Dear Ones,
Hope you have a day of basking in the love of the Lord. We have a retired missionary coming for the day whom we haven’t seen for some time. The question for this week is: Are there times you feel distant from the Lord and how do you handle those times? Do you try harder?
Devotions from Judy’s heart
We may know a lot about God, but would we say we know God loves us in the depth of our hearts? It’s one thing to read scripture, memorize verses and go to Bible studies, but are we sometimes left feeling we are not measuring up and should be doing more? We may be doing many of acts of service, keeping busy helping others, and yet neglecting to spend quality time with the Lord. I wonder if we grasp how much He wants to communicate with us and simply love us.

I was reading from Jeremiah 31 in the Message translation, and was struck by the words God spoke to His people of the time they would be brought back to their land again and that He was out looking for them. He said, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love!” He went on to say their lives would be like a well-watered garden, never again left to dry up and he would convert their weeping into laughter and bring them joy.

When we have known the Lord for some time, we find we don’t always sense His presence, for He wants us to love Him even when we may feel dry or distant. So what often happens is we do more of everything, we perform and forget that it is all a work of His grace. We might try harder and then we only feel more guilty when we aren’t meeting our own expectations, and may also expect more of others.

Our Christian life was never meant to be one of performing for the Lord to win His favor, but one of accepting the grace He offers to us. When I was injured and not able to do much, needing to receive help from Al and others, I think my heart was touched and changed. I was receiving love from them not for anything I was doing, but simply being. Let us remember we are God’s children and can be secure in His love not on the basis of what we do, but whose child we are.

Challenge for today: Be finished with performing and simply thank the Lord for His grace to you, and live in the freedom and joy of being His son or daughter.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy