freedom to love God

Wednesday, April 17, 2019 (7:09 a.m.)

Most Blessed and Holy God,

I love You. Thank You for the freedom with which we get to say that. Honestly. Openly. Willingly.

(8:58 a.m.)

And here I sit. Reading of that freedom. Acting on that freedom. Because we are called to love You so freely (Mark 12:30) we are able to share Your love with others (v. 31).

Father, thank You. Praise You. Bless You. Keep You. You absolutely ARE from Whom ALL blessings flow! Words truly fail me right now.

There is currently so very much going on with friends and loved ones. Misunderstandings. Countless circumstances stretching many of Your children outside of their [our] comfort zones.

We have opportunities to learn from our shared experiences. Lean on and into You and Your Truth. Yes Father. Praise You for the freedom to love You. And others.

Reading in and quoting from Illustrated Bible Handbook “GALATIANS Chapter 5. Freedom in Christ Freedom to Live Love; 5:13-26” I am aware of another spark of hope. “…Paul’s teaching can be understood when we realize that his call for freedom is an invitation to live by faith and thus to become the new person we are in Jesus Christ.”

Live by faith. Become. New person. In Jesus Christ.

Just thinking about life in You my hope grows. Mm, yes. Hope grows!

(10:04 a.m.)

As I continue struggling to find my footing upon our most recent return home, Blessed Father God how I thank and praise You that Your love is with us wherever we are. Yes!

Praying Your Word right back to You this morning Father I quote it from The Message. Galatians 5:13-15, “It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself.”

What would that be like? If we really, truly would and could love another as we love ourself? Mind boggling for sure!

“… Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out - in no time at all you will be annihilating [destroying] each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?”

This freedom we have in You truly IS precious! Not to be taken lightly. Nor trifled with.

Continue Your work in each of us Blessed Father. Teaching, empowering, growing us into the fearfully loving people You originally created us to be.

Do all You must Most Holy God. We love You. We long to know and serve You. Exactly as You know is best.

Thank You Father. Use us. Amen.

(490 words ~ 10:36 a.m.)