There are some words many of us hate. I personally HATE the word "bunion"... Every time I hear the word I make a disturbed famous "Shae face". Another word I used to hate was the word "solitude" because I couldn't think of anything worse than being alone. I used to hate having to stay home alone because there was nobody to talk to, nothing to do, nobody to kill spiders, and nobody to prank. Just me. I am such an extrovert and kinda go crazy when nobody else is around. Even my time with the Lord was usually spent around people. I hated solitude until I truly understood what it meant and just how beneficial it is.
What does it mean to "Be still and know I am God?" (Psalm 46:10). We live in a society that glorifies busyness. Busyness distracts us from who is in control and keeps us from spending quality time with the Lord. I tend to look at my schedule and then find where I can fit some time in with my Creator rather than giving that the greatest priority and then making my schedule. Being still makes me think of sitting down, relaxing, and letting the Lord work on your heart and communicating with Him. It's so much more than being quiet, it's more like releasing ourselves from all responsibilities we have and sitting at His feet with an undivided mind.
When God spoke the world into motion, He rested the last day. From the very beginning, God created a pattern for us to follow. He didn't intend for us to constantly be busy and working on something. He calls us to take time to rest, not only physically, but mentally. By taking rest, God is able to renew us and give us strength. When we keep going and going, we tend to believe we are in control and we don't need to rest. I think the Lord also uses rest just to humble us and show us we are not capable of going and going because He did not create us that way. I know when I am busy and do not spend much time with my King, I become weary, and do not have the wisdom I need. When we are still and sit at his feet, He reminds us of His presence, allowing us to be more aware of who He is, and how much He loves us. Isn't it refreshing to know we serve a King who pursues us and wants to have a relationship with us? I think about all the people who serve a false god who is just a statue but our God comes to us and loves and pursues us even when we aren't faithful to Him. The Lord has so much to speak into your heart and so many ways He wants to fill you with His presence. Will you be still and take time to spend with your Creator?
"In silence my soul waits for you alone, O God. From you alone comes my salvation...The Lord will fight for you and you have only to keep still." Exodus 14:14
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Think for a second how you would describe what love is....
Many think of love as having those warm butterflies which honestly sounds a little creepy to me. Our world tends to view love through the eyes of self. People love because of what they get from another, whether that's gifts, satisfaction, or love back. Instead of loving the unlovable, we tend to love those who we know will love us back and seek out people whom we can gain something from. WHY?? BECAUSE IT'S THE EASY ROUTE.
Imagine you are in an area where a hurricane or tornado, or even an earthquake absolutely destroys your house, every possession you have, and even takes family members away. You have no money, no house, no possessions but the clothes on your back and you are left absolutely destitute with nowhere to turn to. Then, somebody who has no idea who you are and lives in a different state hears of your desperation and decides to pack up a truck full of supplies and drive to where your house was and rebuilds it without charging you, knowing you have absolutely nothing to repay him with. This is love.
In the same way, Christ came to us when we were absolutely destitute and in need of someone to save us. The beauty of the Gospel is often disregarded by Christians because they feel as if they have already heard the Gospel and do not need to hear it again. The Gospel is what sanctifies believers and reminds them what true love is. Jesus Christ came down to earth and died a harsh death, so that destitute people could have hope through His resurrection. Christ is perfect, and we are not. There is absolutely nothing Christ gained from this. He did it because He loves us. Love is costly because it involves sacrifice. It's as if love is a sign language rather than words. Words are easy to speak but actions show the truth. Love is not about what you can get, but what you can give. This is the beauty of Love.
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay his life down for His friends." John 15:13
I can think of so many times in my life where I have sinned against the Lord, not stuck up for Him, not treated Him as my Savior and Creator, yet He still loves me unconditionally. He loves the unlovable. He seeks us out. The King of Kings did not come to the earth to be served but to serve!!
Lately I have been reading Love Does by Bob Goff. One of the most impactful quotes I have read from this book so far is when he says, "There is only one invitation it would kill me to refuse, yet I'm tempted to turn it down all the time. I get the invitation every morning when I wake up to actually live a life of complete engagement, a life of whimsy, a life where love does. It doesn't come in an envelope. It's ushered in by a sunrise, the sound of a bird, or the smell of coffee drifting lazily from the kitchen. It's the invitation to actually live, to fully participate in this amazing life for one more day. Nobody turns down an invitation to the White House, but I've seen plenty of people turn down an invitation to fully live" (80). Every day as the sun rises, we have a new opportunity to live a life of love. For me, it's amazing to see how many times I get caught up in the business of life and schedule, and turn down opportunities to love on people. There are so many people who just need you to sit down with them and genuinely love on them. Love requires sacrifice. Love means so much beyond the word itself.
This week, let your love be loud and genuine. This may mean stepping back from a few things you are involved in so you are available to love on people, or it may mean being more intentional with where the Lord has placed on you. Think about where you are right now, whether its in a dorm, at work, in a community group, or wherever. Think about how many people you actually KNOW in that realm. It takes genuine love to get to know someone. It takes a sacrifice of time to love on people and care about what they are going through. Just remember, LOVE DOES.
