Precious Father – you say in your Word that you made us in your very own image, in your very own likeness we were made. It is sweet, fierce, and weighty to be made in your likeness and there are times where we have felt & known this as truth.
God, we confess that our relationship toward ourselves and our bodies is broken. We are vulnerable to self-preoccupation and distracted by our self-image. We lust after things we do not have and make cheap the precious gifts you have given us.
Please give us hearts that long to be more like you. Please save us from hiding, isolation, and comparison. You invite us to new life and freedom – please open our eyes to all that we have in you!
God, please expose what is hidden. Please bring light into all of our dark places and lead us to both you and to community. God, we want to taste the power of confession and repentance, and experience the truth that we are made in your image, and are adopted as sons and daughters with YOU as our most perfect Father!
You relentlessly invite us to have more of You. We need you! Please help us to respond and bring us into freedom.
Showing posts with label Father. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Father. Show all posts
7.21.2014
Child of the King
Thank you Jesus for 7/18/2014. It was good to be with You. I think I'll take Wednesday as a day of prayer with You. A lot is going on...and a lot seems to be on the horizon. I sense Your movement, sweet Jesus...I'm eager to remain near to You.
My main ask - please make me a child, one dependent on you, a child leaning in on the King. A child of the King is set for her life. She does have quite a bit of an intense & fierce life before her, but she would not trade it for anything. And, truly, the intensity and ferocity is the King's to lead through. She need only to follow Him and stay near to Him. She gladly does - she would not want it any other way. She identifies herself with the King and that truly shapes and moves her life and future direction. He is a glorious King. One that is so worthy to be followed. His ways are certainly mysterious and creative. Only He knows how to meet the needs of such a mysterious and broken world. He is the Author and, therefore, He is the perfecter - He is the only way. She knows it. She clings to Him. Gladly.
Jesus, please awaken my heart to what You are calling me to. So many dreams, passions, & personal leanings are being awakened. You are opening doors and inviting me to faithfulness. May these passions be a part of the movement of YOU among Your people. Lord, oh that I and those around me would experience the GOSPEL, to be a part of the movement of Your Holy Spirit among Your people, that by every means possible You might be proclaimed. My heart is heavy that Your name would be highest - in my proclamations, but also in my daily life...to see all things brought into subjection to You - to trust and lean on YOU. God - how do I respond to all that You have initiated? Please hold me fast, claim me to faithfulness.
Oh Jesus, I want to live for You. I want my life to be a living sacrifice to You, Oh Lord. You do not need me, but you WANT me. And I WANT YOU. Lord be glorified.
This was my favorite hymn when I was a little girl. In the church I went to growing up, you got to pick the hymn to be sung right after you got baptized. I remember thinking, how could there be a greater message to claim today than this? God, You were active then. There is no way I could have grasped the beauty of this hymn without your sweet & powerful grace. To be a child, to be claimed by the most Holy One...is to be claimed and named by the King. Even before walking in my identity as a daughter, I had a fierce and glorious King who was on the move...
In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified!
In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.
In Your church Lord, be glorified, be glorified!
In Your church Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.
In my home Lord, be glorified, be glorified!
In my home Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.
In my words Lord, be glorified, be glorified!
In my words Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.
My main ask - please make me a child, one dependent on you, a child leaning in on the King. A child of the King is set for her life. She does have quite a bit of an intense & fierce life before her, but she would not trade it for anything. And, truly, the intensity and ferocity is the King's to lead through. She need only to follow Him and stay near to Him. She gladly does - she would not want it any other way. She identifies herself with the King and that truly shapes and moves her life and future direction. He is a glorious King. One that is so worthy to be followed. His ways are certainly mysterious and creative. Only He knows how to meet the needs of such a mysterious and broken world. He is the Author and, therefore, He is the perfecter - He is the only way. She knows it. She clings to Him. Gladly.
Jesus, please awaken my heart to what You are calling me to. So many dreams, passions, & personal leanings are being awakened. You are opening doors and inviting me to faithfulness. May these passions be a part of the movement of YOU among Your people. Lord, oh that I and those around me would experience the GOSPEL, to be a part of the movement of Your Holy Spirit among Your people, that by every means possible You might be proclaimed. My heart is heavy that Your name would be highest - in my proclamations, but also in my daily life...to see all things brought into subjection to You - to trust and lean on YOU. God - how do I respond to all that You have initiated? Please hold me fast, claim me to faithfulness.
