Prayer Pt.1: Good Prayers

Proverbs 13:20 says that "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise..."

If you know me you know my love for the work of Charles Spurgeon. And I totally claim this proverb as truth, hoping that by reading and studying Spurgeon's insight into God's Word, I too may gain such insight and wisdom. ; ) Today I picked up his book on prayer.

I think that we have allowed ourselves to be deceived into thinking that prayers are something that they are not. They are not silly little petitions sent up to heaven and put into a box waiting to be filtered through by angels, and maybe just maybe get to God. And if they do get to God, the chances of him actually answering them is so small it seems hopeless.

Or what is this idea that when we pray in public it has to be "a good prayer"?? Heavens! Who made up rules about what makes a prayer good or bad? I've never seen these rules nor do I know anyone who has, and yet we all somehow know what a good prayer sounds like.

I'll take the chance of sharing why I think this "good prayer, bad prayer" came about and how. It's really complicated. Get ready. You might have to read it twice.

"Good prayers" are simply prayers of those who understand who they are talking to. Simple huh?

Some people believe they are talking to those they are praying with. Some think they are talking to an angry judgmental god. Others think they are talking to a busy boss who has little time for them. And still others think they are talking to a distant figure who does not notice them.

But it is when a person understands they are speaking to an intimate, personal, all loving, compassionate, zealous, kind, patient, omnipotent, and just Father, that others realize something special about their prayers.

There is no such thing, in my eyes, as a good prayer, only one of humility and confidence in the God of their trust. People coin these prayers as good because in their spirits they witnessed a true interaction between man and God. Whether one realizes it or not, one's spirit knows when the presence of God is manifest. A child of God, when speaking to God, understands that they are being heard in the throne room of God, and not only is God hearing their requests and praises, but ALL of heaven is listening!

They know they are being heard and noticed by their heavenly Father, who loves them and who gives only good gifts. Their prayers are spoken out of fervency and zeal, because they know God intimately, and are intimately known by Him.

Spurgeon nails it when he says, "He who prays without fervency does not pray at all. We cannot commune with a God, who is a consuming fire, if there is no fire in our prayers."

All it takes is simply understanding who you are and who you are talking to. God does not care about elegance, higher level vocabulary, deep wisdom, or if its even intelligible. It's not about impressing him, or any other set of ears around you. He just wants to hear your voice speaking to him. That's it.

Think about a child's prayer. There is no deep theology or reference to the latest tidbit of wisdom. It is a simple conversation, with full faith that every word is heard by God. Simple talk in simple faith.

His love for you already abounds, and he can't love you any more than he already does. So just talk to him like you would your closest confidant. His nearness and ability to understand everything you throw at him will astound you.  But even more beautiful, is how absolute his love will become to you.

The more you pray, the more like breathing it will become. Natural and necessary. And when you have become intimate with your Creator all it will take is simply whispering his name, and you will feel the presence of God Almighty.

That's the most mind-blowing part of it all. THE God Almighty draws near to a broken, sinful prodigal son with complete love and grace. And when you realize that, your prayers don't become a speech. They become a simple conversation with a good Father.

"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." James 4:8

May this minister to your heart sweet friend. "Good prayer" or not, He will never forsake you.

"All it takes is faith and trust..."

If only Peter Pan's words were as simple as they seem! Plus everyone could use a little pixie dust right?

Faith is defined as "complete trust or confidence in someone or something." I love that. Complete trust. { Turns out Peter Pan's phrase is a little redundant.☺}

2012 for me has been the year of learning about faith. The previous post is testimony of that.  It is a topic I never really sat down to study, but what is so funny about faith is that's just it, you don't have to study it to have it. I think of many children who I've met or heard about who "simply believe."

Recently my prayer has become "that I might have the simple faith of a child." Luke 18:17 says, "Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."

Wow. Let me receive it like a child! I think about how as a little girl, if my dad had told me the sky was green and the grass blue, no one would have been able to convince me otherwise.

