Dear Ones,
Happy Weekend! Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend. Today I plan to clean and pack and make food for going to the lake. We plan to leave tomorrow morning to visit a friend at Assisted Living and then on the cabin to stay overnight.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Isn’t it amazing how connected we are to others by just a click on our smart phones or a quick message from our e-mail? I used to communicate with friends in other states and countries by snail mail and it took ages for them to get my letter and then a long while for a response. But today it is strange that although we can have instant connection with others, our nation is facing an epidemic of loneliness with half of U.S. adults experiencing significant levels of loneliness according to our surgeon general. Though we have the latest technologies, we have fewer face-to-face interactions and so many feel isolated. Virtual friendships are not the same as ones in the real world. Many don’t communicate even when they are able to be together, as each one is on their phone and not conversing with those present.
But there is no need to be lonely when we have a Heavenly Father who desires friendship and fellowship with us. He loves us more than any person can and gave His very life for us. He wants to have a deep relationship with us and communicate with us all throughout our day. He is meant to be our Best Friend and will never leave us, for we are the apple of His eye, the crown of His creation. He wants to be our confidant and lover of our soul. We can walk with Him, talk with Him any time, anywhere and tell Him the secrets of our heart. When we read the Word, we find that we are drawn closer to Him and are better able to hear Him.
The Lord has also given us a spiritual family with other believers where we can come together to worship, share our hearts and be connected in a deep sense. When we feel lonely, we can reach out to others in the Body of Christ to receive prayer, hugs and words of encouragement.
I am reminded of the song that I sing often in the car, “Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home. When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”
Let us not settle for loneliness when our Father is waiting for us to come to Him and wants to have an intimate relationship with us!
Challenge for today: Don’t wait for eternity to enjoy the Lord’s friendship. Make Him your best friend and confidant each day.
Blessings on your weekend and prayers and love, Judy