You can live a presence-driven life. Be carried by God into a life of rest and joy
By: Matt Sorger

HAS THIS HAPPENED TO YOU TOO?
Have you ever noticed how quickly one conversation, one disappointment, or one
person’s attitude can pull you out of peace? You can wake up full of joy, sensing God’s
presence, and then suddenly find yourself replaying words, carrying offense, or feeling
emotionally drained. I’ve experienced this. But I believe the Lord is calling His people
into a deeper place right now, a place where we are no longer governed by what
happens around us, but by the presence of God within us. You can live a presence-
driven life. You can be carried by God into a life of rest and joy.

THE ENEMY OF REST…OFFENSE
Rest is not passivity. Rest is a position of spiritual strength. It is the place where your
soul stops striving, your emotions stop reacting, and your heart becomes anchored in
God. One of the greatest enemies of that rest is offense. Hurt will try to attach itself to
your heart and keep you rehearsing what someone said, what they did, what should
have happened, and what never happened. But you were never created to carry that
weight. Forgiveness releases you from the emotional prison of another person’s actions.
You can acknowledge the pain without allowing the pain to become the atmosphere you
live in.

A MAIN KEY FOR FREEDOM
You’ve identified what hurt you. You wrote it down and made it plain. You even created
space to talk to the person who hurt you. What do you do if it isn’t received? If there is
no apology? Or no open door for true restoration? I went through this recently. It was a
terrible experience. I said to God, “How do I forgive someone who hasn’t asked for
forgiveness?” I thought maybe I didn’t really need to forgive. Maybe just release them to
God.

Then I saw a vision of Jesus being killed on the cross. While he was being murdered
and executed, He uttered these words. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t
know what they are doing.” No one asked for forgiveness. No one acknowledged their
sin. And while experiencing the pain of murder, Jesus stepped into the place as
Intercessor. He prayed to the Father and asked for God to forgive them. God spoke to
my heart, “Embrace the cross. Cling to the cross. Cling to Me.” I knew God was calling
me to be like Jesus. And to step into the place as an intercessor and simply pray,
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” I realized that when I embrace
the cross and become like Jesus, I also experience His life, joy, peace, and freedom. It
was so liberating.

WHY DOES THE ENEMY ATTACK YOUR JOY?
Jesus spoke about abiding in Him, and He connected that abiding life with fullness of
joy. Joy is more than happiness. Joy is supernatural strength. “The joy of the Lord is
your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). That means when the enemy attacks your joy, he is
often trying to weaken your strength. Guard your joy. Protect your inner world. Don’t
give another person the power to determine whether you have peace today. Don’t let a
difficult circumstance rob you of what God has placed inside of you. There is a joy that
comes from His presence that is deeper than circumstances, stronger than
disappointment, and more powerful than offense.

WHAT I HEAR THE LORD SAYING
I prophesy over you today: you are coming into a new place of rest. The things that
once triggered you will no longer control you. Old offenses are losing their grip. The
emotional weight you have carried is lifting. I see the Lord restoring laughter, lightness,
hope, and joy. I prophesy that the joy of the Lord is rising up within you as supernatural
strength. You will not be drained by every situation. You will not be pulled into every
conflict. You will not carry what God never asked you to carry. You will live from His
presence; you will abide in His joy, and you will move forward with a heart that is free.
Don’t let anything drain your joy.

God is bringing you into a new place of rest and joy. Old traumas, pains, and stresses
are melting away. You will be renewed like the eagle. Health, joy, vision, faith,
finances…are all being restored!