This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis [ts@godspeak.net]

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                    I Am Not Far From You


Child of Mine, don't be discouraged in those times when it feels like
I am very far away. I want you to know that I am with you always, even 
when you cannot sense My nearness. And just as I promised, I will never 
abandon you. I am every bit your loving Father, even when you don't 
feel that you are at your best spiritually. I do not reject you during
those times, and I do not throw you away. No child, I am not disappointed
with you and I have not disqualified you.

Dear child, I want you to know that you are just as loved when you feel 
distant from Me as you are when we are in the deepest of fellowship and 
intimacy. The fact remains that you are My own dear child, no matter what 
your feelings tell you. I am a loving Father and I am good, and I do not 
reject My own simply because they are having a bad day (or a bad week, or 
a bad month or even a bad year). It is always in My heart to restore you 
and to draw you close again. It doesn't matter whether or not you feel
loved--My love for you will not fail. It doesn't matter whether or not
you think that are at your best spiritually--I will not abandon you or 
or push you away. It doesn't matter how dirty or unworthy you may feel
at the moment--you are still My own dear child. I will not abandon you.

There are different things that cause you to feel as though you 
are far away from Me. I understand them all, and I deal with each one 
differently--but I do deal with them, because I truly do desire for you 
to feel close to Me again. I want to saturate you in My presence, and I 
want to overwhelm your senses with My nearness. Child, I want to bless 
you and I want to bring you into deeper intimacy with Me.

I am about to refresh your spirit and to restore hope. Can you trust in
My goodness and believe that I am really going to do that? Yes, dear one,
I am going to break through the driest desert and blow My sweet 
refreshment upon you. I am going to wash over you with My river of life, 
and make My living water once again burst forth out of your belly.

I want to give rest to your weary soul, and I want to break every shred
of discouragement off of you. I want to shower you in My goodness and
I want to flood your senses with My nearness. I am a God who delights
in His own and I have every intention of drawing you close to Me once
again.

Don't be afraid, dear one. I am not going to push you away, no matter how
dirty you feel. I am not going to abandon you, no matter how alone or 
isolated you may feel at the moment. Your feelings may lie to you, but I 
do not lie.  I am your loving heavenly Father, and I am never far from 
you. So take heart, dear one, for I am very near to you.