As I write, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord for how wonderful He is. The past year was a difficult one for me, but I feel a maturing of love for Jesus in my heart. I feel closer to Him than I ever have in my life and I am so grateful for His leadership. He really knows what He is doing.
I am alive and absolutely on fire. God is wanting to take His bride from a place of trusting Him when circumstances are good to a place of absolute trust no matter the circumstances. Since the Onething conference in January, I have felt a shift in season in my personal life--even in circumstances, but also the level of the presence of the Lord resting on me is quite noticeable to me, and I think to other people as well. It is not because of any goodness on my own part, but because of a resolve that has settled in my spirit that I will not quit.
We all go through times in our lives when we are so tired of fighting. We feel like we cannot pick up the sword or swing it one more time. And yet, we do. God gives us grace. Grace is the God-given ability to do something that you do not have the strength to do on your own. Many times, we do not know how to lean on grace, because we are too busy leaning on our own strength. Yet, when our strength is taken from us, then we see the need for God's grace and learn how to walk in it. I am so thankful for the grace of God that empowers us to walk in righteousness, love, and holiness no matter the circumstances.
It is amazing that the teaching of abiding in the love of Christ was actually given the night before Jesus was crucified. It was given to the disciples the night before one of the greatest trials of their lives. It is the firey trials that push us deeper into His love if we respond with trust rather than with offense and bitterness.
I am so grateful for God's nearness no matter the circumstances. I am so grateful that He NEVER LEAVES. He is so faithful.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Resting in Your Daddy's Arms...
It takes the Father's Heart to look past where someone is at the moment and call them into who they are going to be.
When Jesus looks at us, He sees His children. So many times, we are so concerned about getting things perfect, not making mistakes, and doing the right thing that we are not free to be ourselves.
Imagine for a minute that you had a newborn baby in your arms. Imagine the affections and warmth in your heart at looking at that little baby. Is that baby concerned about anything? Is that baby worried about what to do next? No. The baby is in complete and total trust and dependence on the one who is holding it.
This is the way that we should trust the Lord. He wants us in a place of total trust and dependence on Him. Babies are not concerned with where their next meal will come from. Babies are not concerned with how to pay the bills or how to handle relationships or responsibilities. Babies are completely in the hands of their parents, and they are at rest.
Of course, babies grow. They develop responsibilities and learn how to do things, and eventually they become adults. However, God wants us to stay in that same "state of being" even while we are doing. He wants us to have the realization that we are constantly in His arms. He is such a good Father and He only wants the best for us. He is our biggest fan.
The way you feel holding a baby is the same way that the Father looks at you. His heart is overwhelmed when you look at Him. Tears even come to His eyes when He sees your face. He loves you with a love only a Father can have. With the same gentleness of holding a baby, He holds you in His arms and stares into your eyes with love and affection.
It is from this place of locking eyes with our Father, that He calls us into our identity and who he created us to be. He looks past where we are at in the moment and He gives us permission to grow into all the things that He has destined us to become. He doesn't beat us over the head because we are not at a different place in our walk. He loves us where we are. He also doesn't allow us to stay in the same place forever, but the way He moves us is gentle. It is His gentleness that makes us great (Ps. 18).
When Jesus looks at us, He sees His children. So many times, we are so concerned about getting things perfect, not making mistakes, and doing the right thing that we are not free to be ourselves.
Imagine for a minute that you had a newborn baby in your arms. Imagine the affections and warmth in your heart at looking at that little baby. Is that baby concerned about anything? Is that baby worried about what to do next? No. The baby is in complete and total trust and dependence on the one who is holding it.
This is the way that we should trust the Lord. He wants us in a place of total trust and dependence on Him. Babies are not concerned with where their next meal will come from. Babies are not concerned with how to pay the bills or how to handle relationships or responsibilities. Babies are completely in the hands of their parents, and they are at rest.
Of course, babies grow. They develop responsibilities and learn how to do things, and eventually they become adults. However, God wants us to stay in that same "state of being" even while we are doing. He wants us to have the realization that we are constantly in His arms. He is such a good Father and He only wants the best for us. He is our biggest fan.
The way you feel holding a baby is the same way that the Father looks at you. His heart is overwhelmed when you look at Him. Tears even come to His eyes when He sees your face. He loves you with a love only a Father can have. With the same gentleness of holding a baby, He holds you in His arms and stares into your eyes with love and affection.
It is from this place of locking eyes with our Father, that He calls us into our identity and who he created us to be. He looks past where we are at in the moment and He gives us permission to grow into all the things that He has destined us to become. He doesn't beat us over the head because we are not at a different place in our walk. He loves us where we are. He also doesn't allow us to stay in the same place forever, but the way He moves us is gentle. It is His gentleness that makes us great (Ps. 18).
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