Where have we lost our faith in our heavenly Daddy?  We somehow lost much of our "complete trust and confidence" in the Lord. Whether it have been through one big loss or many little let downs, we have allowed our experiences and personal feelings interfere with our view of our heavenly Daddy.

The enemy's plan as we age is to use our life experiences to impose qualities on God that are not him. We allow the enemy to highlight everything negative about an experience and come out seeing God as unloving, unkind, quick to anger, judgmental, unfaithful, deceptive, hateful, and even one who turns his back on us. How far from the character of God!!!

Can you imagine how heart broken the Lord must feel when we look up at him, shaking our fist, yelling out such false accusations! I cannot imagine the pain of having the one you love most accuse you of not loving them or betraying them, and fully believing it. And yet that is how we make our heavenly Daddy feel far too often.

I had a recent conversation via Instagram with a couple people about faith. One man wrote the following:
 "Sometimes I get overwhelmed trying to imagine what life would look like if I could just trust God...it would be incredible. Unfortunately, I keep getting in my own way."

"It would be incredible" !!!!!!!!! IT TOTALLY WOULD! And thats where your faith is tested. You stand on the edge of this huge cliff knowing security, comfort, and familiarity are only one step back, but in front of you expands the land of crazy adventures and life-changing experiences. You have one choice. Will you say yes to the Lord and jump away from comforts and what you know to pursue "what is best"(Luke 10:42)?

I wish I could tell you it is easy peasy because I've done it! But I can't, because I still stand on that edge, knowing that with all my heart I want to take that LEAP OF FAITH, but my flesh and my heart long for the creature comforts of what is easy and known to me.

But that is when the Word of the Lord rings true, "The heart is deceitful above all things" (Jer.17:9). It is those moments of doubt and unbelief that we must put aside what we feel and listen with our spirit, what is it the Lord is calling me to? FAITH.

Many of us, myself included, stand on the cusp of this edge, having to choose between faith and fear.

But just as you think about turning back, the Lord comes up beside you, taking hold of your hand, and says:

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,

 'Don't be afraid. I am here to help you.'"

(Isaiah 41:13)

"All it takes is faith and trust..."but we don't need any pixie dust. :) 

The King of the Universe is holding our hand instead. 

And when we take that leap in faith of our God and his perfect character, we will see that incredible life we have been promised if we simply believe. 

Kroger. Purple Shirt. Blue Shoes. What?!?

Hello friends,

I've been discerning whether or not to write this post. But as I've promised the Lord, I will not say no to his leadings. 

Last Sunday my sister and I watched "Father of Lights" (which you TOTALLY should too!) and it has honestly changed my life. 

2 Timothy 1:8 says, "So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord." and Revelation 12:10-12 says, "'Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God,

and the authority of his Christ. 

For the accuser of our brothers,

who accuses them before our God day and night,

has been hurled down.

They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb 

and by the word of their testimony;

they did not love their lives so much

as to shrink from death.

Therefore rejoice, you heavens

and you who dwell in them!

But woe to the earth and the sea, 

because the devil has gone down to you!

He is filled with fury,

because he knows that his time is short.'"

Wow!!! By the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony! There is power in our testimony, and that is why I write this post, and this blog. I want my God to be glorified beyond all else, and to my dying day I will do all in my ability to make this happen. 

So after watching this movie, a second time alone, I cried out to God, "I want to have that kind of faith, Lord! I want to be bold like that. I want to do your work." Then 5 words were spoken to my spirit. "Kroger. Purple Shirt. Blue Shoes." 

Now wait a minute...I'd heard of this thing called Treasure Hunting, where people wait upon the Lord and he gives them clues about people he wants them to go and find to pray for. I had never taken part in this, but my first thought to God was, "wait...really? You want me to go to Kroger and find someone wearing a purple shirt and blue shoes? Who wears that color combination? What would I say? Right now?" A flood of questions and doubts came to mind, even "I don't know how this works, Lord. I don't know the rules or what is ok to say and not ok to say." He then told me, "There are no rules Sophia." 

