Group 1 – Section 1

Page 1: (This first page introduces Heart Training and where it will take you. Scroll down to page 2 for Truth about God.)

(Your name), listen to what you are saying. God is good. It is evil that is evil! And because evil is so evil, it is bad for you to hold back from God. Think about God as your friend!

Thank You, God, that I can “transform” my mind (Rom. 12:2) by directing my heart more fully toward You. I CAN “…return to the Lord with all your heart, remove the foreign gods… direct your hearts to the Lord…and He will deliver you…” (1 Sam. 7:3). So, rather than try to satisfy myself with sin, I am turning away from the idolatry in the world by Joyful declarations of repentance and faith.

By joyfully embracing the declarations as truth, I can get my heart to believe and enjoy God more fully.

Heart, the more I do these declarations, the more freedom I will find to “…come to the waters…[and] delight yourself in abundance”  (Isa. 55:1,2). Heart, God wants to be God to me and “…the Lord God is a sun and shield; / The Lord gives grace and glory…” (Ps. 84:11). So the more my heart learns childlike delight and bold faith in the Word of God about His coming to me freely, the more His presence draws me away from the twisted glory and power of sin and the world, and toward Him. 

The truth about me is that I want God, even when it seems, on the surface, that I want anything and everything else except Him. So no matter where I am starting, the more I can get my heart to hear and believe these declarations with joy, the more I can direct my heart away from idolatry and sin, and the more God can be what satisfies me.

Heart, King David “satisfied” His soul and the yearning of his flesh with God. He listened to himself as he declared, “…You are my God…My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You…Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory…My soul is satisfied…” (Psa. 63:1-2,5).

So heart, the more I make bold and joyous declarations that teach my heart to believe, open up to God, receive, and enjoy the greatness of God’s power and glory, drawing near me (James 4:8), the more I will be able to satisfy myself with God, as King David did! 

Heart, King David directed his heart away from idolatry and toward God (1 Sam. 7:3), by declaring “My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice” (Psa. 34:2). He also declared boldly saying that “…soul…my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; the rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.”  (Psa. 62:5-7).

Like David, I too can listen to myself making declarations that help me turn more fully toward God. In time, the declarations will build my faith, and my heart will more easily treasure the nearness of God so that His presence with me is what satisfies me. 

Heart, it says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” (James 4:8). But it also says, “…we… receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal 3:14); and, we “must believe” that He is “a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). So, to experience God’s presence I have to get my heart to believe that the way I draw near to God is by trusting His grace to draw near to me freely and not hold back.

So, heart, I am using declarations to repent and turn from trusting my performance and my human righteousness that earns God’s presence. I am directing my heart into faith that God comes when I humble myself and become childlike enough to “…delight yourself in abundance” (Isa. 55:1-2).

By listening to myself as I thank God for the truth, I am getting my heart to believe God’s grace for drawing near to me here. I am joyfully confronting my fears and building my faith so that little by little I can be drawn toward God and more easily receive God’s presence and be satisfied with His nearness instead of what I get from sin or the world.

Heart, I am removing “obstacles” and building myself up (Isa. 57:14) through bold, joyful declarations that direct my heart toward faith and greater trust in God. The misdirected thirst of my soul and yearning of my flesh can be untwisted, redirected, and “satisfied” by the nearness of God’s great power and glory around me here. 

Heart, I am directing my heart away from idolatry and toward God (1 Sam. 7:3) with joyous declarations of repentance and faith. I am applying where it says, “…confess with your mouth … and believe in your heart … for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness …” (Rom. 10:9-10). By repetition and joy in my tone of voice, my heart will hear, believe, and find freedom to turn more fully toward God.

Heart, the truth is that many things in the Scriptures are hard to understand and apply. But, the more I use the Heart Training to teach myself to believe and trust God, the more my heart will understand the Scriptures, and the more freedom I will find in doing the deeper things of the Christian life.

It is safe for me to turn my heart from idolatry and toward faith in God because God says to me, “…I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” (Jer. 29:11).

