we are and all we have are God’s.

We can sit at the Master’s feet freely, not burdened by the cares of this world.

Yes, you will have trials and tribulations. Yes, there will be suffering and pain.

No, it will not last. For our hope is in heaven. Heaven is where pain and sorrow will be over.

Eternity is worth the cost, because it is far more lasting.

That is why we can walk as women of God and endure what the world, sin, and the enemy throw it us, not in our own strength but through Christ.

We are not alone.

We are not unloved.

We are not held to any other standard than God’s.

What does God’s Word say? What is He saying to you through it? How are you living for Christ today? What are you looking at? Is it encouraging you to run after the things of heaven? How are you teaching your children about Jesus and His Word? What is the legacy you are leaving to other Christian women? How are you being held accountable to God’s Word? Are you hiding it in your heart?

Every stage of life we have a choice on how we live the day we are in.

Each moment we can respond with scripture or we can react with emotion.

It takes a gift of the Holy Spirit to be able to respond, without Him we simply react.

2 Timothy 1:7 NLT — For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

The exciting thing is, He promised to give us all we need if we put our trust in Him.

Be on your guard of placing your trust in mankind; whether it be your friends, your family, or even your husband.

God requires that He comes first in your heart, because that’s how we are designed.

You will never go very fast or well if you always drive your car in reverse.

It wasn’t designed to be driven that way.

Neither were we designed to have anyone in God’s place.

He must sit on the throne of your heart.

If you find that your heart has been wayward, God’s throne has been occupied by someone or something else then repent.

Get on your face before Him and humble your heart.

If you know something or someone is a danger then confess it before God.

Put away anything which hinders or causes you to stumble.

Stop going to or listening to those things which lead you to sin.

Remember the enemy is a liar and an accuser.

If you are hearing accusations, stop and seek God, because chances are they’re not from God.

Conviction is completely different.

It leads us to repentance and seeking God more.

Accusations make you feel want to hide, you feel inferior, dirty, damaged, unable, and worth very little.

Accusations bring up the most painful circumstances and parade them before you again and again. It is what the enemy does best next lieing.

When stuck in the lies and accusations seek God’s Word.

Look for His truth and place it around you as well as in your heart.

Remember that the enemy is a roaring lion, he wants to drown out the still small voice of the Lord.

He wants you to believe lies and choose to destroy yourself.

Don’t listen,

not even for a moment.

Walk away and seek God’s face.

If only Eve had done that instead of talking to the snake.

Above all, dear heart, walk in the truth.

Serve God and Him only for He is true.

His Mercy is abundant, His grace is sufficient, His word is enough.

I love you and so does He.

Zephaniah 3:17 KJV — The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your promises. Thank You for Your Word. Please help us as women to walk in integrity and truth. Please keep us from lies and deceit both within ourselves and those of the enemy might try to ensnare us with. Lord, please show us our hearts, help us to be humble, true servants of You. Thank You for my dear friend. Please bless her. Speak with her, encourage her. Lift her up and let her eyes see the well of living water, that neither she nor her children would die in the desert. Thank You, Jesus for Your faithfulness. Amen.

A letter

My dear friend,

I wanted to write to you and let you know what God has been teaching me.

I’m also praying for you, as I don’t know all you are going through, but Jesus does.

Uncertain times can bring fear and doubt, but for those of us who know Jesus, it is a place of surrender.

Which is where we should live as believers.

In fact, surrender is a pleasure, because it frees us of thinking we are in charge or that we have to do or must be whatever.

With total surrender we get to wait upon the Lord in peace.

To walk forward in Him and not worry.

It’s what Paul said:

Philippians 4:11-14 NKJV — Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Paul had learned the practice of daily surrender and he knew there was nothing that he could not endure, because Christ was his Master and through him he could walk whether hungry or full.

Too often, especially in our culture, we think we “have to do…”.

Yet, it is only true if we were given the task by God.

Him and His Word is what we must obey and listen to, not our flesh, not our family, not our neighbors.

At least not any of those before we listen to God and His Word. (We should always check what we “heard” to make sure it aligns with scripture. God doesn’t contradict Himself.)

We must have a teachable spirit, because often God will guide and direct us through the voices of others, but that’s why our relationship with the Lord and studying His word must come first.

Only with a heart completely surrendered before God can we truly hear those around us.

Life was not given for us to live unto our selfish desires.

Nor to achieve our own made-up priorities.

Life was given as a gift, but we should give it back.

Sin has marred the heart so much that we can never find true life without first giving ourselves to God completely, without even a piece left out.

True surrender means Job:

Job 1:21 NKJV — And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

This is surrender.

Job understood all that had been trusted to his care was not his and could be removed at any time.

His life was not his position, family, experience, nor his stuff.

His life was God’s and he would praise him no matter the circumstances.

That is where true joy is.

In finding that one can truly praise God no matter what is occurring.

That I can trust Him no matter the obstacle or the emotion.

There is nothing to despair, because my Savior lives!

There’s nothing I need to prove to others, because my Savior lives!

What does man think of me? It doesn’t matter.

My Savior lives!

What blessed joy!

What grand design!

How great is our God!

May God bless and keep you my friend,

Love, Hope

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You so much for Your love! Thank You for salvation! How grateful I am to You for Your gift of friendship to me. I’m so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family who love me as they do. Lord, please lift up my friend and bring them to a place of rest and trust in You. Heal their heart of past hurts and restore them to faith in You. Lord, let them see themselves and others as You do. Let them walk with understanding and truth. Lord, please open the scriptures to them, that they might find the Way. Let their hearts find peace in surrender. Let them put all their trust in You. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.