Ok ok Lord, I'll go. I can't say no...So I threw my hair up in a pony tail and brushed my teeth. And off I went to Kroger. The whole time I was driving there I couldn't stop thinking about how absolutely CRAZY this was! I even told the Lord I wouldn't stay longer than 20 minutes looking for this person. 

Well my heart beating out of my chest, stopped as soon as I pulled into the Kroger parking lot. There just getting out of her car was a woman wearing a PURPLE SHIRT and BLUE SHOES!!!! OH MY GOSH!! You can only imagine how blown my mind was. My mind went something like this "WHAT!? Are you serious? Are you serious Lord? Purple shirt, blue shoes...oh my gosh...she is wearing them!" So I park my car real quick and hurry in. I see her by the deli and I take one last thought..."Am I really doing this!?" 

"Excuse me."

"Yes?"

"Hi, I was just sitting on my couch at home when the Lord told me to come to Kroger and pray for someone wearing a purple shirt and blue shoes." (She looks down at her outfit...) "I was wondering if I could pray for you?"

"Uh sure?"

"Ok, is there anything I could pray specifically for?" 

"Well, I have some family problems"

"Ok. What is your name?"She responded with her name and then I prayed. I can't even remember what I prayed besides mentioning the love of the Father and supernatural peace and restoration for her family. It was a short prayer, but my voice kept shaking and cracking. Oh man was I terrified! 

I said Amen, and looked up at her. She had her index finger in her mouth, as if wondering what in the world this girl was doing! I said, "Thank you so much for letting me pray for you. I hope you have such a great day!"

And walked right back out of Kroger... in a mere 5 minutes.

My heart was POUNDING!!! But I had done it. I had obeyed the Lord, and my faith was as high as the sky! 

My heart didn't stop pounding for a good while.  I get back home and am overwhelmed with joy and love for this woman. The Lord led me to pray more for her and then I hear "Gas station. Green shirt." What!? God, I just got back home! But I couldn't say no. So off I went to the 7-11 by my house. As soon as I pull in a car drives right past me...and driving it is a man wearing the brightest green shirt!! My jaw just hit the floor...This time I was ready! So I go to park my car watching where this man is going to park, when he just drives off. 

Wait a second Lord...didn't you want me to pray for him? Well I waited for about 10 minutes, put some gas in my car and waited to see anyone else with a green shirt. No one. So as I drive back home a little confused, the Lord told me to pray for that man. So I did. 

I got home and was completely in awe of my God! My mom and sister soon came home and I told them what had happened! My mom asked me, "Were you wearing that shirt?" "Yes, why?"

This was the shirt I was wearing, completely unaware of what it said. It just made us all laugh! How cool is the Lord! 

When I told my mom about the man with the green shirt, she said, "Maybe it wasn't so much for that man or woman that God led you to them, but rather to increase YOUR faith." 

Wow. What grace! I sit here still in complete awe of how faithful our Lord is to answer our prayers. I had simply asked for more faith, and the Lord smiled, replying, "Easy." I can only imagine how much he was laughing at my reactions when I saw the people fitting the clues the instant I pulled into each location. How our father delights to show himself true to his children! 

Luke 11:9 says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." 

So I call out to YOU and encourage you to ask! Ask the Lord to prove himself true. If we would only ask for MORE! For more faith, more wisdom, more humility, more courage! He will surely give abundantly. These and more are the virtues that make up our testimony. Our God has and will do such great things that we cannot afford to not share our testimonies! He has a great story for each of us, we need only to tap into it. It is not easy. It will be terrifying, difficult, and painful, but that is because the enemy knows "his time is short"!! 

God loves you entirely. He longs to be near you. Oh how he loves! So just ask him to draw near. "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" James 4:8

Our God is truly Great. And we can't even imagine how great our story with him will be when we just surrender it all to Him. He is so worthy of it all!