Heart, God says to all of us, “The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst; I, the Lord, will answer them Myself…I will not forsake them. I will open rivers…and springs…I will make…the dry land fountains of water” (Isa. 41:17-18). And, “…He has not despised…the afflicted; neither has He hidden His face from him…” (Ps. 22:24).

Heart Training is vital because it helps me look honestly at my heart and turn more fully away from sin and the world, with joy. It helps me turn away from condemnation and shame as tools for growth.

By taking one step after another with declarations of repentance and faith, my heart will come to understand and apply where it says, “…the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light” (Psa. 36:7-9).

By joyfully bold declarations of repentance and faith, I can become childlike in my faith enough to joyously drink from God rather than trying to satisfy myself with the twisted glory and power I get from worldly things, other people, circumstances, or myself.

Heart Training helps me trust the punishment Jesus suffered on my behalf and assures me of salvation. The more I listen to myself agree with the Heart Training declarations, the more it builds faith that lets me walk in the Light” by giving me freedom to joyously receive the cleansing blood of Christ that is continually available because of the radiance around God (1 John 1:5,7).

Heart, even though it may be way beyond where I live at this time, the theme of the book of Hebrews is that the promise land for all believers is to enter the throne room and stand before the Lord as a kingdom priest. By taking one step after another with Heart Training, I can teach my heart to believe what God offers freely and get better at presenting my body to God acceptable before Him (Rom. 12:1). By this, I will prove that God’s will is “acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2).

Heart Training helps remove obstacles and transform my mind (Rom. 12:2). It helps me to direct my heart away from idolatry (1 Sam. 7:3) and into more easily receiving God’s presence so I can abide in Him, 24/7. It is how I  can get better at seeking God’s face, joyfully turn from “wicked ways,” and by this, I can help give God the freedom He desires to heal our land (2 Chron. 7:14). By declarations of repentance and faith I will be drawn toward God, and be among those who are building a highway for God to come freely to His “thirsty” people (Isa. 57:14; Isa. 40:3-5; Isa. 41:17-18).

Page 2:  Truth about God

(Your name), rejoice in the truth about God! I can trust God because He does not lie.

It is written that He is “…God, who cannot lie…” (Titus 1:2). And, “…God is greater than man” (Job 39:12). Heart, be assured that “God is not a man, that He should lie…” (Num. 23:19).

“…has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Num. 23:19). The Bible is the word of God. And it IS the truth. So, heart, believe it is the best and safest thing for you. (Pause to feel reassured by it!)

“…the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). So, God’s will toward me IS good! The truth is also that evil is so bad that bad things happen sometimes. So, heart, don’t hold back from God when bad things happen! Don’t be afraid. God is NOT the one doing evil things!

I embrace that my attitude should be like when “…[the king] …said to them, ‘Is it true…that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up…if you do not worship, you will…be cast into the…furnace of blazing fire…Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king…we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Dan. 3:14-18).

And God DID deliver them. But even if He did not deliver them, my heart will believe that the best and safest thing for me to do is to get close to God and NOT let myself be afraid of Him. Be calm, and let your heart feel joy and delight because God is your friend.

Even “Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.” (Hab. 3:17-19).

It is written that “…You, Lord, are…ready to forgive…” (Psa. 86:5). The Bible says it, so heart, it is safe for you to submit to the truth. God is ALWAYS ready to forgive. I don’t have to hold back.

Even when “Iniquities prevail against me; as for our transgressions, You forgive them.” (Psa. 65:3). So the truth about God is that He does NOT hold back. It is just not accurate to think of Him that way.

“…You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive…” (Psa. 86:5). God does NOT wait for me to deserve forgiveness because Jesus earned it for me!

God says, “I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me…” (Jer. 33:8). So heart, you don’t have to be afraid of God. He does NOT hold back from you; you don’t have to try to protect yourself from Him. God says to me, “…I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.” (Eze. 36:25). So by faith, I am presenting my idols before Him so He can wash them away.

So, heart, are you receiving this? The moment I confess my sin to God and ask for forgiveness, He forgives me without hesitation. At the same time, when He forgives, He is also washing me and the atmosphere around me clean. It is right and good for me to believe that God is cleansing me because the BIBLE says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). So, I rest into believing that the cleansing of God is touching me now. The holiness of God drawing near is burning away the filth of evil in and around me here (Isa. 4:4).

