“He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Ephesians 1:4).
My daughter, I am your strength. No matter where you go and where you turn, my love for you does not change. I want to be with you.
I am not obligated to love you because I am your Father. It is not something I have to do. But I do.
I do not change. And so my love does not change. I want to love you. I am what I am, and I love what I do.
I choose to be with you, and I choose to love you. I choose to be your strength. I do what I do because I am who I am. You can count on Me.
You can count on Me to love you no matter where you go or what you do. And the belief I give you in Me, your heart to choose Me or turn away from Me, will help you believe. I can deepen your belief in my love, and I can help your unbelief.
So do not despair. Do not worry that your thoughts about Me bring Me close and push Me away. My love is what draws Me to you. And my love draws you to Me.
Some things you cannot control. And isn’t that better?
So, what do you want to tell Me now? What do you want to ask Me? I love being with you. I love how we spend time together.
|| More Resources For You ||
Knowing what to do with our complex emotions can be a challenge. Intense feelings of sadness and anger can frighten us because we’re not sure how to process them. But here is what we must know: we don’t have to process those emotions alone. Holy Spirit, who dwells inside our hearts, wants to walk with us through the confusing, turbulent wells inside us. He says, “When you are angry, engage Me, converse with Me. Let’s talk about what it is you are upset about. Let Me father you: talk to Me and let Me listen. Tell Me how you are frustrated and hurting. Tell Me what injustice is making you cry out. Don’t try to handle your anger on your own. And your sadness is not for you to carry on your own, either. Let Me guide you toward action, toward a response, toward wisdom and kindness—to yourself and others when you feel anger and sadness covering you. Let Me clear the air. Let Me show you where I am—how I am with you, how I never leave you alone.” → Read the rest in FLAG No. 99.
Earlier this month, I shared with you Laura Wifler’s exclusive interview on Rapt and her beautiful thoughts on how God can use poetry to heal our souls. Today, I have something else to give you—an excerpt from her debut poetry book, This Side of the Sky. Here’s what she has to say, in her own words: “I think what finally made me a believer was realizing that poetry isn’t meant to be perfectly understood from every direction; it’s simply meant to be received with a grace-filled heart. So come with your whole self to poetry. Aching. Soft. Open. Let these words do the good work they can. Let them pump you full.”
Did you know you can find more resources like these (and much more) in the Rapt Newsletter? My husband, Justin, and I send out a new issue twice a month with a personal essay, new and exclusive interviews, and the latest book excerpts, podcasts, Bible studies, and apps that have caught our attention. You can subscribe here if that sounds like something you’d enjoy.
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