Oh Jesus, I want to live for You. I want my life to be a living sacrifice to You, Oh Lord. You do not need me, but you WANT me. And I WANT YOU. Lord be glorified.
This was my favorite hymn when I was a little girl. In the church I went to growing up, you got to pick the hymn to be sung right after you got baptized. I remember thinking, how could there be a greater message to claim today than this? God, You were active then. There is no way I could have grasped the beauty of this hymn without your sweet & powerful grace. To be a child, to be claimed by the most Holy One...is to be claimed and named by the King. Even before walking in my identity as a daughter, I had a fierce and glorious King who was on the move...
In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified!
In my life Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.
In Your church Lord, be glorified, be glorified!
In Your church Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.
In my home Lord, be glorified, be glorified!
In my home Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.
In my words Lord, be glorified, be glorified!
In my words Lord, be glorified, be glorified today.
7.15.2014
Sanctification: Fear and Anxiety
Fear -
You cannot be my god. I have lived for you for far too long. God is so good in that He has been relentless about dethroning you. You cannot reign in my life. You are not allowed to claim my identity, my freedom to live the life God has given me, my relationships, and most of all, you do not get to be elevated over true belief in my Almighty God and Father. God knows how to use you for His glory and I pray that all my fear would always be used for God's glory. Every last bit, every single moment of fear, may it only bring me into closer dependence on my Father, make me more eager to declare my God as GOD & bring me to run to Him for relief and the re-writing of my theological beliefs.
You cannot be my god. I have lived for you for far too long. God is so good in that He has been relentless about dethroning you. You cannot reign in my life. You are not allowed to claim my identity, my freedom to live the life God has given me, my relationships, and most of all, you do not get to be elevated over true belief in my Almighty God and Father. God knows how to use you for His glory and I pray that all my fear would always be used for God's glory. Every last bit, every single moment of fear, may it only bring me into closer dependence on my Father, make me more eager to declare my God as GOD & bring me to run to Him for relief and the re-writing of my theological beliefs.
5.02.2013
The rocks cry out and I keep my heart tucked away in a million journals...
I love to write...I have written enough to fill many books...yet I have not written near as much as I probably would want to had I sat down and wrote more regularly! And where is all this that I have written?? Tucked away in a million journals...collecting dust. Jesus told the Pharisees when they were making a big deal about His disciples praising Him like crazy, "I tell you, if they are silent, the very stones would cry out." - Luke 19:40
For the last several months I had a recurring health issue...one that goes away just to come back a week or two later. Hundreds of dollars, many doctor visits, different drugs, pain/discomfort, and several key changes to my lifestyle later, I am **hoping** to be clear of the issue! At first it was a major hit each time the symptoms returned, and was very disheartening...but this next journal (shared exactly as it was originally written) I wrote right after the symptoms returned for probably the 4th or 5th time.
------written 4/14/2013-----
It's odd...I seem to be in a better place lately when I come down with another infection. It's probably all the prayers - thank you Lord for friends and family. I think there is also an element of spiritual readiness that comes with it too - a "this seems like an obvious attack from satan, so I will love and trust God even more" attitude. I don't ever want to be in a similar place as when I struggled so deeply under significant spiritual attack a couple years ago. I want always to trust, follow, and obey my good Father. I want my heart and mind to be set on Him --- so when the health stuff comes up now, it's like - "get ready. get the armor on. and get in the battle - er, truly VICTORY mindset." Because no matter what comes - my Father and Holy Husband is God, the Creator of me, you, this whole world, and even satan himself (I know...that brings up a lot of questions - right?!)...but because of who He is and also what He has done (which has maintained and affirmed who He is (i.e., righteous, glorious, sovereign, merciful, etc, etc!)), He is totally victorious. And He has a plan. And He wants me. He is in me. He is fighting for Himself through my life...not that He has to do ANYthing other than just be since He is God --- Holy, mighty, all sufficient. But He has linked Himself with me - lil ole' me - God decided to make me and then seal me with His Spirit, causing me to cry out and to know deep meaning to "Perfect Father," "my Husband is King"...I have a perfect and very good Father and my Husband is King of the Universe --- not only is He King, but also Creator. There is not one thing that I experience that does not have to fit in His plan and His intention, for His world. There is nothing surprising here to my Father. He knows...He cares....He is at work. I can walk and live confidently in Who He is. My life is not haphazardly lived and truly is not fully (or even close to fully) in my hands...I have an intimate GOD who is totally victorious, loves me, and calls me DAUGHTER & bride too! I am His bride! He is taking my filthy rags and exchanging them with "fine linen, bright and pure" (Rev 19:8) - He is preparing me now. He knows that I am, indeed, a prostitute...a whore who continuously turns her face...but He wants us anyway...He wants to see the whore become His beautiful bride. Revelation 19:13 ---> Oh Word of God, with your many crowns, make my life cry out Your name - Oh King of kings and Lord of lords! Do not contain yourself!