Heart, God is my friend. And God says to me, “I … am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins” (Isa. 43:25). Since God forgives for His own sake, His reason for forgiving me isn’t about me. God forgives me for His “own sake.” So, God doesn’t hold back from forgiving ALL my sins. And I shouldn’t hold back from Him, either. Being forgiven and cleansed by God is a GREAT benefit to me, but my being forgiven and cleansed is also beneficial to Himself! Heart, hear the truth where God says, “…for My own sake…I will not remember your sins” (Isa. 43:25).

Heart, for salvation, we are “…washed… in the Spirit of our God.” (1 Cor. 6:11). It works the same way with cleansing after salvation. It says that “…God is Light…if we walk in the Light…we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5,7). The truth is that I am cleansed “…by the sanctifying work of the Spirit… sprinkled with His blood…” (1 Peter 1:2). So heart, let yourself be thankful for it now!

I cut off and turned away from trying to feel secure by holding back from God because only the nearness of God is a strong and safe refuge. Heart, God says, “I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud, and your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you” (Isa. 44:22). When you ask forgiveness it is good for you to believe and enjoy that God has forgiven you and that He IS washing you, “…like a heavy mist” (Isa. 44:22). And God says, “…for My own sake…I will not remember your sins” (Isa. 43:25).

Page 3:  Truth about God

(Your name), God is holy, righteous, and very good. My heart will believe this more fully if I purposely rejoice that the best and the safest thing for me is to entrust myself to God. So, rejoice about the truth. Don’t fight against it. Let yourself love and treasure the truth. Love God, and don’t be afraid of being close to Him.

It is written that “…the Lord is good…” (Psa. 135:3). When the Bible says that God is good, then it is true. So, heart, it is righteous, accurate, and good to believe that God’s goodness includes me. Hear this again: He is “…God, who cannot lie…” (Titus 1:2). So let yourself love the truth that God is good and His will is good. Where evil is being evil, we need more of the kingdom of Heaven so that God’s will can be done on earth as it is in Heaven (Matt. 6:10).

Thank You God that I can open up to Heaven above and trust that the mountain of God and the kingdom of Heaven are coming down so that Jesus can be more fully established as King on the earth! Heart, believe that I am receiving the kingdom with gratitude even now (Heb. 12:22-24, 28)! (pause to let your feel delight about the significance of your role in this!)

“…Holy is He.” (Psa. 99:3). God’s holiness is so pure that He does NO evil toward me. “There is no one holy like the Lord…” (1 Sam. 2:2).

“…the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness…” (Psa. 11:7). And, “…the Lord is our righteousness” (Jer. 33:16). So heart, it is right to believe and enjoy that God is my righteousness and that He loves me!

Lord, “You are good and do good…” (Psa. 119:68). And hear it again that “…the will of God is, that which is good…” (Rom. 12:2). So when evil things to happen to God’s people, it is NOT God doing it! Heart, it is safe for you to believe that! (pause to let yourself feel love for the God you believe is drawing near by the radiance around Him!)

“…the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psa. 100:5). “The Lord is righteous in all His ways / And kind in all His deeds” (Ps. 145:17). Heart, it is NOT safe for you to hold back from God. Nothing else is worthy of your trust! “O taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psa. 34:8).

Page 4:  Truth about God

(Your name), rejoice that I don’t have to be afraid to get close to God because God is kind, slow to anger, compassionate, and gracious. And God is NOT holding back from me because the grace of God is that quality about Him that continually and effortlessly gives.

So heart, submit to the truth. Rest into the place of believing. I am making it my intention to receive the truth and let myself feel joy about God.

“Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; yes, our God is compassionate” (Psa. 116:5). (pause to hear it)

Heart, it is right and good for me to be close to God because “…you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Psa. 86:15 NIV).

“…His anger is…for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime…” (Psa. 30:5). (pause to hear it)

“The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail” (Lam. 3:22). “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God…” (Ps. 36:7).