The Posture of Your Heart

Hi friends,
I hope this post finds you doing well. As I mentioned in the previous post the Lord has put it on my heart to share what he shows me and reveals to my heart openly and unabashedly. I don't know where you stand on your walk with the Lord, but I know that he longs to bless you. He blesses his children that they may in turn bless others. So I pray that you are blessed by this post. If you have any questions or thoughts about anything you read, I am more than happy to answer your questions and search for answers with you. (My email is Three_remain@aol.com.)I love to talk about my Lord and my faith. I pray that you read this with an open heart. The Lord has so much to offer his children! He is good, and so faithful! The Lord is faithful to answer those who seek after him (Matt. 7:7).

Ok so here goes!

I never expected the Lord to want me to share this with such an open group, but it is his gift to share, not mine. A couple weeks ago I had a dream. It was a few days before I was about to go and stay with one of my best friends for a few days.

In my dream I arrived at that very friend's house, only there were a lot of people already staying there. Believers and non-believers. We all were sitting in the living room and began to discuss God. I then stood up and began to talk to everyone.

"The Lord does not look at our physical posture when we are worshiping. He sees, instead, the posture of our hearts. Some people though they be on their face, their heart posture is one hand on their hip and the other hand held out as if to receive something. These people stand there asking as if they deserved something and to give it to them already. But when the Lord looks at me I want to be laying flat on my face before the Lord. I am lower than low, grosser than gross, dirtier than dirt, and worse than worst.  I am completely unworthy to even have my head above his feet. But the Lord looks upon those in that heart posture and delights in them. He walks over to them and lifting their head to stand, says, 'No more my child. I have made you new.' He cleanses us inwardly and outwardly. He makes us new. Then after lying there flat, I am raised up because I was that low. When you are that low, the only way God can move you is up."

That was my dream. I woke up thinking, "wow. what truth!" I had never truly thought about it. But it echos what Samuel wrote the Lord saying, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as a man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Sometimes the Lord leads us to raise our hands, or fall to our knees or face, but other times you know deep down that though you are simply standing your heart has fallen to the ground before the Lord. There is so much freedom in this thought.

But while there is freedom, there may also come conviction. For we cannot fool the all-seeing God. We may fool those around us, but not the Alpha and Omega.

It reminds me that I can never be a judge of anyone. The physical is rarely a 100% accurate image of someone's heart.  Luke quotes Jesus saying "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15).

I pray that I may always be found lying flat on the floor when my Savior looks upon me. No matter how many times he rises me up, I want to honor him and show him the respect and honor due.

I share this dream with you that you may take it to the Lord. I do not hold this dream as "mine" because I had no part in receiving it, it was freely given. And I freely give it to all who might be blessed by it. I encourage you to take this word to the Lord, and search your heart,

"Lord, what is the posture of my heart before you? Am I asking as though I deserved something? Am I hiding from you in shame? Am I walking with my head held high because of my accomplishments? Or Lord am I truly laying before you in humility? Oh Lord, I long to be flat on my face before you. I long to honor you in humility, knowing my place compared to you. Cleanse my heart Lord. I long to delight you! 'Create in me a clean heart O God! Renew a right spirit within me' (Ps.51:10). I love you Lord, thank you for your steadfast grace and your mercies that are new every morning! How we love you Lord! How we Love you! Praise be to the Father, Son, and Spirit, who make my life worth living! Delight in me O Lord! Delight in me! Amen."

The "Cool Trendy Christian" Box

In the past 10 years the Lord has taken me from being a shy private girl to being an assured open-book young woman.  He has brought me through various trials where I really only had him to rely upon. It was a place he took me to where when everything else was ripped away all that was left was my heart in his hands.

He held it there for me to look at and study,"What do you see here, my child?"

"My heart, Papa." 

"Yes, it is your heart. But look deeper. What is in it? What is it made of? What makes it beat?"

He led me through a probing of my heart. I saw for the first time what was at the bottom of all my thoughts, actions, desires, and dreams. And it was through that study that I saw without my Papa, my God, my heart wouldn't beat for one second. 