Father, please convict and lead my soul away from any and all evil, within and without. Please Lord, fill me to the overflow...please use this life to Your glory, and please, oh Lord, come soon!
----
As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” - Luke 19:37-38
For the last several months I had a recurring health issue...one that goes away just to come back a week or two later. Hundreds of dollars, many doctor visits, different drugs, pain/discomfort, and several key changes to my lifestyle later, I am **hoping** to be clear of the issue! At first it was a major hit each time the symptoms returned, and was very disheartening...but this next journal (shared exactly as it was originally written) I wrote right after the symptoms returned for probably the 4th or 5th time.
------written 4/14/2013-----
It's odd...I seem to be in a better place lately when I come down with another infection. It's probably all the prayers - thank you Lord for friends and family. I think there is also an element of spiritual readiness that comes with it too - a "this seems like an obvious attack from satan, so I will love and trust God even more" attitude. I don't ever want to be in a similar place as when I struggled so deeply under significant spiritual attack a couple years ago. I want always to trust, follow, and obey my good Father. I want my heart and mind to be set on Him --- so when the health stuff comes up now, it's like - "get ready. get the armor on. and get in the battle - er, truly VICTORY mindset." Because no matter what comes - my Father and Holy Husband is God, the Creator of me, you, this whole world, and even satan himself (I know...that brings up a lot of questions - right?!)...but because of who He is and also what He has done (which has maintained and affirmed who He is (i.e., righteous, glorious, sovereign, merciful, etc, etc!)), He is totally victorious. And He has a plan. And He wants me. He is in me. He is fighting for Himself through my life...not that He has to do ANYthing other than just be since He is God --- Holy, mighty, all sufficient. But He has linked Himself with me - lil ole' me - God decided to make me and then seal me with His Spirit, causing me to cry out and to know deep meaning to "Perfect Father," "my Husband is King"...I have a perfect and very good Father and my Husband is King of the Universe --- not only is He King, but also Creator. There is not one thing that I experience that does not have to fit in His plan and His intention, for His world. There is nothing surprising here to my Father. He knows...He cares....He is at work. I can walk and live confidently in Who He is. My life is not haphazardly lived and truly is not fully (or even close to fully) in my hands...I have an intimate GOD who is totally victorious, loves me, and calls me DAUGHTER & bride too! I am His bride! He is taking my filthy rags and exchanging them with "fine linen, bright and pure" (Rev 19:8) - He is preparing me now. He knows that I am, indeed, a prostitute...a whore who continuously turns her face...but He wants us anyway...He wants to see the whore become His beautiful bride. Revelation 19:13 ---> Oh Word of God, with your many crowns, make my life cry out Your name - Oh King of kings and Lord of lords! Do not contain yourself!
Father, please convict and lead my soul away from any and all evil, within and without. Please Lord, fill me to the overflow...please use this life to Your glory, and please, oh Lord, come soon!
----
As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” - Luke 19:37-38
5.07.2012
Engraved on the palms of His hands
"But, as it is written,“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”"
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
what God has prepared for those who love him”"
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Jesus is holding my life....my Holy Husband, why must I insist to look elsewhere and pray for so much else, when I HAVE what is infinitely greater and best!? Oh Lord, that I would only return to my Husband, for it was better for me then than now. Lord, I love You; I don't want to look for someone/thing else.
