Since my dream of Jesus' love I have continued to feel closer to God. The challenge now is to learn to live in His love, to stay close to Him each day. I think that is what God is wanting me to learn now. So often I have things in my strength. Now I need to learn to do things in His strength.
I find I am enjoying worship in a way I haven't for ages and ages. I really feel close to God when I am singing his praises. It really helps. I have started playing worship songs at home again and find it really lifts my mood. I lie on my bed in the morning and evening and listen to worship music, and feel myself back in the presence of God again. But even with all this it is still so easy to forget Him and to allow negative thoughts to take over. I found myself feeling anxious today about the purchase of a flat, wondering if I have done the right thing. Will I find a tenant? It is so easy to dwell on those thoughts rather than talking to Jesus and letting him help me.
I am reminded of the hymn " What a friend we have in Jesus", written by Joseph Scriven. He suffered the pain of his fiancee dying the day before their wedding, and then when he later became engaged to another lady she too died before their wedding took place. Still was able to write these words. Amazing. I look forward to meeting him in heaven!
1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer.
2. Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
3. Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge;
take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee;
thou wilt find a solace there.
Why do we struggle on trying to cope on our own when we could have the God of the universe helping us? In my experience God doesn't stop us feeling these things but will help us to go through them. Lord help me to look to you for strength.
Very encouraging. I've been thinking about Peter on the water recently. It's such a human thing to keep looking at the circumstances, but what freedom we could know if we constantly fixed our eyes on Him. May His grace help us.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking about Peter on the water as I was writing this post as well as that hymn. In the end I went with the hymn. But Peter walking on water is such a good illustration of keeping our eyes on Jesus not on cirsumstances isn't it. He was fine until he looked down and then he panicked.
ReplyDeleteI think what I am also learning is that living in the love of God doesn't mean I don't feel difficult emotions. It means I don't feel them alone. Before I would always try to eat them away or push them down some other way.
You're right we would have such freedom if we kept on looking to Him. Still we have a lifetime, and eternity, to learn it don't we!