“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Dear Friend,

There is hope for your future! And it's not a fleeting, vain hope; it's a sure, firm hope that stems from relationship with God.

It took me a long time to believe that God would ever use my life for His kingdom. After everything I’d done during my years of drug addiction, why would He use me? I felt polluted, discouraged, and hopeless. In fact, I forgot what hope was.

Can you relate?

Every day for me was a life or death situation. One decision in the wrong direction could literally end my life. During this critical time, I ran to my relationship with God and the Bible. Whenever I was tempted to make a wrong turn, I asked God for help, I recited a scripture, and I remembered the lifestyle that I came from—that I didn’t want to return to.

This daily process molded me into God and His heart for me. As I sought God relentlessly, I discovered how much He loves me and that He created me for good things. God created me to have a life full of peace, joy, health, healing, freedom, passion and purpose.

Once I discovered this, I had to remind myself and assure my heart in these truths. I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s easy to forget these things. It’s easier to get dragged down in the world and it’s negativity; to go with the flow and believe the disappointments and the let-downs.

Never forget that God loves you. In that love, He has restoration, good plans, and hope for your future.

We discover God’s plans for our life when we have a personal, intimate relationship with Him.

Here’s a short list of how intimacy with God (through His Word and the Holy Spirit) will help you:

1. Grow in knowledge and grace, entering into His promises (2 Pet. 1:2-4)

2. Face every day with peace, joy, and hope (Isa. 26:3, Neh. 8:10)

3. Be content and excellent where you are (1 Tim. 6:6, Matt. 25:23)

4. Seek Him, believe Him, and trust Him no matter what (Ps. 37:3-6)

5. Live a stable, consistent life built on the foundation of God (Matt. 7:24-25)

6. Mature as a disciple of Christ and build your character (Heb. 5:14)

7. Discover your God-given purpose and calling (2 Timothy 1:9)

“who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,” (2 Timothy 1:9)

God has hope for your future and it’s full of purpose. His purpose for your life is filled with excitement, joy, satisfaction, peace, and hopeful anticipation. God’s purpose for your life is something that you enjoy, not things that you dread.

Today, enjoy the journey with Him. God is after your heart and the small, everyday moments of trusting Him—not the destination.

Wherever you are today, choose to run to God and seek Him with all of your heart.

How?

Create a daily habit of reading the Bible, talk to Him, pray, and pray in tongues. God will reveal Himself to you, strengthen you, help you, and lead you to His purpose for your life. God will show you the way, and it’s better than you could ask or imagine!

“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,” (Ephesians 3:20)

I bless you and know that you are fulfilling God’s perfect plans for your life!

P.S. if you’d like to watch our Vision Board class at River Rock Church from last weekend, I believe it would bless you and encourage you in your God-given purpose! Click here!

With Love,
Erin