“For years I “got” God’s love in my head….but didn’t fully understand it with my heart.”-Francis Chan
how about you?
most of you could sing with your eyes closed
“Jesus loves me this I know…for the Bible tells me so..”
almost as many of you could raise your hand to say you have been taught the importance of a “quiet time”
“Over time I realized that when we love God, we naturally run to Him-frequently and zealously. Jesus didn’t command that we have a regular time with Him each day. Rather, He tells us to , ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. He called this the “first and greatest commandment” Matt:22:37-38
“The results are intimate prayer and study of His Word.
Our motivation changes from guilt to love.”
I can testify.
My mother’s nightly readings of Old Testament Bible stories would be my first recollection or memory of a “devotion” or
“quiet time”
She would share & discuss with me and the sisters closing with prayer and a goodnight kiss
my next recollection of a quiet time spawn from the encouragement of my Sunday school teachers
I must admit,
at the time, I was more concerned with the weekly sticker on my chart and GRAND prize I would receive from my teachers
if I “read my Bible daily”
than I was for the knowledge gained from my time in the Word..
next incentive of change came when Love and I taught the youth Sunday school class
I felt obligated to spend more time in the Word because I was challenging our kids to do the same
I didn’t want to appear to be legalistic
So I would read our lessons & assigned scriptures & pray
unfortunately walking away more times than not
not remembering what I had read.
Sad.
and then
just a few years later
following our years of infertility
I was 22 weeks pregnant
following Doc’s orders of “strict bed-rest”
when the about-face between me and my Lord began
during my six months alone at home
in my tiny little bedroom with no windows
with my precious one in the womb
scared. out. of. my. mind.
I would lose him as I had our others
I beseeched the Lord, daily
“Sustain our little one, Father”
“Help me to “be anxious for nothing..”
“Grow him strong! Use him for YOUR glory”
“Help me Lord to “fear not” for I know that YOU are with me”
“If you will grant me this child we will do our very best to train Him up in the ways of the Lord”
over and over for six months I petitioned
desperately, seeking the Lord
reading the Psalms, Abraham and Sarah’s story,
Hannah’s prayer in Samuel
my motivation:
fear.
anxiety.
in retrospect
even though negative emotions are what kept me at the feet of Jesus
He was pleased.
Why?
I was needy of Him.
Just as I want my children to need me
My Savior desires nothing less from me.
which TOTALLY baffles me, really
the SOVEREIGN, PERFECT, CREATOR of the UNIVERSE
not only cares about me and knows the number of hairs on my crazy head
He LOVES ME!
like
CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
when I’m awful, and rude, and haughty, and selfish
HE LOVES ME
the SAME.
never more
never less
HE LOVES ME
and He has a plan for me
and a purpose
and a mission to do
FOR HIM!!!!!!
because
HE LOVES ME!
and YOU!
like CRAZY
and that.
is why I spend time Him now,
not because I’m scared
or anxious or unsure of what tomorrow will bring
although those days come and go
I spend time with Him now
because HE LOVES ME
and I
LOVE HIM
with all my heart
and all my soul
and all my might
and more.
blessings and love to you from me,
k
PS-quotes from today’s post are taken from the book CRAZY LOVE by Francis Chan and the HOLY BIBLE breathed of God
I highly recommend reading both.
:O)