Dear Friends,
“Happy are those who listen to me, watching at my door every day, waiting at my open doorway.” Proverbs 8:34 (NCV)
This verse makes one thing beautifully clear: God’s door is NOT SHUT—it’s open, waiting for you to walk through. What’s more, the word “doorway” in this verse comes from the Greek word Patah, meaning “to be thrown open”. This means that God’s door isn’t simply unlocked or ajar—it reveals a love so fierce and longing that He practically tore it from its frame to be near you!
This is precisely what happened when Jesus died on the Cross. Sin had separated mankind from God. The doorway to the Father was closed. But Jesus’ death paid for everyone’s sins, and as a result, He opened up access to our holy, heavenly Father. Every Born-Again Believer can now freely approach Him in sincere prayer.
Scripture affirms this truth in Mark 15:38, which recounts that at the moment Jesus died on the Cross, “…the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.” (NLT)
The temple’s curtain stood an imposing 60 feet tall and was several inches thick—far beyond what human hands could tear in an instant. Yet it was torn from top to bottom, a miraculous act only possible through divine power. It was as if our heavenly Father reached down in love and declared, “Come to Me now; I have paid the price to set you free!”
Jesus’s payment for our sins opened the way for us to freely and intimately approach God, no matter the time or place. This is the essence of the gospel—the joyful message that we can be restored to a right relationship with our heavenly Father!
“Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you. How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (MSG)
RETURN TO ME!
“I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” Isaiah 44:22 (NLT)
What a bold and passionate statement the Lord declares here! He has “swept away” our sins and blotted them out of His memory! Then, He pleads with us to return to Him. Nothing is standing in the way except our response to His invitation!
The word “Oh” in the scriptures is often used as an interjection to express deep emotion, whether it’s sorrow, awe, urgency, or even rebuke. Here’s how it’s rendered in both Greek and Hebrew: In Greek (New Testament), the word “Oh” is used to express intense emotion like admiration, or urgency. For example, Romans 11:33 expresses awe at God’s wisdom, “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge!” (NLT)
In Hebrew (Old Testament), “Oh” is used to convey woe, lament, or warning. Sometimes translated as “Ah,” “Alas,” or “Woe,” depending on the context. For example, the Lord laments in Isaiah 48:18, saying, “Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.” (NLT)
Can you just hear the anguish of God’s heart here? It’s the sound of sorrow in witnessing a soul abandon a divine fortune. It’s the heartbreak of someone rejecting the invitation of a wonderful life here on earth and into eternity with Him that far exceeds their wildest imagination! (Ephesians 3:20)
Hebrews 10:19-23 greatly encourages us… “And now we are brothers and sisters in God’s family because of the blood of Jesus, and he welcomes us to come into the most holy sanctuary in the heavenly realm—boldly and without hesitation. For he has dedicated a new, life-giving way for us to approach God. For just as the veil was torn in two, Jesus’ body was torn open to give us free and fresh access to him! And since we now have a magnificent High Priest to welcome us into God’s house, we come closer to God and approach him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out!… So now wrap your heart tightly around the hope that lives within us, knowing that God always keeps his promises! (TPT)
I love how this passage encourages us to “wrap our hearts tightly around the hope that lives within us!” With one hand, we release the things that are causing us so much unnecessary pain and suffering, such as fear, anxiety, lies, unforgiveness, bitterness, and anger, and with the other hand, grab and hold tightly to this TRUTH in Scripture! Instead of believing and living in lies about ourselves and God, we must enter through this open doorway of TRUTH so that our inner man (our thoughts and emotions) can be healed and our lives made whole!