Dear God, You give (freely) to your children...I must trust my Father, the Giver of good gifts. I have no concern worth having...my Father rules in Heaven...and in my heart. My love, oh Lord, is small, but Yours is GRAND and is already mine. You will not forget this child, who is engraved on the palms of Your hands.
I take courage in Your promises, that are more true, more impactful, more everything than I can barely comprehend.
Lord - You blow my mind; please fill my heart...and may my hand be engraved also as to not forget my Lord & Husband.
9.08.2011
As a Child
Below was written in January 2011 - I have currently stepped out of the counseling field for a bit, but wrote this while in the thick of this weighty work - the stories & individuals behind those stories are still very close to my heart, as the experience changed my life & showed me gospel love, community, and God in a whole new light. Similar thoughts have been on my mind lately...if I can catch any of the millions of thoughts that overflow my brain these days, you will see more on this again!
-------------------
"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." – Mark 9:37
I work with individuals, mostly women, who have experienced extreme trauma. The stories I hear are the worst of the worst; I could not imagine it possible to hear stories that are more horrible and evil than the stories of the evil these women have experienced. I have become so aware of the evil in this world, but with that, very aware of God’s power over evil, which has been powerful for my own perception of and relationship to the God who saves, grows, and perfects me through Christ Jesus’ sufferings on my account and defeat of death through the resurrection.
It is only through Him that I am able to do the work that I do, and because of Him, I am not overly preoccupied/overwhelmed by clients’ stories, but there are moments when their stories come to mind…usually when I am at church. This happened a couple weeks ago. I was sitting in church and suddenly, clients’ stories of trauma began going through my mind. I had visions of each one, and I began to feel sadness as I watched the abuse endured by young, innocent children play out in my mind. Then suddenly, right in that very moment, I had a strong desire to hold and spend time with a baby. And to my surprise and appreciation, after church, a young mother caught my eye and offered for me to hold her baby!
I got some wonderful time with her sweet precious baby girl. We walked around the church, stole away to the nursery, we exchanged lovely smiles and laughed together, we danced, and we enjoyed one another’s company. After our sweet time together, this sweet baby girl decided to just lay her head down and curl up on my shoulder and fell right asleep! I treasured each moment as I held her close in my arms and she slept peacefully. I felt so loved by God, knowing I had desired this time and felt He had given it to me.
The following day, everything came full circle, as this moment was clearly being turned into more than just a blessing, but also a teaching moment. As I continued reading in a book I had been reading, I came across texts like, “humility is also like a child at rest in his father’s arms (John Piper),” humility is like a child, not childlike as though it is sweet and easy, but childlike that is powerless and absolutely dependent (Piper – my paraphrase), and “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me (Mark 9:37)”
And these texts were so sweet to me knowing that, immediately, as I felt sadness and in touch with some of the horror and evil in the world, I desired to be close to a baby…to receive Jesus and the Father (Mark 9:37) and to experience the humility, powerlessness, and dependency of a child asleep in my arms. And to feel and be reminded of the comfort, joy, and stretching pain in the smallness of curling up in my Father’s arms and resting. Oh how it feels to be painfully small while resting in the great arms of a powerful and absolutely trustworthy Father!
-------------------
"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me." – Mark 9:37
I work with individuals, mostly women, who have experienced extreme trauma. The stories I hear are the worst of the worst; I could not imagine it possible to hear stories that are more horrible and evil than the stories of the evil these women have experienced. I have become so aware of the evil in this world, but with that, very aware of God’s power over evil, which has been powerful for my own perception of and relationship to the God who saves, grows, and perfects me through Christ Jesus’ sufferings on my account and defeat of death through the resurrection.
It is only through Him that I am able to do the work that I do, and because of Him, I am not overly preoccupied/overwhelmed by clients’ stories, but there are moments when their stories come to mind…usually when I am at church. This happened a couple weeks ago. I was sitting in church and suddenly, clients’ stories of trauma began going through my mind. I had visions of each one, and I began to feel sadness as I watched the abuse endured by young, innocent children play out in my mind. Then suddenly, right in that very moment, I had a strong desire to hold and spend time with a baby. And to my surprise and appreciation, after church, a young mother caught my eye and offered for me to hold her baby!