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God…” (Psa. 36:7). Heart, hear this and embrace it as the truth! God isn’t holding back from me. God IS gracious and kind, and He IS my best friend. (enjoy it!)

“… let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain…” (Hos. 6:3). “Break up your fallow ground, / For it is time to seek the LORD / Until He comes to rain righteousness on you” (Hos. 10:12).

“…we…receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Gal 3:14); “…he who comes to God must believe…that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6); “…it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all…” (Rom. 4:16).

Page 5:  Truth about God

(Your name), rejoice in the truth that I don’t have to hide from God when I feel insecure. God wants to be my refuge and hiding place. So, Lord, I turn my heart to trust Your grace for freely allowing me to receive Your presence all around me here

“Be gracious to me, O God…For my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by” (Psa. 57:1). Thank You, God, I turn my heart to love YOU!

(Your name), “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man” (Psa. 118:8). (pause to love it)

“I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!’” (Psa. 91:2).

“I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely” (Psa. 16:8,9).

Heart hear and treasure it as truth that “The eternal God is a dwelling place…” (Deut. 33:27).

Lord, I love Your grace that shines Your presence onto me! I can dwell in You because I walk “in newness of life” by “the glory of the Father (Rom. 6:4). Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to me as my Helper because His presence helps me walk uprightly and “… the LORD God is a sun and shield; / The LORD gives grace and glory; / No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Ps. 84:11).

Heart enjoy this, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble” (Psa. 9:9 NIV).

“Guard my soul…for I take refuge in You.” (Psa. 25:20). Heart, rejoice your way into believing and enjoying that when we entrust ourselves to the nearness of God’s presence as our refuge, He comes! We draw near to God by trusting He is drawing near to us and that He is cleansing our physical body and purifying our heart when He comes: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts…” (James 4:8).

Heart, “In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid…” (Psa. 56:11).

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread” (Psa. 27:1)? (pause to hear, believe, and love the God who is close!)

“You are my hiding place and my shield…” (Psa. 119:114). I turn to love, receiving God’s presence as my shield.

Lord, “You are my hiding place…” (Psa. 32:7). I love Your grace that freely gives me Your presence God!

“…God is greater than man” (Job 33:12). And, “God is to us a God of deliverances…” (Psa. 68:20).

Lord, You alone are my protection because I “…have made the Lord…even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent.” (Psalm 91:9,10). So I turn to trust Your grace that freely gives me Your presence, God. I hide myself in Your nearness, God!

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and…my stronghold” (Psa. 18:2). I love You God. I love Your presence all around me here.

“Be gracious to me, O God…For my soul takes refuge in You…” (Psa. 57:1). Thank You for being a fountain that freely gives me Your presence, God! I turn my heart and rejoice into believing Your radiance is coming to me here, God.

“Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies; I take refuge in You” (Psa 143:9).

God, “…You are my refuge in the day of disaster” (Jer. 17:17). I love YOU for being my refuge God!

Jesus told us about “the Helper, the Holy Spirit” (John 14:26); “I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7). So, I am trusting that the Helper is coming to me by the radiance that never stops pouring out from Jesus! I am opening up inside with faith that I am receiving God’s presence. Thank You, God, for cleansing me and Helping me to live “uprightly” (Ps. 84:11).

Page 6:  Truth about God

(Your name), rejoice in the truth that I don’t have to avoid God even when others hurt me

“…God is greater than man” (Job 33:12); And, “God is a righteous judge…” (Psa. 7:11). (pause to believe it!)

“…His judgements are true and righteous…” (Rev. 19:2). (pause to hear, believe, and love the truth!) “…the Lord is a God of justice; how blessed are all those who long for Him” (Isa. 30:18).

“Behold, these are the wicked; and always at ease, they have increased in wealth…When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end” (Psa. 73:12 and 16,17).

(Pause to hear, believe, and love the truth!)

Page 7:   Truth about God

(Your name), listen to what you are saying. Let yourself believe, love, and be thankful for the truth! Heart, hear this: God is good. It is evil that is evil! God is your friend! (pause and think of Him that way!)

So enjoy the truth that God loves and takes pleasure in His people. Heart, it IS the truth because the Bible says that God loves me and takes pleasure in me!

