Okay so I was looking through the Word today and came across something that I copied from I think My Utmost for His Highest. I had it written at the end of 2 Timothy dated June of 2007. Which is one of the reasons I love writing my notes right in to my Bible. Seems like God always brings them back at the perfect time! It really hit me today how important it is to fully obey in trust to the Lord and so I thought I would share it.
"Loving can often feel like a risky, sometimes losing proposition, which is why we need another ingredient to release the power of the love that conquers fear. That ingredient is trust. Trusting that God will protect you when you are fearful, that God will reward you when you feel at risk, that God will give you guidance and courage when you feel lost and intimidated is what it takes to defeat the fear that holds you back. Are you afraid that when you love you will become vulnerable, misunderstood, taken advantage of or misused? Trust God to watch over you, meet your needs and give you His best, and those fears will become increasingly none existent when our lives are characterized by trust-filled love fear ultimately will not be a factor."
I don't think it is by coincidence that this was situated right after 2 Timothy. Just a few lines up are the Apostle Paul's dying words. "The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever, Amen." How amazing to think even in the face of death Paul was still fully obeying God in trust.
I want to trust the Lord and be so situated in Him that I am free to love according to who He has created me to be. God has spent a year giving me opportunity after opportunity to live out an obedient trust. I was talking with someone just today and realizing that if I am fully trusting in God and ultimately trusting who God has created me to be I am free to love. To love whomever and wherever, rightly under God's authority and ultimately so much more authentically. Because I am not loving with selfish ambition. That trusting God in obedience means I am literally being filled to the top with what I NEED by my Creator. Everything else is just sweet addition to my day because I am free and situated in Christ. So much easier said than done. I wish I could say I sail through this topic with God, not true. But that is okay I am willing to learn and I think that is half the battle.
Being willing to say I don't always trust you, God. What I usually do is jump out of the boat, I see Jesus on the shore, I start to run on the water and all at once I am met with insecurity, doubt, mistrust, etc. Today the Lord reminded me that yes I am going to mess up. Because of my brokenness and humanness I will sin, trip and start to sink. But....with an obedient trust situated in my being I will not be allowed to wallow in my mistakes. I will no longer be able to wallow in my self absorbed mistrust and look over my shoulder for the rest of my life. I will be free. Again appropriating the blood and living a saved life. That with my willingness to trust God I am opening the door for Him to reveal HIS BEST, HIS PROTECTION, HIS TIMING and HIS LOVE! That is so super cool! It is moments like this that make the Walking worth it!
Love to you today!
Cari