AHHH-SURED OF HIS GLAD WELCOME
“Now we can come fearlessly right into God’s presence, assured of his glad welcome when we come with Christ and trust in him.” Ephesians 3:12 (TLB)
“Ahhh”—it’s the sound of relief, like when someone takes a long sip of cold water on a hot summer day. “Ahhh” can also be the expression of realization, as when understanding illuminates our minds. This is what God’s “assurance” provides for us! The World English Dictionary defines “assurance” as: a promise or pledge of support, freedom from doubt, certainty. God has made a covenant with us, signed in His own blood, and has sworn by Himself that the covenant is good. His Word is our guarantee and assurance that He will fulfill all His promises to us.
“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: ‘You are a priest forever.’” Because of this oath, Jesus is the one who guarantees this better covenant with God. Hebrews 7:21-22 (NLT)
The Holy Spirit is the One who brings that deep sigh of relief into our lives—the “ahhh” we’ve been longing for. Only He offers insight and the refreshment our hearts desperately need. Jehov-ahhh, our God, is the rest we’re searching for, and He’s always ready to welcome us in.
I want to encourage you to feel very sure that you can come before God’s throne today and speak freely as Hebrews 4:16 states, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (NLT)
Today, no matter your struggles or regrets, the Lord stands ready to silence your fears and flood you with His peace. Step into His presence in prayer. Cast off the weight you’re carrying. Embrace His forgiveness. Allow Him to untangle the mess within—every thread of deceit, pride, bitterness. Decide now to trust Him, and let Him guide you onto a new path—one overflowing with purpose and abundance.
My parting encouragement is this: keep bringing your burdens to Him. Over time—through practice and faithful surrender—you’ll learn to let go of the fear, the pain, the bitterness, and sorrow. Leave it all at His feet, and step away lighter, free. The Good News is this: you don’t have to carry that toxic weight anymore!
KEEP COMING TO HIM
The most important thing you need to know as a Believer is that you have access to your heavenly Father 24/7! The second most important thing you need to remember is that no matter your situation, in good times and in bad, you need to “keep coming to Him”! He is your source for everything in this life.
1 Peter 2:4-5 says, “So keep coming to him who is the Living Stone—though he was rejected and discarded by men but chosen by God and is priceless in God’s sight. Come and be his “living stones” who are continually being assembled into a sanctuary for God…” (TPT)
In times when we feel like our life is irreparable, we have to remember that God is in the business of resurrecting and restoring what we think is dead and gone! If you take away only one thing from this publication, hear this… “…keep coming to Him.” This is the most important thing you can do, especially when you find yourself in trouble! He is your lifeline and your source of help and hope! Allow the Holy Spirit to wash and reinforce your mind by coming to Him daily… even hourly if needed. Freely offer yourself to Him, asking Him to cleanse you and give you a fresh start in life! And read and think about God’s Word—memorize those verses that speak to your situation! The Scriptures have a supernatural ability to wash away the lies, depression, and anxiety from our minds and restore a passion for LIFE!
You know you can turn on a shower, but you’ll never get the benefit of that shower until you position yourself underneath the shower head (Jesus is the head of all Creation). You must move away from where you are (doing things your own way) and return to a place underneath His Lordship and Headship! You can’t benefit from God’s Word and blessings without submitting to the Benefactor! If you feel distant from the Lord today, you can be certain that God has not moved! Could it be that you moved away from Him because you found other loves? Drawing closer to God means turning your back/rejecting those things that are serving you no purpose—those things that only drag you into turmoil. When you return to Him, I assure you that you will not find condemnation. On the contrary, you will enjoy refreshment, restoration, and strength for living!
In His Loving Name,
Life With Father Ministries
If you don’t know where you will spend eternity or have strayed from your loving Shepherd, you can return to Him now and find rest for your soul, peace, and safety forever! Pray the following prayer and ask Jesus for new life…
Dear Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a sinner and ask for forgiveness. Scriptures say that you died on the Cross to pay for my sins, and I accept that. I surrender my life to you and ask that you would be my Lord and Savior. Give me a new nature and new eternal life! Thank you for saving me, now, please give me the strength to live for you. Show me the next step you have for my life so that I can grow in my faith bringing honor to your name. Amen.