“…God is greater than man” (Job 33:12). And “…the Lord loves His people…” (2 Chron. 2:11). “…abide in My love” (John 15:9);

“…the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the Lord your God loves you” (Deut. 23:5). Heart, God loves me, and it is suitable for me to enjoy loving Him freely. I love YOU, God!

(Your name), “…the Lord takes pleasure in His people…” (Psa. 149:4). And, “…great is your love toward me…” (Psa. 86:13 NIV). But, “…without faith it is impossible to please Him…” (Heb. 11:6). So heart, believing God’s love for me causes Him to feel pleasure! (pause to believe and enjoy it!)

Hear it and believe; “…love is from God…” (1 John 4:7). And “…He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zeph. 3:17 NIV).

So, I set my heart to believe and enjoy God’s love for me. Thank You, God, that it is right for me to enjoy knowing that my faith causes You to feel pleasure! And I turn my heart to love and enjoy causing You pleasure right now! (Pause to enjoy it!)

Page 8:  Truth about God

(Your name), rest into loving the truth! I don’t have to protect myself from believing God’s love for me.

God’s perfect love for me casts out my fears! (1 John 4:18). (pause to believe and love the truth!)

God’s love for me IS patient and kind! (1 Cor 13:4 RSV). (pause to hear, believe, and love the truth!)

God’s love looks for ways of being constructive with me! (1 Cor. 13:5a Phillips). (pause to hear it) “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines…He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness…afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:6,10,11).

Heart, God does NOT get irritated in His love for me! (1 Cor 13:5 The Living Bible).

God’s love for me is NOT condemning in any way! (Rom. 8:1). And, I love the truth about God!

God’s love for me is NOT like a roaring lion seeking to devour me! (1 Peter 5:8).

God knows everything about me, yet still deeply loves me — I cannot escape it! (Psa. 139).

God’s love does not decrease when I fail! (1 Cor. 13:8; Romans 5:8; Romans 8:36-39).

God’s love for me is good. God’s love is good enough for me to trust! (Psa. 34:8; John 15:9). Nothing can separate me from God’s love for me! (Rom 8:38,39).

“…the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.” (Psa. 149:4). And heart, that truth includes me. God has made me beautiful with salvation, and the Lord takes pleasure in me.

(Pause to believe and love God!)

Page 9:  Truth about God

(Your name), listen to what you are saying. And let yourself believe, love, and be thankful for the truth!

God wants what is GOOD for me. And the truth is that God does NOT secretly despise me!

God says to me, “…I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope” (Jer 29:11). So God’s plans for me are all good! Even if things don’t work out the way I think, it is still best to entrust myself to God because God is always working toward the ultimate end of good toward me (Rom. 8:28). He never stops being good. It’s evil that is evil. (heart, receive this as truth!)

Heart, God “…has not despised…the afflicted; neither has He hidden His face from him…” (Psa. 22:24). So God does NOT despise me. And when it feels like God is hiding, God is NOT the cause of it being that way.

Jesus included me when He said to the Father, “…Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one” (John 18:9).

Heart, hear this truth and believe it, because it is written that “…we…receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal 3:14). And, “…it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all…” (Rom. 4:16). So heart, it is correct and safe for me to trust the grace of God for His presence fully! Because He is the Helper sent as a shield to help me live uprightly: “… the Lord God is a sun and shield; / The LORD gives grace and glory; / No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Ps. 84:11).

Heart, it is right to believe God’s presence is coming to me because I CAN down from above because “…put on the armor of light…put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” (Rom. 13:12, 14); “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” (James 1:17); “if God so clothes the grass of the field…will He not much more clothe you…” (Matt. 6:30)? Will He not more clothe me with His presence and kingdom?

The truth is that God is my friend! He is NOT holding back from me. Hear it again: God “…has not despised…the afflicted; neither has He hidden His face from him…” (Psa. 22:24). And (Your name), listen to what you are saying. And let yourself believe, love, and be thankful for the truth!

God wants what is GOOD for me. And the truth is that God does NOT secretly despise me!

