Lauren Gaskill

I’m asking God for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet.
-Psalm 27:4, MSG

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. -2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV

As millions across the world observe Holy Week in their own way, I’m reminded once again of how important it is to turn our eyes upon Jesus.

Many of us know and can sing the old hymn by heart: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, Look full in His wonderful face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.

I remember as a little girl, my sweet Mama would sing this song over me when I was afraid. In my immaturity and lack of understanding, I remember initially thinking, “What good is looking at Jesus going to do right now? I’m scared. I’m in pain. I need real solutions.”

It wasn’t until I got to know the real Jesus as a person and not just as a symbol that I understood the true power of locking eyes with Him.

C.S. Lewis once said: “I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice?”

He is the answer to every question we have and the provision for every trial we face.

When we turn our eyes upon Jesus — when we gaze upon his birth, life, death and resurrection — we are reminded of the truth. That His love is patient and kind — always rejoicing with the truth, always protecting, always trusting, always hoping and always persevering. That it is already finished. That we have been set free. That we are children of God who have been made worthy to receive a glorious inheritance of love, forgiveness, righteousness, joy, peace, healing and provision through Him who paid our ransom. That He has won the victory for us. That He is interceding and fighting for us always. That He will never forsake or give up on us. That His blood made a better way.

But beyond all of these things, when we gaze into our Savior’s eyes, we are reminded of who He is. He is love. He is beautiful. He is radiant. He is glorious. He is the Prince of Peace. He is Almighty God — God with us. He is full of grace and truth. He is better than we think He is.

One look of seeing Jesus rightly has the power to take our breath away and bring us to our knees. One look of seeing Jesus rightly — not just for who He is for us, but just who He is at the very core of His nature — has the power to transform us completely (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).

My prayer this week is that we would turn away from looking at the chaos of the world or the seemingly impossible circumstances that we are facing in our lives and choose instead to gaze upon His beauty. Stop the scroll, shut off your phone and get alone with Jesus. Remember his birth, life, death and resurrection. Remember who He is and what He has done with a grateful heart. Because He is the same yesterday, today and forever, as you look at Him, you can also give Him thanks for who He will continue to be for you and what He is going to do in your life.

May you be undone by the wonder of all that He is as you turn your eyes upon Jesus this week.

A few months ago, I dreamed that the Father gave me a bracelet. As He held it out in front of me, I took a moment to behold the beauty of this priceless gift. And that’s when I noticed: This was no ordinary bracelet. Not only did one of the chains feature a glistening diamond, but both of the bracelet’s bands were interlocked by a golden connector that said “WORTHY” on it. And so, though the bands were two separate entities, the two became one because of this little connector.

The Father placed the bracelet in my hands and said, “my beloved, it’s yours.” And then I woke up.

Have you ever had a dream, but you’re just not sure how to interpret it? Happens to me all the time. Before I get to the meat of today’s post, here’s what Holy Spirit has taught me over the years about dreams: If I remember a dream when I wake up, but I don’t understand its meaning, I immediately ask God whether or not the dream is something I need to press into. Sometimes, I will have a strong check in my spirit that I need to search a dream’s meaning out. Other times, Holy Spirit tells me to forget it and toss it out like rubbish. Either way, I’ve learned that obedience to these nudges is key to 1) receiving more revelation from the Lord and 2) avoiding going down nonsensical/unfruitful rabbit holes.

When I woke up from the dream about this bracelet, I sensed deep within me that God had something beautiful He wanted to reveal to me. I believe what He shared with me was not only for my personal walk, but also for the Body of Christ, which is why I’m sharing this post with you today.

The morning after this dream, I sat down in my morning reading chair to ask the Lord about what He had shown me. Immediately, the words “worthy to receive” rang like a bell within my spirit.

Is that a Bible verse, Lord? I asked.

“Google it,” He said. (I love how practical our God is!)

My Google search led me to Colossians 1:12, and today, I want to share with you two translations:

Your heart can soar with joyful gratitude when you think of how God made you worthy to receive the glorious inheritance freely given to us by living in the light. (TPT)

Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Worthy to receive. Qualified to be a partaker.

Worthy means to be suitable, deserving or fit for a specified thing. The word used here in the original Greek, however, is hikanoo, which means to make sufficient, render fit, qualify, specifically to equip one with adequate power to perform the duties of one.

