When
I read The Cross and the Switchblade, by David Wilkerson, I realized my
need for Jesus as my Savior. The fact, that my sins caused Jesus to suffer and
die in my place, humbled me and caused me to admit my sinful state, and to cast
myself on God's mercy.
Then,
I thought I needed to prove myself to God, to earn His love by keeping His
commandments. I thought Christians lived for Jesus, and I had no concept
that I was to decrease, so that He could increase in me and live through
me (John 3:30).
I
lived in a state of stressful service, and had very little sustainable peace or
joy. I viewed God as the scary face of the Wizard of Oz, until one day God
revealed Himself to me as the man behind the curtain - a caring Being with
compassion on all.
I
realized through His Word that His love is a free gift, all-encompassing and
everlasting (Romans 8:31-39). His desire is to redeem us with the blood of
Jesus, and to protect us from the devastation of sin (Proverbs 11:5).
He
loved us before we ever recognized that we love Him too (1 John 4:19). He
desires to heal us in spirit and soul and body, and to transform us with the
mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5-8) until the fruit of His Spirit entirely
replace our carnal nature (Galatians 5:22-23).
Once
we experience the magnitude of God's love for us, we grow more in love with Him
with each passing day. We see His love in His blessings in our life, and we
feel it as He restores our soul (Psalm 23:3). His love sustains us through the
trials of life.
As
we learn to walk in His Spirit and to consult Him each moment of our day, He
spares us from suffering the trials caused by our own making. We trust in Him
with all of our heart and do not depend on our human understanding (Proverbs
3:5-6).
There
is no need to fear life, because we can pray with gratitude in our heart,
knowing that He will provide for our needs, and answer all of our prayers with
a "yes", "no", or a "wait on me" (Philippians
4:6). He desires to bless us all the days of our life (Jeremiah 29:11).
Prayer:
Father
God, we stand in awe that Jesus was willing to do Your will and suffer His
horrific persecution, crucifixion and death on the cross on our behalf. You
provide for all of our needs, even generously giving us Your wisdom when we
need it, without finding fault with us (James 1:5). As we wait on You, You tell
us which way to go and what to do when we get there (Jeremiah 42:3)
Our
life does not belong to us, but to You, and it is futile for us to attempt to
direct our own path in it (Jeremiah 10:23). Thank You for putting Your desires
in our heart (Psalm 37:4-5), and for fulfilling those plans as we commit our
life to You and follow Your Spirit's direction for every moment of our life
(Proverbs 16:3; Isaiah 30:21).
Thought
for the Day:
God
searches our heart, and knows the intentions of all of our thoughts; if we seek
Him, we will find Him, and as we serve Him with a willing mind and with all of
our heart, He will never forsake or reject us for any reason.
- 1 Chronicles
28:9; Hebrews 13:5