Page 10:  Truth about God

(Your name), rejoice your way into believing that I don’t have to stay away when I am hurting because God comforts His people.

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psa. 34:18). I am turning my heart to trust that God is HERE with me now – and NOT to be afraid. (pause to hear, believe, and love the God who is close!)

The Bible says that “…God…comforts the depressed…” (2 Cor. 7:6); And, “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you…” (Isa. 66:13). I turn my heart to love the comfort that Your presence gives. I love You, God. I love Your drawing near and being close to me HERE. (pause to believe and love God!)

God says, “…I, am He who comforts you…” (Isa. 51:12). And Lord, You are “…the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). So I rest into believing that God’s presence is covering me like a blanket. Thank You, God, for being a blanket of comfort around me. I love YOU, God! (pause to believe and love the God who is close!)

Thank You, God, that I don’t have to be discouraged because Jesus prayed to the Father God, “… Of those whom You have given Me I lost not one” (John 18:9), and this includes me!

Page 11:  Truth about God

(Your name), it is true that I don’t have to be afraid to let God draw near and walk with me here. God will NOT abandon or betray His people. So God will not abandon or betray me.

Heart, submit to the truth, and love it. God says that “…I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Heb. 13:5). And God is “…the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).

So it IS right and good for me to trust that God will NOT abandon me because God is the Shepherd and Guardian of my soul.

And even if the tangible presence of God lifts, the truth is still that “…the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name…” (1 Sam. 12:22). Heart, open yourself to receive this truth. Keep believing and loving that God will NOT abandon or forsake you; “…those who know Your name will put their trust in You, for You…have not forsaken those who seek You” (Psa. 9:10).

“Walking with God”

Hear it. God “…has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Mic 6:8). So heart, God tells me it is “good” for me to do justice, to love kindness, AND actually to walk with Him.

The Bible says that “…Enoch walked with God…” (Gen 5:22). And Abraham spoke of “…The Lord, before whom I have walked…” (Gen 24:40). So “walking humbly” with God is right for me to do also.

The truth is that “…God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (2 Cor 6:16). So heart, it is right and good for me to believe that God “dwells in” me, AND is “walking” with me here. So, I turn away from disbelief. And I turn away from letting myself be afraid of having God close because God wants to be God to me here.

Heart, hear it again. “…God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (2 Cor 6:16). So God “dwells inside” AND He “walks” with those God calls “My people.”

Heart, “…the Lord will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake [us, as] His inheritance” (Psa. 94:14); Jesus said, “…Of those whom You [Father] have given Me I lost not one” (John 18:9). So, heart, trust you ARE walking with God because God requires me to “…walk humbly with your God” (Mic 6:8). And God promises that “I will also walk among you and be your God…” (Lev. 26:12).

Heart, don’t hold back. Believe it is safe to trust God to draw near. And, don’t think of God as being far away. The truth is that God is NOT holding back from me. So, I don’t have to hold back either.

And heart, rejoice that “…by grace you have been saved through faith…” (Eph 2:8,9). And my walking with God works the same way. “…as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Col.2:6 ). So heart, “…they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us’ “ (Mat. 1:23); let yourself believe and enjoy the nearness of God. I love You, God! And Lord, I love where it says that “…He will not fail you…” (Deut. 4:31). Thank you, God, that You are NOT like other people who have failed me because “…He…is called Faithful and True…” (Rev. 19:11).

I am so thankful that You will never abandon me or forsake me. Thank you, God, for dwelling in me AND walking with me here. I love YOU, God.

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(Your name), hear this: God is good. It is evil that is evil! God is your friend! (think of Him that way!)

So I thank You for Your grace that freely gives me Your love, God!

“…God is love, and the one who abides in love, abides in God and God abides in him” (1 John 4:16). And, I turn my heart to love abiding in God’s love, all around me here.

Heart, “…God is greater than man” (Job 33:12). And God says, “…abide in My love.” (John 15:9).

So “keep yourselves in the love of God…” (Jude 1:21). (pause to believe that I CAN do that!)

Thank God for Your grace, which freely gives me the substance of Your love that pours out from all around you!

“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.” (Psa. 33:22 NIV).