I got some wonderful time with her sweet precious baby girl. We walked around the church, stole away to the nursery, we exchanged lovely smiles and laughed together, we danced, and we enjoyed one another’s company. After our sweet time together, this sweet baby girl decided to just lay her head down and curl up on my shoulder and fell right asleep! I treasured each moment as I held her close in my arms and she slept peacefully. I felt so loved by God, knowing I had desired this time and felt He had given it to me.
The following day, everything came full circle, as this moment was clearly being turned into more than just a blessing, but also a teaching moment. As I continued reading in a book I had been reading, I came across texts like, “humility is also like a child at rest in his father’s arms (John Piper),” humility is like a child, not childlike as though it is sweet and easy, but childlike that is powerless and absolutely dependent (Piper – my paraphrase), and “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me (Mark 9:37)”
And these texts were so sweet to me knowing that, immediately, as I felt sadness and in touch with some of the horror and evil in the world, I desired to be close to a baby…to receive Jesus and the Father (Mark 9:37) and to experience the humility, powerlessness, and dependency of a child asleep in my arms. And to feel and be reminded of the comfort, joy, and stretching pain in the smallness of curling up in my Father’s arms and resting. Oh how it feels to be painfully small while resting in the great arms of a powerful and absolutely trustworthy Father!
6.13.2011
My Psalm to the LORD
To You alone I will sweetly sing & boldly declare:
Perfect Father – You are my all.
Faithful Husband – How do you stay with your whore bride?
Oh I love You. I love You.
Oh Lord, these lies I believe!
Somehow I still hear them – what am I to do?
Lies. Horror. Terror. Deceit. Fear.
They keep me alone, they keep me down, they put distance between me and You.
Turn my protective walls of a fortress into Your mighty Kingdom!
I am Yours. You are mine. You are near.
May I tremble at the closeness of your Presence!
Let me just drink it in!
Lord, I have hidden myself from others.
I have taken my white sheet and covered me up, but I am still there, just below this thin sheet.
Self-protection. Pride. Shame. Loneliness. Judgment. Fear.
Self-Protection and Fear have been my gods.
Against You and You alone have I sinned.
Father, please rip away this white sheet of protection!
It keeps me committed to my gods.
It keeps me from You.
I don’t want to be apart from You! I don’t want to trust anything more than You!
I resign! I don’t want to be my own Savior!
Only You Lord! ONLY You!
Wrap me in Your Presence.
I am Your precious Daughter! Hold me near!
Lord, I will lie down in the midst of the city. I will stand in the middle of destruction.
I will go into the wilderness. I will enter chaos.
If that is where you go, I will go too.
I lie down and see your light all around me. Where you go, I will go.
Lord, reach out to me! Help me to reach to You!
I cannot do this alone. I cannot run this race without You.
Oh Lord, hold my hand. Let us be ever so close.
Even closer as the days pass. I want to know more of You.
Overwhelm me with Your Presence! Surprise me with Your Reign.
God reigns! My Perfect Father reigns! My Faithful Husband is KING!
And He is my Savior; I need You. My Counselor, I cherish You.
Perfect Father, You fill me. Spirit, You never leave me.
You are my Master, I will not go free! You are my King, I will put my face to the ground!
You deliver me from darkness and keep me in Your light.
And You do it again and again – I rest my hope in Your Deliverance.
Holy Savior, Perfect Father, Precious and Powerful Spirit, I love You! Keep me near!
Perfect Father – You are my all.
Faithful Husband – How do you stay with your whore bride?
Oh I love You. I love You.
Oh Lord, these lies I believe!
Somehow I still hear them – what am I to do?
Lies. Horror. Terror. Deceit. Fear.
They keep me alone, they keep me down, they put distance between me and You.
Turn my protective walls of a fortress into Your mighty Kingdom!
I am Yours. You are mine. You are near.
May I tremble at the closeness of your Presence!
Let me just drink it in!
Lord, I have hidden myself from others.
I have taken my white sheet and covered me up, but I am still there, just below this thin sheet.
Self-protection. Pride. Shame. Loneliness. Judgment. Fear.
Self-Protection and Fear have been my gods.
Against You and You alone have I sinned.
Father, please rip away this white sheet of protection!
It keeps me committed to my gods.
It keeps me from You.
I don’t want to be apart from You! I don’t want to trust anything more than You!
I resign! I don’t want to be my own Savior!
Only You Lord! ONLY You!
