3-26-08
You've Been Robbed

Scripture thought for today:

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and

out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they

may have it more abundantly.

John 10:9-10 NKJV

Dear Friends,

When we lived in Detroit we came home from church one night to discover we had been robbed. The house was turned upside down, ransacked. Our drawers were poured out on the floor, lamps turned over, and our picture albums were open and had been viewed. The things that were stolen were despairing. . . the first ring Scott purchased for Clare, the necklace he gave her at the birth of our first child, our daughter's first ring from her daddy. These were things that were not valuable in money but in emotions. We felt violated at a level that was staggering. Scott's brother, Shawn, was a police officer on the road at the time. Every night he would pray that God would deliver the thief into his hands. Eventually he did. . . only that's another story for another time! Shawn was relentless because he wanted to be sure that our valuable items would be returned. Keep in mind, sometimes you need to ask a friend to help get back what is yours!

How relentless are we when we find out we've been robbed? Has your enemy stolen your hope, your relationships, your finances, your health . . . YOUR FUTURE? Do you wake up everyday and say, "God, today let me recover everything that has been stolen? I want my health back, I want my joy back, I want my friends back!"

Jesus' words are "I am the door . . . I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." He also said "the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy." The Doors Series is designed to do just that . . . open the door to Jesus and slam the door on the thief. This Sunday we will focus on opening the door to prosperity and shutting the door on debt. Get ready to see God open the way to prosperity for you and show you how to shut the thief out!

Journal this week:
What has been stolen from you?
Who took it from you?
What are you going to do about it?
Who are you going to ask to help you?

Pray this relentless prayer:
Jesus, You came to open the door to the abundant life and shut the door on the thief for me. I am ready to live in a way that recovers what has been stolen from me. Give me ears to hear. I will open the door to You and begin shutting every door that is stealing the abundant life You have for me. Make me relentless to live the abundant life You have for me. I will not give up, because You will lead me and guide me. I confess that abundant life is what Jesus died to give me so I will not stop until I live the life He died for.

Opening and Shutting doors with You,
Scott & Clare

©2008 Scott & Clare Loughrige