Heart, “…the Lord longs to be gracious to you…He waits on high to have compassion on you” (Isa. 30:18). So I turn away from holding back from God. And I joyfully rest into receiving the touch of God’s love all around and in me here. I love YOU, God!

I love Your love upon me, God. I love Your grace that freely gives me Your loving presence.

(Your name), “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deut. 6:5).

“…cling to Him.” (Deut. 13:4). (pause to hear, believe, and love the God who is close!)

And (Your name), “…take diligent heed to yourselves to love the Lord your God” (Jos 23:11). So, I turn my heart to love God’s love wrapped around me here. “’For as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and…of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory; but they did not listen’“ (Jer. 13:11).

So, I cling to Your closeness God. And thank You for holding onto me! Thank You that it is for “renown, for praise and for glory” that You want me to love You God. I cling to Your love all around me here, God. Thank You, God! (pause to enjoy loving Him!)

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(Your name), God IS our healer. So, rejoice in the truth that the radiance of the Holy Spirit is pouring out all around God. And since “…we…receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Gal 3:14), I am RESTING into believing and receiving the touch of God’s healing power all around and in me here.

IT IS WRITTEN that “…I, the Lord, am your healer” (Exo. 15:26). (pause to believe and love the God!) And (Your name), “…The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38).

“…He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick” (Mat.14:14).

“…all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all” (Luke 6:19). (pause to hear, believe, and love the God who is close!)

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8). (pause to hear and love this truth!)

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases” (Psa. 103:2,3; see also Mat. 8:16,17 and Isa. 53:4,5). (pause to feel confidence from it!)

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(Your name) , listen to what you are saying. Let yourself believe, love, and be thankful for the truth!

Heart, hear this: God is good. It is evil that is evil! God is your friend! (pause and think of Him that way!)

Heart, turn to believe and love God. Hear and enjoy that my God is greater than all the “other gods!”

“…I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all the gods” (Psa. 135:5). (pause to hear)

Heart, “…God is greater than man” (Job 33:12); “…it is Heaven that rules” (Dan. 4:26). (pause to love Him!)

And God says, “…I, the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He” (Isa. 41:4). And, I love the truth about God!

(Your name), “…you shall not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Exo. 34:14).

And, “…the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His…” (2 Chron. 16:9). (pause to believe and love it!)

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(Your name), I don’t have to stay away from God because Jesus is righteousness inside me. And heart, when God’s presence touches my body, His cleansing makes me holy on the outside also.

Our part is to consecrate ourselves to the Lord. God’s part is to make us holy by touching us with the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls this sanctification. We are “… sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Rom 15:16).

And God says to me that “…I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Exo 31:13).

God told the Old Testament priests, “…consecrate the altar, and the altar shall be most holy” (Exo 40:10). Then, when the priests did their part to consecrate the altar, God came and did His part actually to make it holy. God says of “…the veil…the altar…[and] My sanctuaries…I am the Lord who sanctifies them” (Lev 21:23).

After that, “…the altar shall be most holy, and whatever touches the altar shall be holy” (Exo. 29:37). Thank You, God, that when I consecrate myself by setting myself apart for holy use, You come and touch me and something of Your holiness is transferred to me by Your touching me!

Heart hear this and rejoice that holiness includes my physical humanity because: “…may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely…spirit and soul and body…” (1 Thess. 5:23). “…the body is…for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body” (1 Cor. 6:13). So whenever you feel unworthy, or unholy, trust God to touch your body with the Holy Spirit. BELIEVE that God is sanctifying you because when God touches anything evil on or around us, the evil is burned away (Isa. 4:4). Even our physical bodies become holy (Exo. 29:37). We are “…sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 15:16); “…sanctified by faith in Him” (Acts 26:18) to be doing it. Enjoy Him! Heart, God has promised, and He won’t hold back: “…I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols” (Ezek. 36:25).

Heart, treasure that IT IS WRITTEN of God that “…I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Lev. 22:32).

So hear it again and submit into faith that believes it, because God says that I am “…sanctified by faith in Him” (Acts 26:18). So I turn my heart to believe I am receiving the touch of God’s holiness right now — everywhere on, and around my physical body.

