The gentle light of early morning awakens through the window pane. The flame of the fireplace softly flickers. A fresh cup of coffee is poured. My old furry friend is still resting soundly beside me. My soul yearns…anticipates….longs for the moments ahead to slow.
My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with Me!” And my heart responds, “Lord I am coming!” Psalm 27:8
Have you ever been asked to pick a favorite verse? When I’m asked, I simply cannot deliver an answer. ONE.favorite.verse? IMPOSSIBLE!
Countless promises have found their way onto lists, been recorded in journals, printed on posters, and cut into stacks of cards for later review. Numerous promises have carried, supported, braced, and strengthened me, step after heavy step…they’ve stormed the deepest caverns of my heart, replaced inky-black discouragement with blazing hope, they have been the bindings used to strap up the broken limbs of my soul.
But… this one verse… My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with Me….it enters a category of its own in my heart. It has been the most tender whisper to my soul, revealing God’s own longing to draw near to me.
So…this morning my heart responds, “Lord I am coming!” … not out of duty, not out of religious routine, not to earn my way toward favor with the Almighty. I come in response…because the Lover of my soul invites. The One who knows my deeply flawed and marred life… the One, who only hours before, witnessed my ridiculously short temper, or my selfish motivations, and all my missed opportunities… still yearns, still waits, still anticipates time alone with me….ah Friend… with us.
The One who knows the circumstances a day will introduce…the frustrations or the joys we’ll face, both the glorious and the throbbing memories that will be conceived… invites us to hear His heart FIRST, to anchor our emotions to His indestructible strength and to dream beyond the borders of our self-determined limitations. Mark Batterson writes, “When we open God’s Word, He opens His mouth and speaks to us through it!” Have you experienced this? Have God’s words ever leapt off the pages into your spirit? God designed His Living Words to become key players in shaping our thoughts, our motives, and our actions. He has used them to restore crushed spirits, straighten crooked pathways, and redeem broken lives.
His Word has reshaped my shattered past, secured my uncertain present, and paved a confident pathway for an unknown future. When God speaks through His Word, then what?
- Capture it: Like a fisherman with net in tow, I approach His Word with 4 Highlighters in hand, determined not to lose any part of my treasure. As I grip each one, He hears the cry of my heart:
Oh Jesus, I long to know YOU more! Please reveal to me even a glimpse into the immeasurable glory of your character, Your infinite holiness, Your boundless love! (Example: Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God)
Your promises anchor my hope in You and cause my roots to grow deep into your love! Please speak even one sustaining word into my situation today! (Example: Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.)
Thank you for people, principles and pathways that will help me grow to become more like Christ. As I respond to what you show me, allow Your image to be revealed in me. (Example: Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with allyour heart. and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.)
Walking with you alerts me to recognize sin and the destructive entrapment of the enemy. You warn. You caution. Help me pay attention to your counsel. (Example: Col 3:8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
2. Record It: Find a way that works for you to record the Truths that impacted you. Try writing about them in a journal, on a laptop, or even on a stone….this step alone will help the promises become more sticky to your soul a midst the rush of the day.
3. Share it: The more we talk about the Truths God has revealed, the more they settle into the deep places of our spirit and become the fibers that bind the durable fabric of our life.
My prayer for you is that every time you read God’s Word, you will meet Jesus in a brand new way. He invites, “Come and talk to me.” Today I pray you hear yourself reply, “Lord I am coming!”
Beauty Awaits…
Patty
P.S. I’d love to hear your thoughts…this week’s comments will be entered in a drawing to win a Bible Highlighting Set.
Anchor of Hope: Song of Solomon 8:14 Come away, my Beloved….
patty… thank you so much for sharing your heart on this blog. i am always so encouraged in my daily journey with Christ…as a woman, as a wife and as a mother.
May you experience His presence at every level… Speaking value over all that you are in Him
What an encouraging reminder that was very needed for me today!
Patty,
You are a beautiful writer. Thank for encouraging us to deepen our relationship with The Lord. You reminded how exciting it is to hear His words!
Vivian
Thank you Vivian. May Jesus draw you to himself today.
Capture, record, share……Your words are inspiring …. Thank you….I am just now, as a “senior saint” beginning to journal my daily conversations with Jesus. I wish I had started earlier…. Thank you for making time to listen at church last night, for giving me a place to share. Where can I get the highlighters? 🙂
Happy Birthday month, Sharlee. Your journal will be instrumental in strengthening the faith of the precious lives coming behind you. “for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past— stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.” (Psalms 78:2-4 NLT)
Congratulations Sharlee! Your name was just drawn in this last week’s give-away! You have won the Bible Marking Highlighting Kit. Enjoy!
I love how you colorfully express yourself Patty! Your words nourish my soul and inspire my spirit. Thank you for sharing your heart with us! I have started keeping notes on my iPhone. Things He speaks to me are constantly there for my review! It has been a blessing since journaling is now physically difficult. I miss being able to hand write my thoughts but maybe this is better, in a way — I am certainly getting the word deeper into my heart. Love you!
Pris, I love your creative solution to capturing Gods timeless Truth to your soul. Journaling in my laptop has provided a way to gaze at God’s beauty while capturing the insights from His Holy Spirit. Thank you for sharing.
Patty you are so very precious to me!! I love how you allow God to use you to inspire, encourage, motivate, and continue to council everyone to press on toward what He truly wants from us. That personal relationship and time spent with Him for His glory and our good! I love you my forever friend!!! Wanda
My dear Sis- you have been so instrumental in Jesus’ formation in me.
I do love that verse as well. First time it impacted me, I was traveling to meet my then boyfriend. I was catching the train from Minnessota to Montana! I was reading my Bible on that Psalm. I felt such a relief! It was as if The Lord was opening His door for me, asking me to be with Him. It was very precious. This was 15 years ago. Now the boyfriend is husband, and we have three kiddos. I have not forgotten. The day when God asked me to give Him some of my time.
Wow Gabbie – what a sweet story. Thank you.
Thans for sharing such beautfiul words. What Bible version do you use? I like the words of your version. All my best, Laura
Hi Laura-thank you for your encouraging words. I used New Living Translation. I love the ease with which it reads.
You are speaking my heart language, Patty. I don’t think I could survive without God’s Word! (During one difficult life experience I carried my Bible around like a security blanket.) Thank you for encouraging and challenging our LC Ladies to pursue the intimate and personal relationship God wants to have with each of us…The wisdom
and peace He wants to give us.
You’ve always challenged me even though I don’t get to see or hear you on a regular basis since the Lord called us elsewhere. I’m glad to have this new connection.
Oh how your words spoke to me last night and this morning again. I long to be free of my negative earthly habits and nature. Today I feel renewed in my faith that as long as I keep my eyes and my heart on Jesus, He will keep me on the straight path out of the oppressors hands. Thank you for your beautiful and inspiring prayers.
Thank you Patty! The Holy Spirit is really using what you share to encourage me as well as others