Friday 4 July 2014

His Lavish Love


 “I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only. O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.”
Psalms 71:16-17

Love is the theme. Love is my story. So much I have learnt from a very young age. How I should always appreciate gifts cause I was a late bloomer, how to appreciate friends cause I lost a few due to my insecurities, how to trust God even when doing well felt impossible. Oh I could go on! But the issues are not what I want to talk about – it is how my God redeemed me that my heart rejoices. He loves me with my flaws and promised to do a great work. He keeps to His Word. He always does. He turned some of my weaknesses to my strengths. It was through my weaknesses that I found God. He met me when I was in my most vulnerable state. Like a child, I gave my all. In sheer hopelessness, I found Him. For that I boast of His works and I will do this all the days of my life.

My story is of how He loved me first and predestined a life full of promises. He keeps to His Word and always encourages. When I am distracted or do my own thing, He waits and reminds me of who He is and His plans. Like the prodigal son, I return. When I go through the wilderness, He teaches faith to trust Him even though things are dry and weary. Rick Joyner says that one of the primary purposes of the wilderness is for the separation of pretentious faith from true faith. After separation comes purification. The pain and suffering of the wilderness does not cleanse, but the faith required to endure and persevere does. In my wilderness, I see His love and power and I fall deeper in love with Him.

He began this love by giving me everything - I received. Then I learn from His love and I just want to express mine so I worship, I minister, I just want to do more…..He says I just want you. Rest. He overwhelms me with His ways. Joy overflows and my insides cannot contain it. But I also learn that love is not a feeling, it is a decision. Honouring Him even when I am wronged by doing what pleases Him. Worshipping Him with my life by giving Him my issues even when everything inside me wants to hurt someone who has hurt me. He pulls me close and whispers – ‘remember My love’. I have learnt that my aim is to live a life of love by giving cause My God is love and He loves me – flaws and all!