Late Night Date with the Holy One (DATE #2)

Date #2 was a late night date with the Holy One.

I was restless, I couldn't sleep, couldn't think, couldn't quit tossing and turning and figured it would be best to just get up and go meet with my friend. I love late night chats. They can be silly, fun, intimate, sweet...but this one had me thoroughly blown away by His goodness, grace and mercy. 

I found myself truly inspired and profoundly convicted. As I reviewed sermon notes, read through scripture, and then began journaling I soon determined I was being led in a certain direction. A topic for our late night date conversation. It was OBEDIENCE.

There were a multitude of references throughout the week, the weekend, the sermon, my quiet times, and even random scriptures passages and now my date. It inevitably led to a cryptic conversation that always came back to the idea of obedience and my personal lack thereof. 

The conversation started out with the realization in scripture that to achieve success one must be obedient. It's all over the Bible, but I seemed to lack practical understanding so I asked, "How do I find this?" I soon determined that I needed to ruminate on the passages of scripture I have been studying in order provide access to my thoughts and actions DAILY, sometimes even moment by moment and in doing so I would open my heart and mind to His direction. As I read Psalm 37:23-24 I realized that He actually loves directing my steps. He even delights in EVERY detail of my life!!! How cool is that??? 

Reading further in Psalms I was reminded that I can make plans, but His purpose will prevail. In some respects a person might find that statement to be defeating - but it's not! It's actually freeing. In my mind I kept thinking, "You mean no matter how bad I mess things up, He will accomplish what He desires through me?" In essence yes - it's promised that "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it." Granted we must choose His path, His ways, and obey His commands. I mean, I can't just accept Him and go on my merry way and keep feeding the sin in my life and anticipate He will be glorified. Just doesn't happen. That's why it's so important for me to spend time meditating on His Words, allowing them to penetrate into the deepest recesses of my heart and mind and transform them, thereby creating a vessel that is ready to be used. 

As our conversation progressed I found that if I love Him, keeping His commands is not burdensome, it can be a joyful experience and in the end Obedience = Blessing...
And that reminded me of  Pastor's statement that "WE KNOW SO MUCH MORE OF THE BIBLE THAN WE'VE BEGUN TO LIVE YET." 

This statement is so true of my walk with the Lord. I may have a lot of head knowledge but I need to work on developing that heart knowledge, I need to work on my obedience. 

And as I turned to Scripture to figure out where to start I was directed to 1 John 5:21 "Dear Children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your heart."

WOW! I am so deeply convicted that I immediately began searching for those things that take God's place in my heart and working on removing them. 

And there my friends is an excellent date for you. One where deep things are discussed and you walk away convicted yet encouraged. It's a beautiful thing!