I'm tired of trying to fit into this "cool trendy Christian" box. The "cool trendy Christian" box looks different for everyone, but we all know what it is in our lives. and I'm tired of putting aside my quirks and likes to fit into trying to be this trendy Christian. I want to be who God made me to the very core of my being because it is what brings him the most delight!

If I had a child and I knew her down to the last freckle I would want her to be herself. It would break my heart to see her trying to be like her other friends, trying to look like them, act like them, dress like them etc. I would look at her and say, "My sweet baby, I love YOU. I delight when I see your true self come out. Nothing makes me more happy when I see you being just you. I don't care for you to be anything else than who you are."

I believe that the Lord wants to take us all on that specific journey, down the path of "Who am I?"

It isn't an easy journey. It is a journey of uphill conviction, and valleys of discipline. But it takes you to mountaintops of joy and fields of peace. And the end finds you in the satisfying arms of your Savior. Who looks you in the eyes and says, "Aha, there she is. My sweet girl, just the way I made her to be."

And so today marks the day that this blog shifts. I will be open and honest with what the Lord reveals and teaches me, unafraid of what others' theology or judgements may be. I want to share what the Lord teaches me, because he blesses us in order that we might be a blessing to others.  I don't want to be afraid to touch on controversial subjects because some theologies don't agree. I want to share the joy the Lord brings to my heart, that others' hearts might be encouraged. No more "safe box" for me. 

My only care in writing these posts is that people see the glorious all-loving God who has no conditions to his love. I only pray that the words I write can encourage souls to find who they are deep down, to let that person who God created, not the world, to finally come out. And then turn around and shout from the mountain tops the GLORY of our GOD!

I want people to love themselves the way God does, not in a self-centered, arrogant, or vain way. But in the way of taking delight in who God made them. So let's throw that "trendy Christian" box we've tried to fit into out the window. You can't really fit in a box that isn't made for you anyway. : )

The only place we truly fit is in the heart of God. So I pray that you would take the sweet Savior's hand and take the first step down this path to discover who God made you. He will match your every effort sweet friend. He longs to show you who he made you. You are wonderful, and so loved. 

Lord of heaven and earth, we come to you in this place of uncertainty. Who are we Lord? Will you show us? We surrender our selves: mind, body, soul, and spirit completely to you. Oh Savior, won't you come and set a fire down in our souls that burns with you and you alone. Show us who you knit together in those heavenly places, what did you use to create our personality and desires. Show us sweet Savior, for we long to be who you made us to be. We want you to take even more delight in us! Your smile satisfies our souls more than anything in this world. How we long to make you smile sweet sweet One. We love you Abba. Here is my hand, take it. I'll follow your lead.  Because you love me. Amen.

"I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:14-16

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

"For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving." 1 Timothy 4:4

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

Your Story: A Peter or a Paul?

My whole life I have known who Jesus Christ was. I went to church since I can remember, and never really had a time in my life that I was not covered by belief in Jesus, whether it be my parents' belief or my own.  I remember it was the sixth grade at lunch time and my friends and I were discussing our testimonies, which were to be given at our graduation from elementary school. At that place in life it was more impressive to have been 2 years old when you accepted Jesus, but I remember thinking to myself, "Well nothing has really happened in my life, so I don't have a good testimony." That was the first time I began to agree with a lie.

Middle school and high school came along, and I would hear of amazing stories at camp or church of people whose lives had been radically changed by belief in Jesus Christ. I began to hide from situations where I would have to tell my testimony because in my eyes "I didn't have one." I had never known life without Jesus. I had lived that "peachy" life with a loving family, parents still married, Christian school, obedient respectful friends, church involvement, and the whole nine-yards.

At times I would wish I hadn't known Jesus my whole life, because then my faith in Jesus "would actually mean something." I looked at others thinking that their faith was greater or better because they had REALLY changed when Jesus entered their lives. But my story didn't have that pivotal moment. It had always been this steady relationship.

As I went to college I still faced those thoughts. I remember a girl my sophomore year, telling her testimony in small group and if you could go through it...she'd been through it. Her story was dramatic and intriguing. She looked at me when she had finished and told me I should go next. I remember wanting to hide under the table and thinking, "Me? oh please no! Not after that amazing story of redemption and rescue! Nothing has happened in my life."