Wrap me in Your Presence.
I am Your precious Daughter! Hold me near!
Lord, I will lie down in the midst of the city. I will stand in the middle of destruction.
I will go into the wilderness. I will enter chaos.
If that is where you go, I will go too.
I lie down and see your light all around me. Where you go, I will go.
Lord, reach out to me! Help me to reach to You!
I cannot do this alone. I cannot run this race without You.
Oh Lord, hold my hand. Let us be ever so close.
Even closer as the days pass. I want to know more of You.
Overwhelm me with Your Presence! Surprise me with Your Reign.
God reigns! My Perfect Father reigns! My Faithful Husband is KING!
And He is my Savior; I need You. My Counselor, I cherish You.
Perfect Father, You fill me. Spirit, You never leave me.
You are my Master, I will not go free! You are my King, I will put my face to the ground!
You deliver me from darkness and keep me in Your light.
And You do it again and again – I rest my hope in Your Deliverance.
Holy Savior, Perfect Father, Precious and Powerful Spirit, I love You! Keep me near!
5.08.2011
Come. See. Follow. Found.
Life. Light. Purpose. Love.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." – John 8:12
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. - John 12:26-27
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. - Psalm 138:7-8
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." – Mark 10:21
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. "Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. - John 12:26-27
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. - Psalm 138:7-8
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." – Mark 10:21
The Great Walk
© 2009 Kristy Wakefield
As I pray, I feel His presence come over me.
He begins to show me…
A Dad and his little child walking, hand in hand.
As I watch, I know it is Him and I.
He is walking with me.
He asks me if I would like to go on a walk.
Without a thought I say “yes,”
All the while knowing that this would be more than just an ordinary walk.
He is going to walk with me forever.
He tells me to “follow Him.”
To give up all else and follow Him.
He is walking with me.
We walk, hand in hand. Sometimes I hesitate, sometimes I run.
He is walking with me.
Sometimes I dance, sometimes I sing.
He is walking with me.
Sometimes He picks me up and carries me,
While other times He gives me a needed push to face the things I fear the most.
When I am alone, hopeless, lost, or saddened by the world,
He knows His purpose. He knows the direction.
He is walking with me.
When the road becomes too weary, I see His outstretched arms.
He knows how much I need Him.
He gives me strength enough to reach for Him.
He is walking with me.
As He walks with me, He leads.
We walk, hand in hand; He shows me love.
He leads me in the way everlasting.
His path looks crooked from my worldly lenses,
But His is a straight and narrow path that leads to life.
He is walking with me.
As we walk, I pause.
He gently presses His hand against my back,
“Keep walking with me…I know what is ahead.
Our walk will not be taken by darkness, for I am the light of life.”
He is walking with me.
As I pray, I feel His presence come over me.
He begins to show me…
A Dad and his little child walking, hand in hand.
As I watch, I know it is Him and I.
He is walking with me.
He asks me if I would like to go on a walk.
Without a thought I say “yes,”
All the while knowing that this would be more than just an ordinary walk.
He is going to walk with me forever.
He tells me to “follow Him.”
To give up all else and follow Him.
He is walking with me.
We walk, hand in hand. Sometimes I hesitate, sometimes I run.
He is walking with me.
Sometimes I dance, sometimes I sing.
He is walking with me.
Sometimes He picks me up and carries me,
While other times He gives me a needed push to face the things I fear the most.
When I am alone, hopeless, lost, or saddened by the world,
He knows His purpose. He knows the direction.
He is walking with me.
When the road becomes too weary, I see His outstretched arms.
He knows how much I need Him.
He gives me strength enough to reach for Him.
He is walking with me.
As He walks with me, He leads.
We walk, hand in hand; He shows me love.
He leads me in the way everlasting.
His path looks crooked from my worldly lenses,
But His is a straight and narrow path that leads to life.
He is walking with me.
As we walk, I pause.
He gently presses His hand against my back,
“Keep walking with me…I know what is ahead.
Our walk will not be taken by darkness, for I am the light of life.”
He is walking with me.
----
“God takes care of the lilies and the sparrows and God will take care of you. Just come.” – Mother Theresa
4.26.2011
Divine Father. Divine Love. Adopted Child.
