Jeremiah 18:12

"The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seem good to the potter to make. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel! The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent, concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it. Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: 'Behold, I am fashioning a disaster and devising a plan against you. Return now everyone from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.'"'" And they said, "This is hopeless! So we will walk according to our own plans, and we will every one obey the dictates of his evil heart." Jeremiah 18:1-12

"Then He charged them, saying, "Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." And they reasoned among themselves, saying "It is because we have no bread." But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, "Why do you reason because you have not bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?"" Mark 8:15-18

"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:24-26

How many are praying for our country to turn back to God?
How many are praying for a loved one who is afflicted?
How many are fighting and praying in hopes of overcoming a personal trial?
How many have cried out to God for help; angry because God seems to be far away?
How many read their Bible and look for scriptures that will support their cause, and skim over the hard ones that call for change?
How many repent in "lip service only" with no turning around?
How many are worshiping a god they have manufactured in their own image; saying "Well my god wouldn't do (such and such)" ????

FORGIVENESS!  We want it but we don't want to give it!

Well, if you don't give, then you won't get it! It's that simple!

And if your preacher isn't telling you to repent and forgive, you need to find one who will!

If your prayers aren't being answered, then you need to ask God to reveal to you what, you haven't done; what is standing in the way! I assure you it's unforgiveness! Resentment, jealousy, judgement; all things we harbor against someone in our past; all need to be acknowledged. You need to forgive and ask forgiveness for holding onto those things, even little things that happened when you were a child. Those things shaped you into the adult you are and are blocking the blessings God has for you!

Don't just say, "That's just the way I am!"

You weren't created that way! Someone or something caused you to be that way and you need to give it up to God!  By not giving it to God you are in essence saying, "This is hopeless! So I will walk according to MY own plans, and I will obey the dictates of MY evil heart."  You are saying, "God is not big enough to take care of MY problem!"

I assure you God is big enough!

Ask God to help you open your eyes; open your ears; soften your heart; so that you can receive from Him. Let Him shine light on the darkness you have walled-up or have hidden in the recesses of your heart. Let Him reveal the past hurts that have shaped you into the crippled person that you are and let him heal you so that you can change.

It may be that you were sexually abused as a child; maybe someone made fun of you because of the way you looked or acted or even spoke. Or maybe your parent was unable, emotionally, to give you what you needed and you judged him/her. You have to forgive. Don't just say, "Oh, I forgave them!" (This is important!!!) No, you have to acknowledge the act, forgive them, and then ask forgiveness for judging them!


IF -

• You want peace?
• You want healing?
• You want a closer relationship with God?

Then repent from holding onto the things that are separating you from Him.

Believe! He is able! Trust Him! Then thank Him!

Thank You, Father for the change you have made in me.
Thank You for shining the light on those things that held me back from walking closer to You.
Thank You, Holy Spirit for the comfort you have given me!
Thank You Jesus for forgiveness in You!
I will praise You with everything I am!

Even so - MARANATHA!