In the past, when I felt empty, alienated, or overwhelmed, instead of listening to what my soul needed and filling that need, I ignored it. Or if I did take the time to listen, I then asked other people to fill that need for me. They reacted to my request as if I placed a heavy, unnatural burden on their lives, which, in reality, it actually was.
As God brought more and more healing to my soul, I learned that before I start grasping from others, parched as I was for a bit of love and attention, I needed to go to my quiet place and turn to God instead (Psalm 42:2). In this emotional state, I poured out my love to God and trusted Him to care for me. My intimacy with Him grew incrementally with the time I spent communing with Him.
In return, He fulfilled the thirst of my soul (Psalm 42:1-5) and gave me a deep sense of serenity and joy. God either fulfilled that need in me, showed me a simple method to meet my need, or He brought along another person to help me with it.
At this same time, God also gave me a unwavering personal life. In moving back to my hometown, I found a fulfilling job at the Montessori school, I had my extended family all around me, I made and enjoyed new friends, and I worshipped with a new church family. This change in my life circumstances helped me a great deal.
Through this stability, Jesus also gave me assurance and contentment from within. Therefore, no matter how many negative circumstances encumber my life (Psalm 57:1-3), if God did not show me a way to change them, then I used what I call “The Serenity Principle”, and I started leaving them in His capable hands.
I grew less dependent upon people for affection and attention because God’s love poured over me like a waterfall, and I learned to nurture my own soul (Psalm 131:2). I also started reading two Psalms every day of the month. Through David’s words, I realized that he was every bit as emotional as I am (Psalm 31:9-10).
This gave me confidence to communicate my fears and insecurities with people whom I could trust. I knew that with God within me, I could face the future in peace. I found my assurance in His love, and my strength in His joy (Nehemiah 8:10). I looked forward to continuing to live for the Lord during my lifetime, and to eventually enjoying the riches of heaven with Him.
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for these times of intimate focus on Your presence within me. I came to experientially know for myself the love of Christ in His sacrifice for us all, and I was humbled by the import of His death, resurrection, and ascension back to His glory in Heaven. I look forward to Jesus’ soon return for His bride at the end of the “Age of the Gentiles.”
We are so privileged to have Your Godhead filling our entire being with all Your fullness, and to have the richest measure of Your intimate presence in us as we are transformed by Your Spirit to become a body completely flooded with You. This realization surpasses anything this world has to offer u. Regardless of our trials in our lifetime, Your fullness sustains us now and into eternity (Ephesians 3:16-19, Amplified Bible).
Thoughts for the Day:
God’s Word informs us that we are complete in Christ – in body, soul, and spirit. Through Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary’s cross, we are redeemed and made blameless to stand before God with confidence and faith. Though our body will go to a grave, our spirit and soul are with Jesus the moment we leave our body behind. Then, when we see Jesus, He will give us an immortal body like His, because we shall be like Him when we shall see Him as He is.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23; 2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 John 3:2-3
