There is no one like you. I've looked to the East and West, and nothing compares to your embrace.
I have a confession. I am crippled by fear. When I was in Los Angeles, all I wanted to do was hide. I didn't want people to recognize me, I didn't want people to say hi to me, and I was afraid of myself. Afraid. Whenever I saw someone who reminded me of my sin, the enemy painted a huge scarlet letter on my forehead. You're filth. You're a terrible influence. You're a whore. You're stupid. You're lazy. The scary part is, God, that what the enemy said were facts. I was not pure and I was okay with it. I just chose to let the enemy taunt me with the cold, hard facts. I pretended that I didn't listen to it but that only drew me far away from you. I was an awful influence and encouraged no one. I was so paralyzed by fear that all I can do was hide. Therefore I hated studying because it reminded me of my fears.
Yes Lord, those are facts. I am all of the above. But your truth REIGNS over facts! After I confess my sin, you said, "I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins." (Isaiah 43:25). After confession Lord, you forgave my iniquity. You cover it (Psalm 32:2) and you forget it. God as a result, let me also forget my past. Let me see myself as you see me: chosen, loved, and precious. Cast out the burden of my past so I can look towards the future that you have in store for me.
You love my UCLA Seniors! Before you knitted them in their mother's womb, you knew them. You knew them before they knew themselves. They're still searching themselves and they cannot and will not know as much as you know about them.
Pretty soon, you will scatter the flock. They will graduate and separate from each other. Their appointed wisdom from church, fellowship, and college trials will be tested. Although they are appointed with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16b), I don't know how strong it is in them.
I just hope they understand that they're not alone. The enemy likes to separate us, scatter us, then target each one of us individually. Before the serpent appears to them and places doubt in their minds, prepare them for times of trial. Their will is strong, but their bodies are weak. Therefore, prepare each day with supplication of strength and courage.
God, let them know that you have not forgotten them.You have searched them and known them (Psalm 139:1) and therefore, you will never depart from them. Never.
It's really easy for them to be filled with cynicism and doubt. Honestly, I don't blame them. As a result, they may chose actions based on cynicism and doubt. According to 1 John 4:
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error."Please let them discern what is your voice and what is the enemy's voice. He's a crafty little mutant that disguises himself as someone "trustworthy and safe". Let them be aware of this traitor. Once they catch him in the act, let them pray to you. You win. You always win. Therefore, defeat the enemy that paralyzes your children.
Your pure existence, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, exceeds all logic. 0+0=0. But for you, 0+0=earth, 0+0=single-cell organism, 0+0=animals. It doesn't make sense, but it's not supposed to make sense. "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:27). Let that statement rest in them.
As a result, heal them from all fears. Your truth reigns over fear. With truth, they will be the Light that you want them to be. With truth, they will walk on shaky ground with full confidence. They shall all "take heart because [you] have overcome the world." (John 16:33).
In Your Name I Pray,
Amen.
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