OK, stay with me. Here’s what “perform the duties of one” means in English: serve, wait on, obey, carry out the will and wishes of.

HOLD. IT. RIGHT. THERE.

Do you know what this means? Not only has Jesus made us worthy to receive an inheritance, but He has given us the power we need to receive and partake in it! Therefore, carrying out His will and wishes.

Back to the dream and the interpretation Holy Spirit gave me: Jesus is one bracelet and you and I are the other. We are one. And, we receive all that is His through that connector — His powerful Holy Spirit. Because we’ve been qualified to. We’ve been made worthy to.

Your Inheritance In Christ

Do you know what is included in your inheritance in Christ? A shortlist from my time with the Lord pulled these keys words out: wholeness of body, soul, and spirit, healing, redemption and forgiveness of sins, peace, love, joy, prosperity (yes, it’s true, read 3 John 2), good gifts, freedom, righteousness, the Holy Spirit, a heavenly reward, blessings that overtake us, protection, deliverance, power and authority.

Today, I invite you to spend some time with Holy Spirit and ask Him to tell you more about your inheritance in Christ. What areas are you having trouble receiving? Maybe you’ve felt unworthy to receive in those areas. Ask Him to show you what it looks like to embrace your full inheritance through His power and might. I can’t wait to hear about what He shows you!

By the way — that picture at the top of this post? Later that day, I kid you not it was an ad for a bracelet on my Instagram feed. I definitely didn’t talk about it, so I know it was God! I hope it gives you an even greater image of this beautiful truth.

Several months ago my husband and I got caught walking in a pop-up shower. Out of nowhere the rain came pouring down on him, my dog and me, and we started sprinting for home. And then, with 100 strides left to go, the rain suddenly stopped and the sun started to peek out from behind the clouds.

“I bet God’s going to give us a rainbow tonight,” I said with a big, fat smile on my face.

This declaration was partially an inner knowing, but also a deep desire. After a long week I really needed a hug from the Father. And while I knew I didn’t need a rainbow to know He loved me, I sure thought it would be a pretty great way to be reminded of His promises.

But then it started raining again. And much harder this time.

As we sat on the porch swing to watch the rain fall, I noticed the sun was setting. Daylight and my hope for a rainbow were running out. With a big sigh, I headed indoors to grab my raincoat so we could run a few errands.

On the ride to our first stop, I felt a tear slide down my cheek.

I know we’re not supposed to live by signs or feelings, but sometimes you just need a touch from heaven itself.

“We’re here,” my husband announced.

I lifted my eyes from the floor mats to see the rain had stopped. But not only had the rain stopped … there was a GIANT RAINBOW sitting right in front of my face!

I gasped. “Honey! Babe! Look! God did it!”

Instantly, my sorrow and mourning turned into joy and dancing. My Father had heard my cry and reached down from heaven to remind me of His great love and precious promises for me.

Does your heart need a touch from heaven today? God is waiting for you to step into His loving arms — to sit down and talk to Him and tell Him what we need. He is a Good Father and knows what we need even before we ask Him, but He loves to hear us tell Him anyways.

You can trust the One who made you will always be there for you. He won’t let you down.

Yesterday, I reached a milestone in the manuscript I’m working on for my second book (you can buy my first book here). Before reaching this milestone of 30,000 words, I spent a large chunk of time researching and writing about prayer. In Matthew 6 Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, and told them to always start with, “Our Father in heaven.”

Friends, this beautiful revelation is the answer to all of the fear that we are facing today. We are not orphans. We are God’s kids and He is a good Father.

Ephesians 1:4 says He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

You see, before He was a Creator, He was a Loving Father. And where love resides, fear cannot hide. 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”

There is no fear where He is present, and fear doesn’t stand a chance when we stand in His love.

Wherever you are today and whatever fears, frustrations or disappointments are gripping your heart, the Father is inviting you to leave all of the pain behind and let Him love and take care of you. So, today, I just want to release over you the love of the Father and a greater revelation of this love. May you feel comforted in His arms and know that He’s got you. You are safe and protected and held by Perfect Love Himself.

I’ve been waiting for something for more than three years now. It’s something God has spoken over me countless times, through His Spirit and through people who don’t even know me. While I haven’t seen the fulfillment of everything yet, I know it’s coming and I’m learning more and more with each day how to wait and walk in a way that honors and brings glory to God.

