Unlike many New Age beliefs which are an endless journey.  A relationship with Jesus is a final destination where you become complete and fulfilled as what God promises becomes a reality.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one, I in them and you in me, so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  John 17 20:23

Jesus, I’m sorry you had to suffer and die to make the unforgivable, forgivable.  I live because of your grace.

Jesus, thank you for bringing out the best in me.

Emotional needy.  Non-believers sometimes use this as their reasoning for why some people believe.  When a child is suffering the parents run to be by their side and devote themselves to give them courage, strength and peace.   When Gods children are suffering he draws close to be by their side.  God is there for them day and night, loving them deeply.  God embraces those that accept his love and gives them courage, strength and peace.  These people don’t make up God; they have simply felt how deep Gods Love is for them.  The same way as some realise how deep their parents, or loved ones, love is for them when they are suffering.  It’s in these moments some realise they can go to God, talk to him, have God there even during good times.  They testify to it because the experience can be very profound and life changing.  There are many that come to believe in God through logic and evidence.  Non-believers don’t see their stories because their stories are more like documentaries rather than dramas.  They are typically more of interest to people that already believe in the subject.  It would be like watching a documentary on cars, when you have no interest in them.  Non-Believers that watch the documentaries, look at the evidence and listen to the testimonies of the millions often end up believers and establish a relationship with God.

“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” – Jesus Christ

“I am leaving you with a gift, peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." - Jesus Christ.

A relationship with Jesus is like love.  It’s difficult to fully understand or believe, until you experience it.

Your unfailing love, O LORD, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.  Psalm 36:5-6

Salvation allows the Lord to be close to the broken hearted.  He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.  (based on Psalm 34:18 NLT)

God, today we pray for those that are seeking you, so that they may find you in earnest.  We pray you will protect and guide us throughout our daily lives.  Give us hope when we struggle, give us peace when we are restless.  God, we thank you for the many gifts you bless upon us every day.  We pray you will open our eyes wider so we see the many gifts you bestow upon us bringing more grace into our lives.  Amen.

Jesus, I love you not only for who you are, and for what you did, but for who I am when I trust in you.

Would a relationship last a lifetime based on good works alone?  Would the partner at some point, if they loved, want to feel loved in return, and hear it?  A relationship with God is for eternity, God loves us, and wants us to trust and love him.  God wants to feel and hear that we love and trust him.  We show God we trust him through Salvation, we tell him we love him through prayer.

Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that
no one who believes in me should stay in darkness". John 12 44:46 (NIV)

God chose to give you life.   God will choose your eternity when your life ends.

God, Thank you for sending Jesus to be my Role Model.

When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.  Psalm 32:3-5 (NLT)

If you “believe” you can’t ride a bicycle, you never will unless you give it a go.  If you “believe” you can’t communicate with God, you probably never will unless you give it a go.   A proven way to communicate with God is to start a relationship with Jesus.   

A relationship with Jesus opens the door to God

Some refer to God as just a crutch.  There isn't anything wrong with that, sometimes a person needs a crutch when their legs fail to carry them. However God is also a Seatbelt that reduces the damage when life crashes.  God is a Life Jacket that prevents drowning when life becomes full of stormy waters.  God is a Parachute that slows the fall during times of hardship.  God is an Air Bag that cushions a sudden stop that tragedy can sometimes bring.  God is a Beacon providing a light of hope during dark times.  God is Solid Ground when life becomes shaky.  God is a Defibrillator that can restart a heart when it’s dead on the inside.  God is a home to go to when life ends.  God is many things, that is just how powerful God is.  If an individual is in a relationship with God, God being a personal God will provide what is required.

Why Jesus? Why not, there is no downside to a relationship with Jesus Christ.

God replaces outward pain with inward peace.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.- 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

 "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind." This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: "Love your neighbor as yourself". "The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." - Matthew 22 37:40

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”  - John 14 15:21 (NLT)

Darkness just allows God’s Love to Shine Brighter

“People to whom sin is just a matter of words, to them salvation is just words too.” - William Faulkner

A wounded spirit God wants to mend
To bring healing and wholeness once again

Where there's brokenness God gives new hope
And waters our souls to bring new growth

When we have no one, He calls us His friend
And forgives our sins so we're not condemned

His love goes deep and covers our sin
So His light may shine brightly within

Dispelling darkness and deep despair
His love is constant and always near

The cleansing streams of God's sweet grace
Washes over us as we embrace

His holy word that came to life
In the person of His son Jesus Christ

Who brings to us life, hope and love
And eternal blessings from His throne above

I could never want anything more
Than forgiveness and healing from my Lord

For we shall not stay wounded or dismayed
But be transformed by the word He gave

And with His spirit sent to comfort us
We shall emerge with faith, hope and love

A Wounded Spirit
© By M.S.Lowndes

He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. - Psalm 91:4

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”, before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark, and the clouds return after the rain;  when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop, when the grinders cease because they are few, and those looking through the windows grow dim;  when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades; when people rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when people are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags itself along and desire no longer is stirred. Then people go to their eternal home and mourners go about the streets.  Remember him—before the silver cord is severed, and the golden bowl is broken; before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, and the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.  - Ecclesiastes 12

For those that have not received the gift of Salvation through Jesus, make 2012 the year to accept it.  For those that have accepted Salvation through Jesus may the Holy Spirit continue to bring you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.  Have a wonderful 2012.