Do You Know Him as Your Beloved Lord?

Danny and I are pretty busy. Many times we are going in different directions to get everything done. After all these years I know what he thinks and how he feels about things so I can anticipate his needs to a great extent. If we’re going on a trip I know what he likes to carry so I pack things for him. He knows me as well. He knows I like to carry too much stuff so he anticipates needing more room.

We didn’t know each other so well in the beginning. But we loved each other so we studied one another to find out how to please each other not just ourselves. I assumed I knew how to cook but you know I had to really learn how to make a meal taste good. I had to find out that we didn’t always like the same food. Although I knew Danny, I found out so much more about him when we got married and we shared everything together. We surprised each other about some things, we adjusted other things and together we learned to know another better. We found that dating was great, but being married was wonderful. I found that to know Danny was to love him and I’ve always been blessed with the trust in his faithfulness, loyalty and truth.

People think they know God. You hear all kinds of things about Him. I grew up seeing Him as a benevolent old man who could get you if you crossed Him. My father called Him the “old man upstairs” so I had that picture of Him as well. But I kept thinking He was with me and watched over me. I called on Him often for help and for security. Others think of God as a distant aloof being. Yes, God created the world or something, but He pretty much leaves us alone to do our own thing. Some people fear God, others disdain Him. Some live with incredible guilt regarding Him and others blame Him for everything. He seemed nice to me, but I just didn’t know much about Him.

When we are born again, we begin a covenant relationship with the Lord. Kind of like a marriage. We begin to live with the Lord – He comes to make His home in our hearts. Unlike human marriage, which can have a rocky start as people don’t know much about one another, this union is perfect because God Himself laid it all out for us. The Bible is our marriage manual. Through it we can learn everything we need to know about the Lord God, about Jesus and about the Holy Spirit.

There is an enemy to this marriage and his name is Satan. He doesn’t want you and I to know about God. He will do everything He can to keep us from reading the Word, learning about God and living in the light of all that’s contained within those most beautiful pages. 

 

God’s desire is full disclosure – He shows us everything we need for life and godliness. Satan’s desire is to keep us in the dark, so that we don’t trust the Lord. And if we don’t trust Him we’ll find the relationship of our faith weak and distant.

The One who placed the stars and planets in orbit, the One who gave the earth its axis and set it securely in the heavens is the same One who loves you deeply and provides all your needs. He wants you to know everything about Himself, including His never ending love! God knows that if you get to know Him you will love him more. The more you read about Him the more you will learn to trust Him. The more you trust Him the more you will let Him be your leader, your guide and your friend. Every single word of love and care was written with you in mind.

Oh beloved, run to the Book of Love this morning and read about your relationship with the Lord Himself. This amazing love relationship He desires for you is beyond belief! He loves to bless you with every spiritual blessing as you reach out to know Him better. He loves you eternally – the great I AM – and He is for you always to save you, to keep you, to deliver you and to take you home with Him. Now that’s worth loving Him, knowing Him and trusting Him forever.

Deuteronomy 6:5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (God’s) Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Deuteronomy 33:3 Indeed, He loves the people; All Your holy ones are in Your hand, And they followed in Your steps; Everyone receives of Your words.

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 31:14 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, “You are my God.”

God Wants to Write Your Story!

While preparing the devotional book, I discovered that there’s a lot of work involved in getting it just right for print. While I didn’t rewrite any of the devotionals themselves, I did edit some of the grammar, fixed a few typos and looked at how the Scriptures for each page looked. One change in a line on one page can make things off on every succeeding page.

Editors get paid a lot of money to do just that.  They are adept at what they do. Sometimes, especially with fiction, they get to make lots of changes. They like to rewrite characters, change plots and have authors rewrite endings. They can redeem a mundane story and make it sparkle.

Collaborators work with authors to enhance what they’ve written. Instead of rewriting, they make suggestions to increase the viability of characters, the excitement of a plot and make the ending more interesting. They will guide and direct to help the story be greatly improved.

Ghost writers do all the writing themselves. Then the writing is posted to an author’s name for credit. This type of writing allows the author, who may not have the best abilities, to increase the value of “their” writing. The ghost writer is the actual author who takes care of everything.

Every one of us is a novel in the making. Our story is being written every day. We can author our own book or we can let someone do the writing for us. We can go it alone or we can let another collaborate with us – help us along the way. We can use our own abilities or we can allow a ghost writer to increase the value of our storyline.

Can you imagine what a wonderful story is developing about your life? Did you know that Jesus can be your Editor in Chief – choosing to enhance your entire profile and cause the plots in your life to end with victory? God Himself will collaborate with you to enhance every detail; taking the hard places and making them shine for His glory! He will write your story for you if you just give Him your day and let Him be the Author and Finisher of your faith story!

Oh beloved, let God be your storyteller! Let Him proclaim His greatness through your life. He knows the harrowing experiences, the cliffs of danger and the valleys of decision you’ve been through. He knows the plot may be thickening right this moment, but He’s already written the end of your story and it all comes out beyond your wildest imagination! Everything He speaks of His own nature is yours to enjoy! Run to His Word this morning and read your story as you proclaim His Story. The greatest points of His marvelous message are that He loves you and that He’s for you and that’s worth turning it all over to Him!

Psalm 23:3 He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him—not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake. (Amplified Bible)

Psalm 16:7 I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I Peter 18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for Me wholeheartedly, you will find Me.

Deuteronomy 33:3 Indeed, He loves His people; all His holy ones are in His hands. They follow in His steps and accept His teaching.