It wasn't until my Senior year when my then small group decided to do life maps. You take your life year by year and find the highs and lows, the memorial stones of that year. I sat there making a timeline of all the big events and realized for the first time in my life...I had been through things. I had been through alot. It wasn't as severe as some, but I saw in that moment the grace of the Lord sparing me from certain things, but also his discipline taking me through those dark valleys.

I realized, I have a story. I have a testimony that no one else in this world can say they have.

At my women's group, we are doing memorial stones again (speaking on events that show God's hand). A sweet lady discussed how she had not been a Christian until a few years ago, and has struggled feeling shame of not having grown up Christian and not feeling acceptable compared to those who had.

In that moment I realized something...we have all been believing a lie!!! Both sides, those who have grown up Christian and those who had not, believing that the other group was more "worthy" more "acceptable" more "Christlike." What a lie of the enemy!!

And the Lord spoke three words to my spirit in that moment. "Peter and Paul."

Peter and Paul. In those two men lies the exact contrast that causes trial this day.

Peter grew up Jewish, honoring the laws his entire life, knowing God intimately, walked with Jesus from day one of his ministry. He was a humble fisherman.
Paul grew up Jewish as well, a well-studied wealthy scholarly Pharisee, yet he hated Jesus and all Christians. He supported the murder the first martyr, Stephen, and countless other Christians.

When comparing the two, one might think that Peter was better than Paul because Peter hadn't done any of those "worst sins" like murdering. But Peter had his own faults against God, denying Jesus Christ three times, the very man he lived life with for 3 years (Luke 22:31-34).  God didn't see either better or worse than the other. And because of his mercy, he used both to spread the Gospel to the entire world.

The beauty of this comparison is that yes both had drastically different pasts, but they both had a moment of belief, one's more dramatic than the other but significant none-the-less.

God knows exactly how to reach each of us. Some of us need a bigger wake-up call than others, while others are whispered to in that quiet place. But neither story is greater than the other.

Both of these men had horrendous lows: Paul - his murderous hateful past, Peter-denying the God of the Universe he swore to defend to the death. But the most beautiful thing I see in both of these men's stories is that they both were abundantly covered by the mercy of God.

Both men could have forsaken all they knew about God, lowered their heads and ran away to spend the rest of their lives hiding from everyone who knew their past. But NO. INSTEAD they chose to deal with their past of failure. By the power of God, they chose to accept the mercy of Jesus Christ and press on to share the Good News with the entire world. Paul speaks the truth himself, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil.4:13)

"Few unmistakeable evidences glorify Him more than powerfully restored lives that humbly and authentically proclaim His faithfulness to the death." - Beth Moore

The beauty comes from realizing our pasts are not perfect, whether Christian from day 1 of our lives or only yesterday. The beauty lies in the fact that no one has to stay in their past. Realize God's faithfulness to forgive and choose to accept his mercies!

So my sweet brothers and sisters,  whether you are a Peter or a Paul, choose this day to accept the mercies that are "new every morning"(Lamentations 3:22-23).  You have a story and it is a grand story.

Peter asked Jesus in John 21, what will happen to John in his life? Jesus replied "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" (v.23)

Jesus says to us, "Do not compare yourselves my sweet children.  My story for you is YOURS, and yours alone. It is a story that I love, because it is perfect and good. So good. So rest in that, know that your story is my joy. Keep your eyes on me, 'Come, follow me' (Matt.4:19)."

We expect everyone to be perfect, except the One who is.

In Middle School, the Lord began to stir my heart to tell girls of the Savior's adoration of them. I recently found something that had really spoken to my soul. It comes from "Who Calls Me Beautiful" by Regina Franklin, an amazing book every woman should read. It is truly so beautiful, and such a perfect Word from the Lord for his daughters.

