The Lord knows what we need. He always, always does. The real question is do we respond when He says, “Let Me give you what you need.”
This week marks my 10th straight week of travel for work. I signed up for it. Actually I like to see new places, meet new people, tackle new challenges. But 10 weeks is a long time to be away. A few weeks ago the Father brought me to one of those – “Let Me give you what you need” moments. It was a tremendous encouragement to me. But over the past few days I have realized the message of that moment was given not just for me, but to be shared with others.
It started on a Friday night. I had traveled all week. My wife and I sat down together and watched a melodrama we like called “Heartland”. We watched three episodes and to be quite honest with you, I was upset with the amount of drama going on in the characters lives as I went to sleep. Now I know it is bit silly to get emotionally invested in fictional characters on a TV show, but what was happening wasn’t totally fiction. You see I know people who are hurting just like those characters. I also love people who can’t seem to consistently make wise decisions and that hurts me too. I cannot unplug from the problems of the people around me and the show that evening touched a resonant chord in me.
After a restless night of waking, praying, dosing off for a few minutes only to wake and begin praying again, I finally fell asleep around 5. I woke at 7 with a start. It was like I was shaken awake. And I immediately sensed the Lord whisper in my spirit, “Come let Me kiss you.” I have three grandchildren and they know me as Papi. When they come over, particularly if we have been apart for a while, the homecoming has plenty of hugs and kisses. It was with that same sense of excitement that I got up and slipped into the front of the house.
I left our dark bedroom, slipped through the lighter kitchen and into the living room. When I turned toward the east facing front of the house, the brilliant sunshine reflecting off the china cabinet struck me with tangible force. I was drawn to it. As I stepped into the warmth of the sunshine I felt the Lord embrace me and I knew the reality of the Father holding his child, me, and giving him a kiss of pure love. I don’t know how long I stood there just soaking up the Lord’s gracious love. After some minutes, I started making a circuit back into the darkened kitchen and back into the light. For six or seven circuits I would just stop and soak in the sunshine and the Father’s assurance of His love for me.
After some time, I found myself just staring out the back of the house to where the sun’s rays were turning the early spring morning into one of golden clarity. And the Lord spoke one more time. “I am not through with you. The best is yet to come!”
That, my friends is a balm for a road-weary soul. That is a promise I can and will hold on to. That is a promise for everyone who puts their trust in Jesus and then pursues Him with all their heart. He wants to be found by us. He desires to fill us with good things. He will transform our heart to become more and more like His heart if we diligently seek Him.
And God, my God is new every day. The creator of the universe is able to do abundantly, amazingly more in and through us than we can possibly imagine. All He is asking is for us to take our Next Step with Him.
To reach out when He whispers, “Say hello to that person.”
To take the time to listen in love to that hard-to-love person God has put in your life.
To read His Word because you realize it contains the Word and words of life.
To be the spouse you know God is calling you to be.
To live a prayerful life even when busy-ness threatens to overtake you.
To slip out of bed when He says, “Come let Me kiss you.”
Be blessed my friend and realize you are the blessing God wants to bring into someone’s life today.
areliablefaith 