“…draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:22). (pause to hear it)

“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies” (Rom. 10:33). Thank You

, God, that YOU are the God who justifies me. You are the God who has touched me inside with salvation, and You also touch me outside and make my body holy!

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(Your name), God says, “…I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images” (Isa 42:8).

So, heart, God does NOT give the glory from our worship to any other. But God DOES “give” the glory of His radiant presence because

But it also says, “…The Lord gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psa. 84:11). And, heart, His glory with us helps us to walk “uprightly” and in newness of life (Rom. 6:4)!

“…Moses said, ‘…show me Your glory! And [God] said, ‘…while My glory is passing by…I have passed by” (Exo 33:18,19,22).

Heart, having glory is vital because glory upon us makes us feel confident about our identity. The glory of God firmly declares His value (Rom 1:20-23), and His nearness makes us feel something of that value ourselves. Thank You, Jesus, for earning the right to keep letting me share in the glory that shines from You (John 15:26)! And heart, the glorious presence of God with me is what makes me worthy and special!

Moses said to God, “… this nation is Your people. [And] … if Your presence does not go with us…how then can it be known that…I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?” (Exo 33:13, 15, 16). And God said, “…My presence shall go with you” (Exo 33:14). So thank You, God, for making it so Your presence can go with me!

“‘…as the waistband clings to the waist of a man, so I made the whole household of Israel and…of Judah cling to Me,’ declares the Lord, ‘that they might be for Me a people, for renown, for praise and for glory; but they did not listen’” (Jer 13:11). So I turn my heart to listen and to cling to You here, God!

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Heart, hear again that the Lord gives “grace and glory” (Ps. 84:11). Since God wants us to be His glory here on earth (Jer 13:11), it is right for me to trust that God freely gives me His glorious presence here! So, by these declarations I am building my faith so that I can more freely open up to the radiant glory around God and receive His presence here.

When the Father glorified Jesus, He started receiving the “…the Spirit…who proceeds from the Father…” (John 15:26). And, “This Jesus God raised up again … [and] having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” (Acts 2:32,33). And Jesus told us, “…I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you” (Luke 24:49). And, “…His Son…He is the radiance of [the Father’s] glory.…” (Heb. 1:2,3). “…the Spirit of glory…” (1Pet. 4:14). And Jesus said “…the Helper…whom I will send to you from the Father…the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father…” (John 15:26). “the fountain of living water, even the Lord.” (Jer. 17:13).

So, Lord, I open up and trust by bold faith that I am receiving the shine of Your presence onto me by believing You want peace in the world. Thank You, God, that I can receive the peace that shines from You for myself and the people around me: “The Lord bless you…the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace” (Num. 6:24-26 NIV). Because “…we…receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal 3:14), I thank You, God, for Your grace that freely gives! I open up to You and believe You are coming upon and around me here.

Heart, “…your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32) because He is “…the God of all grace…” (1 Peter 5:11). And, “…the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power” (1Co 4:20). So hear it again where Jesus said, “…I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you.” And, what “I am sending,” He said would make us “…clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:29).

Thank You God that the Earth is the footstool of Your feet (Acts 7:49) and You have promised to dwell in us and to walk among us (2 Cor. 6:16), but You have also asked us to pray that your Kingdom would come. So, I thank You God for my role in this!

Heart, when I can open up like a child (Mark 10:15) to Heaven above and trust that I am entering before the Lord as the mountain of God and the kingdom of Heaven are coming down around me here. By this, Jesus is being more fully established as King on the earth! Heart, “…your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32) because He is “…the God of all grace…” (1 Peter 5:11). So, I set my heart to believe that I am receiving the kingdom with gratitude even now (Heb. 12:22-24, 28)! (pause to let your feel delight about the significance of your role in it!)

“O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary…God…Himself gives strength and power to the people…” (Psa. 68:35). So thank You God! I love Your strength and power given freely by the radiant shine from You! (pause to hear, believe, and love the God who is close!)

Heart, “…it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all…” (Rom. 4:16). And, “…we…receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Gal 3:14).

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14).