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And He is here NOW, with us today. The very last words He spoke to His disciples in his physical form were “behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (v.20) And it is true. Soon after this, Jesus returned to us as the Holy Spirit. He never left us. He is still with us today. Hallelujah!

The faith of people clamoring for signs is only skin deep. No miracle would ever be enough to convince them. God wants our hearts. He wants real relationship with us, not spectators gawking at a magic show.

Jesus could have ended that torture at any moment. But He chose to stay there for me and you. He had wrestled with his flesh and resolutely completed His dreadful holy mission to save us. Hallelujah, thank you, Jesus!

I understand Peter’s pain. I have denied Jesus in so many ways. Every time I love something more than Him, every time I stray from His perfect plan, I deny the sacrifice he made to save me.

Sometimes this life can be so confusing. Sometimes it seems like Jesus is silent and absent when things don’t turn out the way we think they should. The disciples traveled that same bewildering road. But one day they would completely understand God’s perfect plan. Just as we also will some day. What a beautiful day that will be.

Jesus ends both prayers with “Your will be done.” Even before his struggle begins, he commits to God’s will regardless of his own preference. I am so thankful that Matthew reveals that our Savior grappled with his flesh to bring it into submission of his spirit. He truly does understand our human plight. He suffered and struggled just as we do.

Did you have a moment when you were first aware of God’s attention? Maybe you have had many such moments. How amazing that the almighty Creator of the universe would bend down to earth and engage with us mere mortals. Like Moses, he sends us out, foreigners in a hostile world. We are his emissaries. Be we aren’t sent on our journeys alone. He always promises to go with us.

The servant who received two talents didn’t sit around bellyaching about how unfair it was that he only got two. He went out and worked his butt off with what he had. When we focus on what we already have and work hard with whatever that is, we will be happier and more successful. We are ALL blessed in one way or another. Reflect on your many blessings and thank God for them!

This is the kind of spiritual / emotional healing that God offers to us. This is victory in Jesus. This means no weapon formed against us shall prosper. God offers us spiritual and emotional victory here in this life right now. It isn’t always easy to get there. It requires a lot of hard spiritual and mental work. But it is so worth the effort. Victorious life is so wonderfully sweet.