God loves you as a lover loves

This wild God of mine . . . loves me . . . not in the way we usually translate when we hear, “God loves us.” Which usually sounds like “because he has to” or meaning “he tolerates you.” No. He loves me as a Lover loves.

~~Stasi Eldredge

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

“Love.” The word speaks to the soul, the emotions, the heart. A child cuddled by Mom or Dad. A toddler toddling toward outstretched arms. Friends reunited with bear hugs. An engaged couple walking hand-in-hand, then gazing into each other’s eyes. Newlyweds driving from the reception, beginning life together.

Whatever feelings the word love evokes, multiply them by thousands to gain a glimpse of God’s love for you. God’s love goes beyond any kind of human love we can experience. It is perfect love—he loves us not because he has to, not because he tolerates us, but because he is wildly in love with us. Such love is almost unimaginable—but it is true, it is real, it is yours.

Let that thought, that picture, those emotions wash over you, cleansing you of any hesitancy or fear in your relationship with him. He loves you as a lover loves.

Prayer for Meditation

Thank you, God, for loving me so much.

Scripture for Meditation

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:14-19

Music for Meditation

I Feel My Savior’s Love 

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com

Our love can flow from the Source—the One who is love personified—when we focus on him

Dedicate yourself to make Him your focus. Let all your other loves flow out of that.

~~Anne Ortlund

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

What is inside us will eventually come out. If we focus on fear, then fearful thoughts and controlling actions will result. If we focus on worry, it will show on our face and in our shortened fuses. If we focus on bitterness, we will dry up inside and the joy of life will dissipate.

If we focus on Christ, however, we look at the One who came to give us the fruit of his Spirit. We focus on the One who loves us with an everlasting love, who came to give us life to the full, who offers us peace and joy. And what is inside will indeed come out. We will treat others as we would want to be treated. We will be able to love even the unlovely.

Our love can flow from the Source—the One who is love personified—when we focus on him.

Prayer for Meditation

Lord, I want to focus on you so that my love flows from the source of love.

Scripture for Meditation

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:16

Music for Meditation

I Feel My Savior’s Love 

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com

Wait, my child. Sit quietly. Let me work in you

God is more interested in teaching me through a situation than in using me in a situation.

~~Carole Mayhall

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

We desperately want to be out working, serving, and doing for God, but at times we feel sidetracked. Wrapped up in raising children, housebound with an illness, separated from projects and people that we care about—we feel that we are not doing anything at all for God’s kingdom. If he’s not working through us, then, well, nothing good can be happening. We want to be anywhere but where God has us.

Instead, God says, “Wait, my child. Sit quietly. Let me work in you.” As our hearts catch up to that understanding, the dissatisfaction and disappointment dissipate. Restlessness and grumbling are replaced with praise and thanksgiving to God. Our minds and spirits open to hear God’s instruction. Our hearts soften to soak up God’s love.

With God working in you, you’re never sidelined, never useless. He will teach you wherever he has you.

Prayer for Meditation

I put my desires before you, God, ready to receive your instruction.  

Scripture for Meditation

Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7

Music for Meditation

I Feel My Savior’s Love 

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com

God is always moving in your life

Going through a waiting period doesn’t mean there is nothing happening, because when you are waiting on the Lord, He is always moving in your life.

~~Stormie Omartian

This morning’s prayer and meditation for Sally’s healing comes from Take Heart, Oh God: Riches from the Greatest Christian Women Writers of All Time.

A little girl swings back and forth. She’s all alone. Her mom told her to go outside and stay there. “I’ll call you when we’re ready,” her mom said.

Although time seems to stand still, the little girl doesn’t mind the wait. She isn’t bothered that her siblings are still in the house. She doesn’t care that her daddy hasn’t come out to give her a push on the swing. Because she knows what they’re doing—they’re busy preparing for her birthday party. With every moment, her excitement grows as she listens for her mother’s call.

Are you experiencing a time of waiting? Does it seem as though the party has started without you? If so, remember this: God is at work in your time of waiting. He’s always doing something in your life.

And you can be sure he’s planning something better than a birthday party.

Prayer for Meditation

Lord, help me to wait on you with childlike excitement.  

Scripture for Meditation

For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him! Isaiah 64:4

Music for Meditation

I Feel My Saviors Love

 

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below, or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com

Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud

Our prayer and meditation this morning comes from Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham.

They looked . . . and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.

 Exodus 16:10

Without the clouds we wouldn’t be shielded from the burning sun. Without the clouds there would be no lavish sunsets, no beneficial rain, no beautiful landscapes.

The same is true with life’s clouds. When hard times come we easily get discouraged. But behind the clouds God is still present, and can even use them to water our souls with unexpected blessings. Longfellow once wrote: “Be still, sad heart, and cease repining; behind the clouds is the sun still shining.”

As God’s people wandered in the wilderness. He declared,  Behold, I come to you in the thick cloud. Exodus 19:9

Each of us experiences clouds in life—sometimes slight, but sometimes dark and frightening. Whatever clouds you face today, ask Jesus, the light of the world, to help you look behind the clouds to see His glory and His plans for you.

Prayer for Meditation

Dear Heavenly Father, help Sally to look beyond the clouds today and see the plans you have for her; the plans to prosper and not to harm; the plans to give hope and a future. In Your Name, we pray. Amen

Music for Meditation

I Feel My Savior's Love by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

If you feel led to do so, please post a note of encouragement in the comment section below or send your note by email to PrayersForSally@gmail.com.