Redeeming Love: aftertaste

I finished reading Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers, for the second time in three months yesterday, it took me the same amount of time to read the 500 pages as it did the first time--2 days. There were just as many tears falling from my eyes this time as there had been the first. The same fears crept through me as I read. But what was different was my reaction to the whole story. More so this time did I see why Rivers wrote the book. Not as a truly endearing love story of forgiveness, unconditional love (which means way more than we give it credit for), perseverance, grace, mercy (in abundance!), freedom and so many other desiring qualities I could go on forever, all of which this book encapsulates, but I kept relating to the truth within the metaphor.

So often we fight the embrace of the Lord's love. We tell ourselves we're asking too much of Him, that soon the blessings and answered prayers will run out, we taunt ourselves to think that He doesn't speak to us but twice a week and we shouldn't waste those revelations on meaningless emotional shortcomings, that our sins are continually pushing Him away from us, and so many other lies we continually feed ourselves that widen the non-existent "gap" between us and our Heavenly Father which weakens our understanding of His love which bridges the gap.

First truth: The moment Christ came down and walked this earth, becoming son of man, the infinite gap, formed by sin starting at Adam and Eve, between Christ and His creation forever bridged.

Second truth: As Christ, first-and-foremost son of God, became son of man we, sons& daughters of men, became sons& daughters of God--IMMEDIATELY givings us authority.

We have authority over emotion.
We have authority over sickness.
We have authority over hatred.
We have authority over our sinful nature.
We have authority over the enemy.
We have authority over ________. You fill in the blank with what the enemy is using today to help you feel claustrophobic.

Third truth: Unconditional love. We hear God's love being described as unconditional all the time. We have authority over condemnation. Unconditional by definition means without conditions or limitations, absolute. The further we run from the Lord, His love remains the same. The closer we draw nearer, His love remains the same. When we catch ourselves in continuous sin, His love remains the same. When we keep fighting against Him, His love remains the same. This is not a love of human nature, it is not a love we will ever experience through sinful, fallen, imperfect, humanity

My prayer for you today, that you would recognize the things in your life that you feel are separating from your Heavenly Father. And as He reveals those separations to you, that you would understand first of all that you obtain an unconditional, absolute love from your Father and He has given you power over what is constricting your breath.





Revelation 3:19 (The people I love, I call to account--prod and correct and guide so that they'll live at they're best. Up on your feet, then! Run after God!)

My prayer for today.

Lord, reveal to me what it means to fear you-help me

understand. Lord, humble me, I want to be a servant. Lord, reveal to me

your h.o.l.i.n.e.s.s-impart your holiness on me-make me peculiar.

Show me how to walk in the Spirit.

Bless me with a life abundant with freedom.

... repeat.

repeat until your heart senses comfort &accepts truth.

stop looking for an earthly resolution to a spiritual matter.