Everything for Everything
Why do you look mainly outside yourself to find Me? You dismiss so easily the reality that I am in you. When you wander around, feeling lost and displaced, remember how I traveled on earth, connected as one with the Father. You are no less connected due to love. My sacrifice makes us one. Do not forget our oneness. Be one with Me.
* * *
To start, get comfortable and take a few deep breaths–in through your nose as you inhale and out through your opened mouth as you exhale.
As you inhale, feel your lungs expand with air:
Jesus….
As you exhale, feel the air pushed out from your abdomen.
You are welcome here.
* * *
Consecrate to God this Encounter. Invite Him in, and surrender anything—any worry, thoughts, or concerns—that are on your mind now. Let the worries and concerns come without judgment, and then let them go as you give them to Jesus.
Jesus, I consecrate to You my mind, heart, and body. I also consecrate to You my imagination. I love You. I trust You. (Pause here…Don’t rush….)
I give You this worry… (Be specific.)
I give You this concern… (Let Jesus search your heart and then give Him everything.)
I give You my heart… (In your consecrated imagination, see yourself giving Jesus your heart. And see His face as He receives it.)
Next, set a timer for at least five minutes and play a peaceful and instrumental song. (Try not to play a song you know the lyrics to, as, even if the song is just instrumental, it is hard not to think of the words in your head as you listen!) Here is a short playlist of ideas. As you relax and let the music play, close your eyes and be with Jesus. You have consecrated your imagination, so you can trust that He will guide you into an experience of being with Him.
Jesus, I surrender to You. Show me how You are with me now.
After time has passed, open your journal and use words or drawings to help your heart further process the encounter with Jesus you have just had.
Jesus, when I am with you, I feel…
Jesus, I heard You say…
Ask Him any questions you have. Continue the conversation. (It does not have to include words. Since it is a conversation of two hearts, Jesus and you might use communication that is deeper than words.)
Next, let your heart lead you to contemplate one or all of the following verses. Read each one once. Then, decide which one is speaking to you the most deeply.
Focus on that verse and then spend at least 10 minutes letting your heart receive it. Know that Jesus is speaking it right to you–and He will help it penetrate your heart so you know and receive it deeply.
You might respond by speaking the verse over your heart and back to Jesus.
John 17:21-23
Jesus prays, “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me... I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity.”
Jesus, thank you for wanting me to be one with you and for making that possible. I am overwhelmed. You are so good. You are so amazing. I love you. Thank you for coming. Thank you for loving me, and I want nothing to separate me from the love of God. Only through you am I one with God—my heart is here with you.
John 15:4-5, 9
Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches... As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.”
Jesus, that word “abide,” is so beautiful. What an incredible invitation—and image—that you connect us because of your love. I can do nothing without you. As the Father has loved you, you love me. As I abide in you—as I am one with you—I am with the Father. I am a member of your family. You love me, and I love you. Will you help me to stay connected with you? Thank you, Jesus. Thank you.
Acts 17:28
“For in him we live and move and have our being.”
My very existence is rooted in your presence, Jesus. Without you, I would not have life. You are the air in my lungs. You are my hope and my song. You are my hope and my deliverer. You sustain me, and you revive me. You are my creator, my healer, and my restorer. I am nothing without you. You are my everything. You are everywhere and everything good. I want to see you, feel you, and experience you everywhere. Let me not forget the truth of who you are so I can stay rooted in my true identity in you.
You don’t have to stop now, dear one. Let your heart linger with Jesus. When you transition to another activity for the day, remember that the encounter never has to end.
Amen.
