God's Wondrous Love

There is nothing in the created world or in the supernatural world, which can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39). God's love is not one dimensional; it is four-square.

It has height, depth, width and length, and is an abundance of all-encompassing love. God's love fulfills our life and endows us with non-paralleled, unfathomable gratification (Psalm 107:43).

We not only know about His love in our mind, but we can also feel it and experience it through His wondrous gifts and blessings, which He showers on us each and every day.

God's love accompanies His presence within our Born Again spirit. We bask in His fullness each moment of the day, and we walk in His Spirit throughout our lifetime (Galatians 5:15-25).

Even though our King Jesus sits on His throne at the right hand of our Father God, He also lives in us by His Spirit (Mark 16:19; Colossians 1:27). His love frees us from fear and anxiety (1 John 4:18).

We maintain our faith in God's faithfulness, and we look for the seed of a miracle in the midst of every trial. We know without a doubt that He will work out everything for our ultimate good (Psalm 118:1; Romans 8:28).  

We prove our love for God by obeying His commandments (John 14:21-23). They are not constructed to restrict our life, but to keep us healthy, joyful and in the center of His love.

The fruit of our obedience is an open door between us and God, so that His love pours over us like a waterfall every day of our life. Our joy is full, because Christ dwells within us (Psalm 16:11; Colossians 1:27).

Prayer:

Father God, in the abundance of Your love for us, we live in contentment regardless of our circumstances (Philippians 4:11; Ephesians 5:20). We gratefully count our blessings, which never end, rather than taking them for granted (Psalm 103:2).

We surrender to Christ in us and enter into Your rest. We resist the human tendency to interrupt our joy, shatter our serenity or rush the fellowship of our time in Your presence (Hebrews 4:10). We effortlessly float in the river of Your love and allow Your Spirit to move us along according to Your will and purpose for our life.

Thought for the Day:

When we realize that nothing this world has to offer is more fulfilling than the gift of love from Calvary's cross, we fall on our face in repentance and then rise up to worship our living God.  - John 3:16-17

The Wheel of Life

Read: 1 Kings 19:11-12

“You will keep him/her in perfect peace, whose mind is focused on You: because he/she trusts in You.” - Isaiah 26:3

So often I hear people say that God never spoke to them, or that God stopped speaking to them. It may mean we are not listening for His voice, or we allow the cares of this world to block our spiritual ears or we neglected to spend time in His Word and in His presence. Elijah thought God was silent and that he was the only Believer left alive. God showed Elijah that His is a still, small voice and we have to pay attention to hear it (1 Kings 19:11-12). I feel His silence occasionally myself! But I believe that in the quiet times, God is telling us to wait, to trust and to rest in His love. He knows that we will need all of our spiritual strength for the hazards waiting just around the next bend in the river!

I like to picture the “quiet place” (Mark 6:31) within my spirit as the Pilot House of a boat. This enclosed space on the navigating bridge, from which the pilot controls the ship when under way, is where Jesus resides as He manages my life. Each evening before going to sleep, I snuggle in His arms and share my gratitude for all He did for me and mine that day. Then, I lie down in sweet repose and read His Word, finding a scripture to meditate on as I snooze within the folds of my cuddly covers.

Then each morning I re-enter the wheelhouse and sit in awe as I watch my Savior traversing a channel full of hazards. Spring flooding creates rising waters rushing down the narrow, inundated channel, which is clogged by fallen trees and other debris. Even in the best of times, currents, rip tides, submerged rocks and trees, reefs or muddy embankments, narrows along the channel, wind and a myriad of natural obstacles are submerged just beneath the tea colored water threatening my life. All of this creates ongoing peril around nearly every bend. Yet, Jesus is at the helm, keeping me safe through every trial and danger.

Sometime during the day, I sit on the tall counter stool in the wheelhouse, swinging my legs back and forth, chatting away about all of my needs and concerns. I bring to His attention the multitude of people on my prayer list and the needs of my church, family and country. After we chat about my concerns, He often shares with me some tidbit of information I need in order to serve Him during my day, or in the coming weeks. He gives me wisdom I need or counsel on an issue in my life. He calms my fears when I notice a bend up ahead in the river and allow anxiety about the unseen to disturb my peace. At times, we just sit in companionable silence, enjoying the scenery while I soak up the goodness of His presence in my life.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I do not want to take control of the wheel of my life. I do not want to decide how to traverse the hazards and perils out in front of me. I trust You at the helm. I so enjoy fellowshipping with You as You direct me to do Your will one minute at a time. Your presence in my life keeps me in perfect peace as I keep my eyes on You (Isaiah 26:3).

Thought for the Day:
God is ever-present in our life and is always available to us if we have the patience to be still and know that He is our God.

That Giant Step

Read: Exodus 14:21-22
 

"As soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water's edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away." - Joshua 3:15-16

The people of Israel stood on the precipice of obtaining God’s promise for them as they entered Canaan Land. Unfortunately, the Jordan River was at its flood stage during harvest time, and the people wondered how they would ever get across. God simulated the miracle He used when He parted the Red Sea to help prove His anointing on Joshua, as their new leader. When their feet touched the water's edge, the river from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away and they crossed the river with no problem. Can you imagine witnessing such a miracle? Amazing!

Sometimes, we hesitate to trust God with our lives as well. We see insurmountable odds stacked up against us, as well as the raging tide of world events threatening to overwhelm us. We experienced disappointment in the past, which hinders us from believing for the future. We desire a fulfilled life, but are crippled by the fear of having to give up something we hold dear. Or we wonder what God will lead us to do, if we surrender our will completely to His. We have visions of a hut in Africa or of us sitting in a hollowed out log canoe on the Amazon River. 

Actually, when we face circumstances, which we do not understand, or for which we are not prepared, we have an opportunity to experience the deliverance and provision of God. All He requires of us is to take that first step of obedience, that first step of faith into the swollen river of life. Seeds of faith spring forth in the fertile, virgin soil of our spiritual awakening, and they bear a garden full of fruit. Each time God delivers us, our assurance in His faithfulness grows, and we have more confidence to live a more fully committed life.

Prayer:
Lord God, I know you are waiting to roll back the floodwaters and lead me into Your will for my life. Fill me with Your peace and help me to commit to You every area of my spiritual walk. 

Thought for the Day:
Take a secure hold of God’s hand and step out in faith.