“Father” “Perfect Father” “My Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name” These are the words of a child addressing her divine Father. “Abba, Father,” these are the words of Jesus addressing His divine Father (Matthew 14:36), but also the words of His Spirit, whom God has sent into our hearts (Galatians 4:6).
This is my very favorite and most life-changing aspect of my relationship with God. So, when sitting down to write about it, I thought, “this will be something I will be able to write about!” But when it came to writing, instead of words, I had tears, instead of thoughts, I had story after story of God as my Father. Instead of knowledge/doctrine of God, I have intimate moments, knowledge of God’s love for me, His knowing me, His protection, His provision, His comfort, His assurance, and His counsel. The greatness in knowing God as my Father is in the smallness of knowing that I am His child.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”-Romans 8:14-15
For more, check out Romans 8:12-17 and Galatians 4:1-11.
"He is contrasting the fear of a slave with the affection of a son. The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to change our slavish fears toward God into confident, happy, peaceful affection for God as our father.” – John Piper
J.I. Packer states, “Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption” and describes adoption as “the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification.” (justification: tried and found innocent)
Not only are we found innocent of our trespasses, our daily strivings for other things over God, but we are adopted into relationship with God our Creator & not just into any relationship, but as a child with God as a Perfect Father! It’s like what Jesus has!
We are children of the Most High; this is our unique & powerful new identity! Being a child of God is a whole new identity. Being a child of God is non-circumstantial. I know no instances in the Bible where people got everything together and everything right in their life and that is where they met God. I met God as my Perfect Father when I was broken and in need of a Father. That is where I meet Him still.
All this is ours in Christ Jesus. It’s all free. And it’s not in response to our worth. Love is not based on another’s worth, it is based on the lover’s ability to love. And in the end, His divine love is an overflow of His worth. In God doing what only God is able, in His passion He went to the cross, defeated death, shattered brokenness and self-salvation to point to what is greater than all things, to what will make us supremely happy forever, namely HIMSELF. He gives us more than a new identity, a new way of life, He points all things to Himself and works to give us what is best, and that is Himself, as our Most Perfect and Supremely Passionate and Intimate Father.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
This is the intimacy God seeks to have with us and sends His Spirit to aide in our intimate relationship (“God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’"- Galatians 4:6). In crying to our Father; He knows that we need a Father to cry to in this broken world. He knows me and knows that I cannot find satisfaction apart from Him.
Take some time to be alone with your Father. I have “Father/Daughter dates” with Him. Jesus escaped to be alone with the Father (Mark 1:35); as women and men fighting to be close to God in a distance-prone, individualistic society, we must escape to be alone with Him, for our spirits to cry “Abba, Father!” I can’t do this on my own anymore! After all, how can we be comforted if we’re always comfortable? How can we be counseled if we’re always “okay”? How can we be helped if we don’t need anybody? How can we have a relationship with the Father if we do not know that we are His child?
This is my very favorite and most life-changing aspect of my relationship with God. So, when sitting down to write about it, I thought, “this will be something I will be able to write about!” But when it came to writing, instead of words, I had tears, instead of thoughts, I had story after story of God as my Father. Instead of knowledge/doctrine of God, I have intimate moments, knowledge of God’s love for me, His knowing me, His protection, His provision, His comfort, His assurance, and His counsel. The greatness in knowing God as my Father is in the smallness of knowing that I am His child.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”-Romans 8:14-15
For more, check out Romans 8:12-17 and Galatians 4:1-11.
"He is contrasting the fear of a slave with the affection of a son. The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to change our slavish fears toward God into confident, happy, peaceful affection for God as our father.” – John Piper
J.I. Packer states, “Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption” and describes adoption as “the highest privilege that the gospel offers: higher even than justification.” (justification: tried and found innocent)
Not only are we found innocent of our trespasses, our daily strivings for other things over God, but we are adopted into relationship with God our Creator & not just into any relationship, but as a child with God as a Perfect Father! It’s like what Jesus has!
We are children of the Most High; this is our unique & powerful new identity! Being a child of God is a whole new identity. Being a child of God is non-circumstantial. I know no instances in the Bible where people got everything together and everything right in their life and that is where they met God. I met God as my Perfect Father when I was broken and in need of a Father. That is where I meet Him still.
