Danise Jurado - Fulfilled: Learning to Live the Life God Promised

I m kneeling. Tears are streaming down my face. They come from deep inside mea place no one sees, sometimes not even me. Except for Him. He always sees. His compassion gently lifts the layers I have built. I have come to Him, needing all that He has to offer. Its my favorite place because I am safe here. In the arms of unconditional love, He challenges me to be more than I think I can be. He gives me strength, and there is resolve in my heart. I stand, ready to take the next step. His wisdom guides my path as I walk the road He has marked out. He never leaves my side, and peace fills my heart. He patiently redirects me when I have misunderstood His plan. He always has just the right words for me. I begin to see glimpses of Him in me. One step at a time, I walk with Him. As days turn into weeks, then months and years pass by, I understand my need for Him in ways I never did before.

I look into the eyes of people around me. I see the hope that is trying to live in their hearts. They notice a reflection of Him in me and ask, Can you help me? Although I feel inadequate, He is there and always ready to help. They say, We want to believe. We want to believe that He really loves us, but . Such a little word and yet it places limits when He has none. Pain has given them reason to be guarded, but His hope replaces all discouragement. His truth is always enough to bring the freedom we need, as He loves us in personal ways that only He can. One by one, we come to God, young and old, wealthy and homeless; not one of us is alike. Yet we are the same, were all learning to live the life God promised and longing to be fulfilled.

On any given day, the multitudes of anxieties within us carve out places in our hearts needing to be filled. There is a pang inside of us desiring to be truly satisfied and free from the heavy weights holding us down. Just as our bodies need sleep, nourishment, and exercise; our soul longs to be filled. This yearning to be whole and complete cannot be ignored. If we try to deny it, well only be tempted to find fulfillment in ways that ultimately disappoint us further. Temporary distractions offered by the world around us can only satisfy on the surface. They are counterfeits for the powerful, life-changing promises that can only be found in God. In the midst of all the anxieties we face, He is standing at the door of our heart; God is knocking. Can you hear Him? It is the soft sound of His compassion. God extends His hand to us, ready to lead us into our divine destiny. His promises are great and precious nourishment to our souls. We find them by responding to His invitation and receiving the words He has spoken to us in the Bible. No matter where we are in our spiritual life, God is reaching out to us with His truth. As we partner with Him, we soon discover that spiritual freedom is a powerful reality that will revive our numbness, heal the brokenness, and fill every void.

As I sit in my office at The Dream Center where Ive served as an assisting pastor for the past fourteen years, I look into the eyes of those sitting across from me. Life can be so difficult, sometimes even brutal and dark. It takes a toll on the heart, mind, and soul. They are searching for peace, hope, freedom help. My heart breaks as I see the depths of their personal pain, and my heart jumps for joy as I witness their restoration. We walk together from spiritual emptiness to fulfillment through Jesus Christ, our Lord. The hidden potential that God has placed within us lies just beneath the surface in our lives. Empowered by the Word of God and presence of His Spirit, that potential emerges through freedom into our destined purpose.