Every day our God is committed to meeting our needs forguidance- his disciplined love Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.Every day our God is committed to meeting our needs for truth- God's instructional love Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD [is] right; and all his works [are done] in truth. Psalm 119:160 Thy word [is] true [from] the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments [endureth] for ever. Hebrews 6:18 That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:Every day our God is committed to meeting our needs for protection- God's jealous love Exodus 34:14-15 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God:Lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and they go a whoring after their gods, and do sacrifice unto their gods, and [one] call thee, and thou eat of his sacrifice; Hosea 11:1-12 When Israel [was] a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. [As] they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim ,and burned incense to graven images. I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them. He shall not return into the land of Egypt, but the Assyrian shall be his king, because they refused to return. And the sword shall abide on his cities, and shall consume his branches, and devour [them], because of their own counsels. And my people are bent to backsliding from me: though they called them to the most High, none at all would exalt [him]. How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? [how] shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? [how] shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together. I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I [am] God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city. They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west. They shall tremble as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria: and I will place them in their houses, saith the LORD. Ephraim compasseth me about with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit: but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints.Every day our God is committed to meeting our needs forsignificance- God's affirming love I Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Every day our God is committed to meeting our needs for acceptance-God's unearned love Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Every day our God is committed to meeting our needs for security-God's committed love Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.Every day our God is committed to meeting our needs for trust-God's faithful love Lamentations 3:32-33 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. Jeremiah 31:3 "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving kindness." (NASB)
The first step in receiving the gift of love is to understand that we have needs. Once we believe that , we are ready for step two. Step two:I realize that having my needs met is experiencing LOVE. Every day we need to be loved. Every day our God is committed to meeting our needs for attention-his servant love John 13:5-20 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe [them] with the towel wherewith he was girded.Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also [my] hands and [my] head.Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash [his] feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am. If I then, [your] Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am [he]. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
As I move into chapter 4 of Truefaced Experience I am finding the subject matter very relevant to my life right now. It has been my earlier experiences of spiritual growth to meditate on God's word. The truth , be transformed by the renewing of your mind, became real to me after I read the book Hinds Feet in High Places, the third time. When I began reading that book I felt so connected to Much Afraid. I could not love, not even have a human love it seemed. I was so miserable . As I read the story written by Hannah Hurnard it projected hope for me that somehow Love could be a fruit in me. A seed was planted in Much Afraid's heart and she took off on a journey. It was the only hope I had . The promise seemed there for me in God's word, be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, so off I went. Later I learned the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit be involved in the promise. I do not regret meditating on God's word. I just know that it wasn't until I started letting the Holy Spirit rain on that word, that change began to take effect in my life.Now there are promises that come with this chapter in our books that I want to meditate on , and allow the Holy Spirit do it's work in me. As I prepare a new post, it will show above this one but I hope it will be helpful to others on this journey. Please take the time to print the scriptures out and ask the Holy Spirit to make them real to your heart. If these fellows were inspired by the Holy Spirit when they wrote this book we should together receive confirmation. Not just go along nodding our heads, but know it in our hearts.