All this is ours in Christ Jesus. It’s all free. And it’s not in response to our worth. Love is not based on another’s worth, it is based on the lover’s ability to love. And in the end, His divine love is an overflow of His worth. In God doing what only God is able, in His passion He went to the cross, defeated death, shattered brokenness and self-salvation to point to what is greater than all things, to what will make us supremely happy forever, namely HIMSELF. He gives us more than a new identity, a new way of life, He points all things to Himself and works to give us what is best, and that is Himself, as our Most Perfect and Supremely Passionate and Intimate Father.
Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
This is the intimacy God seeks to have with us and sends His Spirit to aide in our intimate relationship (“God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’"- Galatians 4:6). In crying to our Father; He knows that we need a Father to cry to in this broken world. He knows me and knows that I cannot find satisfaction apart from Him.
Take some time to be alone with your Father. I have “Father/Daughter dates” with Him. Jesus escaped to be alone with the Father (Mark 1:35); as women and men fighting to be close to God in a distance-prone, individualistic society, we must escape to be alone with Him, for our spirits to cry “Abba, Father!” I can’t do this on my own anymore! After all, how can we be comforted if we’re always comfortable? How can we be counseled if we’re always “okay”? How can we be helped if we don’t need anybody? How can we have a relationship with the Father if we do not know that we are His child?
3.14.2011
JUDE 20/21
Perfect Father, who knows me, provides for me, loves me unconditionally, forgives me, disciplines me, holds me, saves me...be with me today.
Holy Spirit, who moves me, gives breath to me, convicts me, knows God's will & prays for it on my behalf (thank you so much for that)...help me feel your presence today, open my eyes to your greater things.
Jesus, I love you. Thank you for making God known to me, thank you for being my Teacher and showing me more and more of God. Thank you for doing the unthinkable, for coming to the brokenness in the world, coming to my brokenness, and not waiting for or expecting me to do what I am unable to do: to save myself through word or actions. Thank you for knowing how much I need You and going to the cross so that I could have more of You and see more of God. I love you.
Please Lord, be with me today. Wake me up to Your will and Your presence. Thank you Lord for the desire You have given me for You...thank you for the urgency to take a shorter shower today so that I could have more time with You. Thank you for this amazing weekend, for time of rest, for a friend that cares about what is going on in my life, for sharing Your glorious way with me through the way you love my friends. Thank you Lord, for opening the door to let others in to what You and I share, for urging me to give a voice to the intimate life You and I share and the thoughts You stir within me. Oh I love You. Help me to want You more than all the other things I think I want more of. Spirit, it is in You that I have life and breath...Jesus You want me to have life and to have it abundantly (John 10:10). Lord, please wake me up from my dead ways. Father, I trust You to defend and protect me from the thief in the world and the lies he tells me. I need Your gospel truth Lord, oh thank you for being Who I can turn to when I hear the lies! I love you Lord!
Holy Spirit, who moves me, gives breath to me, convicts me, knows God's will & prays for it on my behalf (thank you so much for that)...help me feel your presence today, open my eyes to your greater things.
Jesus, I love you. Thank you for making God known to me, thank you for being my Teacher and showing me more and more of God. Thank you for doing the unthinkable, for coming to the brokenness in the world, coming to my brokenness, and not waiting for or expecting me to do what I am unable to do: to save myself through word or actions. Thank you for knowing how much I need You and going to the cross so that I could have more of You and see more of God. I love you.
Please Lord, be with me today. Wake me up to Your will and Your presence. Thank you Lord for the desire You have given me for You...thank you for the urgency to take a shorter shower today so that I could have more time with You. Thank you for this amazing weekend, for time of rest, for a friend that cares about what is going on in my life, for sharing Your glorious way with me through the way you love my friends. Thank you Lord, for opening the door to let others in to what You and I share, for urging me to give a voice to the intimate life You and I share and the thoughts You stir within me. Oh I love You. Help me to want You more than all the other things I think I want more of. Spirit, it is in You that I have life and breath...Jesus You want me to have life and to have it abundantly (John 10:10). Lord, please wake me up from my dead ways. Father, I trust You to defend and protect me from the thief in the world and the lies he tells me. I need Your gospel truth Lord, oh thank you for being Who I can turn to when I hear the lies! I love you Lord!
"But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." - JUDE 20/21
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