Before the beginning of time, I knew you. I knew what color your eyes would be, and I could hear the sound of your laughter. Like a proud father who carries a picture of his daughter, I carried the image of you in my heart, for you were created in my image. Before the beginning of time, I chose YOU. I spoke your name into the heaves, and I smiled as its melody resounded off the wall of my heart. Even your name gave me great delight.

You are mine. My love for you extends farther than the stars in the sky and deeper than any ocean. You are my pearl of great price, the one for whom I gave everything. I cradle you in the palm of my hand. I love you even in the face of your failure. Nothing you say or do can cause Me to stop loving you. I am RELENTLESS in my pursuit of you.

Run from me - I will love you.

Spurn me- I will love you.

Reject yourself - I will love you.

You see, my love for you was slain before the foundations of the world, and I have never regretted the sacrifice I made for you at calvary.

When I see every part of who you are, I marvel at the work of My hands, for I whispered words of longing and desire and you came into existence. You are beautiful, and I take pleasure in you - heart, mind and body. You are MY DESIRE. When you turn your head in shame and despise what I have made, still I reach for you with gentle passion. YOU are MY BELOVED and I am yours.

Here are some quotes that go along with this precious word:

Efforts to have a beautiful face and body rarely come from the desire to reflect more accurately the body of Christ. Rather, they have roots in the desire to make ourselves "pleasant to the eyes" (Gen. 3:6)

Beyond the dreams and illusions of childhood is One who calls me beautiful. His voice never falters, never ceases, even when I continue my childhood games, even when I keep listening to voices other than His.

Prufrock's love song is a cry to be known by a world that imprisons him in superficiality. It is a world that pretends to know life while it withers in spiritual death.

She lives with a divided heart, for she believes in Christ's ultimate love for her and yet feels burdened by her inability to love herself. Her struggle becomes an issue of spiritual pride - an inability to allow Christ to be enough beauty for her and unwillingness to allow others to see her insecurities.

I knew with my head, but not with my heart, that my beauty and worth are found in Christ.

We hear words of failure in our minds because we actively choose to give them an audience.

When we deride ourselves, we curse God's creation.

The world did not create me and does not know me. God did and does.

The only way we will ever know true, pure physical beauty is to seek a life of true, pure spiritual beauty.

True beauty is a life lived for Christ.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, I know who's fairest of all. His name is Jesus and because of Him I cannot define beauty as this world does. 

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Is it not incredible that even in our lowest times, when we feel like God's greatest disappointment we can STILL bring a sparkle to our Savior's eye!? How often we forget about the love of our God! The other day the Lord opened my eyes to this: We expect everyone to be perfect, except the One who is.

Wow. I was shocked. What a truth! We expect our family to serve joyfully, love constantly, and forgive  easily. We expect our spouse to never fail us or hurt us. We expect our friends to never leave us and to always encourage us. Yet everyone on this earth fails us. 

And then there is our view of the Lord. We expect him to be angry when we fail, not forgive us when we repent, blame us for all the evil, be harsh when we ignore him, forget about us, think us ugly and disgusting, not want anything to do with us. And yet...he is none of those things!

He reacts just the way we could only dream of!! He forgives when we repent, he responds in gentleness, compassion, grace, and kindness. What we expect out of all people, we can only expect from him, and yet we don't even do that! 

Oh how he loves! How he loves! He will never let us down. He will never ever ever ever...ever fail us! He is the lover of our entire being: heart, personality, body, quirks, voice, everything. 

This reminds me of a baby. When you hold that precious baby for the first time nothing comes to mind except "Wow, you are so perfect my sweet precious child!" The parents see absolutely no flaw in their child. And THAT is how God sees us! All beauty and all perfect. YES. He sees us as PERFECT. He does not see our faults, because of what Jesus Christ of Nazareth did upon that cross on the hill of Golgotha.   We are white as snow, precious and holy in the eyes of our Lord. 

He does not look at or dwell on our past. So why do we!? Let us fix our eyes upon the Savior, let go of our past as he already has done, and live for the glory and the honor of our Savior. For he loves you, greater than all. 

He loves you.