Is Peter speaking to us when he urges, “Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it” (1 Peter 2:11 MSG)? We know our Father’s name, and he has claimed us, but he has yet to come for us. So here we are, caught between what is and what will be. No longer orphans but not yet home. What do we do in the meantime?

Indeed, it can be just that—a mean time. Time made mean with disease, deceit, death, and debt. How do we live in the mean time? How do we keep our hearts headed home? “Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect” (Hebrews 12:2 NCV). Look to Jesus. Ponder his life. Consider his ways. Meditate on his words. Jesus, just Jesus.

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God sought you. He searched you out. Before you knew you needed adopting, he’d already filed the papers. Listen to this passage from Romans 8:29 (NLT): “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” What’s more, he covered the adoption fees. “God sent him,” speaking of Christ, “to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:5 NLT).

You see, the moment we accept his offer we go from orphans to heirs. Heirs with a new name, new home, new life. Heaven knows no stepchildren or grandchildren. You and Christ share the same will. What he inherits, you inherit. You are headed home.

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These words are found in the Book of Psalms: “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Psalm 37:23–24 NLT). Do the words of the psalmist surprise you? Where did we get this idea of a God who does not care, who is not near? We certainly didn’t get it from Jesus.

Jesus Christ is the perfect picture of God. Want to know how God feels about the sick? Then look at Jesus. What angers God? Look at Jesus. Does God ever give up on people? Does he stand up for people? Find the answer in Jesus. Hebrews 1:3 (AMP) says, “The Son is the radiance and only expression of the glory of [our awesome] God…he is the exact representation and perfect imprint of His [Father’s] essence.”

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Are you open to the idea of a Father, a heavenly Father, who knows you? A soon-to-be home that awaits you? Would you consider this life-changing idea: the almighty and all-knowing God has set his affection on you. Every detail about you he knows. Your interests, your hang-ups, your fears, your failures. He knows you.

About his children God says, “The Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought” (1 Chronicles 28:9 NIV). King David wrote, “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my path” (Psalm 142:3 NKJV). Do you know this God who knows you? He knows your name, and he can’t wait to get you home. The ever-recurring, soul-lifting message of heaven: “The Lord delights in you” (Isaiah 62:4 NKJV).

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God keeps his promises. Shouldn’t God’s promise-keeping inspire yours? People can exhaust you. There are times when all we can do is not enough. When a spouse chooses to leave, we can’t force him or her to stay. And you’re tired, you’re angry, you’re disappointed. This isn’t the marriage you expected or the life you wanted. But looming in your past is a promise you made. Whatever that is, may I urge you to do all you can to keep it? To give it one more try? Why should you? So you can understand the depth of God’s love.

You see, when you love the unloving, you get a glimpse of what God does every day for you and me. When you keep the porch light on for the prodigal child, you do what God does every single moment. Pay attention. Take notes on your struggles. God invites you to understand his love by loving others the way he does.

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Two kinds of voices vie for our attention. One says, “God will help you.” The other lies, “God has left you.” And here’s the great news: you select the voices you hear. Why give ear to the pea-brains and scoffers when you can, with the same ear, listen to the voice of God?

I had a friend who battled alcohol. He tried a fresh tactic. He gave me and a few others permission to slug him in the nose if we ever saw him drinking. You know, if the wall is too tall, just try the tunnel. Try something different.

Ephesians 1:19-20 (NCV) says, “God’s power is very great for us who believe. That power is the same as the great strength God used to raise Christ from the dead and put him at his right side in the heavenly world.” You turn to God, and he will give you what you need. Turn a deaf ear to the old voices. Open a wide eye to the new choices!

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What is that one weakness, bad habit, rotten attitude? Where does Satan have a stronghold within you?

Stronghold. Ahh, that’s a fitting word. Stronghold: a fortress, thick walls, tall gates. It’s as if the devil staked a claim on one weakness and constructed a rampart around it, placing himself squarely between God’s help and your: explosive temper, fragile self-image, freezer-size appetite. Seasons come and go, and this Loch Ness monster still lurks in the water-bottom of your soul. He won’t go away! He lives up to both sides of his compound name: strong enough to grip like a vise and stubborn enough to hold on.

“We use mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the devil’s strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT). You and I fight with toothpicks, but God comes with battering rams and cannons. So give your strongholds to him, and he will break them down.

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There was a point in our life when we were just a signature away from moving from one house to another. The price was fair, it seemed a wise move, but I didn’t feel peaceful about it. To this day I can’t pinpoint the source of discomfort. Sometimes a choice just doesn’t feel right. And then sometimes, choices feel right.

When Luke justified the writing of his gospel to Theophilus, he said, “Since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you” (Luke 1:3 NIV). Did you notice it seemed good? Luke pondered his options and selected the path that seemed good.

Do you have a heart for God? Well then heed it. Do you have a family of faith? Then consult it. Do you have a Bible? Then read it. And once you have given your heart to God, consulted the family, read your Bible, then trust your heart. Just do what feels right. And who knows? You may end up writing your own gospel.

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You have a Bible? Read it! Has any other book ever been described like the Bible? In Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) says, “The Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”

The words of the Bible have life. Life! Nouns with pulse rates. The Bible is to God what a surgical glove is to the surgeon. He reaches through them to touch deep within you. Haven’t you felt his touch? In a late, lonely hour you read, “I will never leave you. I will never forsake you.” The sentences comfort like a hand on your shoulder. Oh the Bible.

Don’t make a decision without sitting before God with open Bible, open heart, open ears. Let the words of Christ live in your heart and make you wise. Do you have a Bible? Read it!

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You know I can get lost anywhere. Seriously—anywhere. I once got lost in my hotel. I told the receptionist my key wasn’t working. I’d been on the wrong floor trying to open the wrong door! If geese had my sense of direction, they’d spend winters in Alaska.

Can you relate? Of course you can. We’ve all scratched our heads a time or two. Do I take the job, or leave it? One of life’s giant-size questions is, “How can I know what God wants me to do?” In 2 Samuel 2:1 (NKJV) David inquires of the Lord, “Shall I go up to the of the cities of Judah?” “Go up.” David said, “Where shall I go up?” He made a habit of running his options past God. Do the same, and the God who guided David guides you.

Are you like I am? Do you get confused? Psalm 32:8 (NLT) is the promise you need. God says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.” Wow – we all need that promise. 

Read more Facing Your Giants: God Still Does the Impossible

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