Hope and Friendship
March 1, 1996
Let your dreams be restored to you. Let Me in to give you dreams. Don’t be afraid of them. Disappointment comes from unfulfilled dreams and desires. I am not the God of disappointment or broken dreams. I am the God of hope (1 Timothy 1:1). Hope is like faith in that it is now. Faith is now and hope is for now (Hebrews 11:1,6). You won’t need faith when it’s all over and you’re here in heaven. Then it’s fact – hindsight. Now is when you need faith. Faith is for what you can’t as yet see, and hope is the picture of what you can’t as yet hold. Both are for now, to put to work in your life now, so that My will can be done on earth even as it is being done now in heaven (Matthew 6:10). Faith is the link between heaven and earth; it’s our connecting rod. Without faith, without you believing in Me and what I tell you, without this, there’s no point of contact to our relationship. That’s why the devil is always trying to cause you to not trust Me – it destroys the relationship. Then you’ll end up in law keeping or religion.
It’s only the fool who doesn’t believe in Me. Most people are not fools. Most people do believe in Me, or at least in a higher power, but they are frightened of a relationship with Me. A lack of trust between us is an open door for religion in that area of your life. Religion in the sense of trying to appease Me because you know I’m real, but you don’t really trust that I’m who I say I am – a good God. Religion portrays a God of judgment and justice. Relationship portrays a God of love, compassion (Psalm 86:15), and goodness (Psalm 118:1). Religion can never and will never produce the fruits or effects of a relationship with Me. Religion doesn’t have an abiding presence. Religion is not doctrine. Doctrine is like a foundation and relationship is like the house. Religion is like the building inspector – checking for what is wrong and ready to condemn.
Thank God there is grace. Enter into relationship living, and let go of fear and mistrust. Trust your ability to hear Me. Trust My ability to love and respect you. Neither of us can enjoy religion. Both of us can enjoy relationship. Won’t you be My friend (John 15:15)? There is always room for one more. Come.
1 Timothy 1:1 (HCSB)
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope:
Hebrews 11:1,6 (TPT)
Now faith brings our hopes into reality and becomes the foundation needed to acquire the things we long for. It is all the evidence required to prove what is still unseen.
And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who passionately seek him
Matthew 6:10 (TPT)
Manifest your kingdom realm, and cause your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is in heaven.
Psalm 86:15 (Voice)
But Lord, You are a God full of compassion, generous in grace, slow to anger, and boundless in loyal love and truth.
Psalm 118:1 (Voice)
Give thanks to the Eternal because He is always good. He never ceases to be loving and kind.
John 15:15 (Voice)
I don’t call you servants any longer; servants don’t know what the master is doing, but I have told you everything the Father has said to Me. I call you friends.