About a month ago, I realized I hadn’t heard from God in awhile regarding this thing I’m waiting for. And so, with hands lifted during church one day, I asked Him: How long, Lord? How much longer do I have to wait for what I know is coming — what you’ve promised to me?

The words of His reply weren’t audible, but left a deep impression on my heart. Not yet, my daughter. But soon. Very soon, he said.

OK, Lord. OK. I’m going to stand in faith for soon. I don’t know what that looks like but I’m going to surrender, believe and wait with expectation. I replied.

Surrender, believe and wait with expectation. Of all of the things I’ve done while waiting on God the last several years, I think these three actions are the most essential — especially waiting with expectation. You see, this isn’t a passive kind of wait but a wait that stands in faith and worships and believes and calls things that are not as if they were. Because even when things look dark, we have a light shining on the inside that can expel darkness when we speak the truth in faith.

Beloved, we might not always know how God is working in our wait, but He is. And he hears every prayer and catches every tear.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” -Jeremiah 29:11

If you’re in need of a fresh word from the Lord in the middle of your wait today, here’s what I want you to do. Listen to She Found Joy’s latest podcast series, “Waiting on God.” Draw near to God. Don’t stop praying. Praise Him always. Don’t speak to God about your problem — tell your mountain to MOVE! Stand on His Word and keeping singing until all the walls fall down and the waters calm to a still. He will do it, for the Lord changes not and He is the ever faithful, ever true God.

To the woman who is waiting on a miracle: The below photo of me proclaiming God’s faithfulness was taken the day before my health took yet another nosedive this year. After seeing progress and healing in some areas of my life, things fell apart again and the enemy quickly swooped in to try and make me believe the lies he’s been whispering to me over the last 10 years.

“God didn’t actually mean He was going to physically heal you when He asked you to believe He would. If He hasn’t healed you by now, He’s not going to. Your life has always been and will always be a fight. You’re never going to have your old life back. You are genetically messed up and there’s nothing you can do to fix that.” Day and night, I have been tormented by these evil messages and the temptation to give into them is great.

To make matters worse, the enemy has used people close to me to echo similar sentiments to me.

But I will not be shaken. Because I’m not who I once was, and I’m done settling with accepting the lies that threaten my destiny as a daughter of the risen King.

I’m done identifying myself by a name given to me by man (hEDS), because I serve a Savior who has been given the name above all names: Jesus.

Stepping back over the last week, all of these observations have made me stop and wonder: When did we (myself included at one point) stop believing that by His stripes we ARE healed? Not we will be healed. We ARE healed. Here on earth as it is in heaven. And not just spiritually, but physically and mentally? Body. Mind. Soul. For He already bore our sickness and sin, and the price for our freedom has already been paid. Yes, it is finished (See Isaiah 53:5 and John 19:30)!!

When did we decide that miracles were only reserved for 2,000 years ago? Have we forgotten that Jesus himself said “Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).

Yes, we are promised suffering. Yes, we are promised trials. Yes, the Lord uses these trials and sufferings to grow us up in Christ Jesus. But life doesn’t — nor should it — stop there. Because BY FAITH, we have been given the victory and the power not just to endure, but to overcome!

I don’t know how the enemy is attacking your faith today, or what miracle he is trying to get you to give up on, but may I remind you that we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved (Hebrews 10:39).

So don’t you give up on a miracle. It’s time to speak to and believe for the impossible and show the world who Jesus was and still is and the grace that is available to us through faith in Him. He is Savior. He is Healer. He is Redeemer. He is the same yesterday, today and forevermore.

Let’s give a shout of praise to our King today and tell Him what we’re thankful for!

I’ll go first, then you can share what you’re thankful for in the comments: I’m thankful for God answering my prayer to take my faith deeper than my feet could ever wander. When I wrote Into the Deep: Diving into a Life of Courageous Faith, I knew God still had so much He wanted to show and teach me about faith (this is coming in book #2!!). The answer to this prayer may have included some trials and heartache, but it is producing something beautiful in me and I’m so excited to see how God will continue to redeem the ashes of my old, broken life and bring healing to things I once thought were impossible to be healed. This is the Good News of the Cross and Blood of Christ. We are not without hope and miracles still abound today — all for His glory, name, honor and fame.