Word of the Day
Beloved One, I am so delighted when I see your heart respond to the natural beauty displayed around you…delighted to know your heart is being lifted up to the mountains…to the Lord from whence your help comes without interruption. I am delighted in you when you trust in My unfailing love. It is not about doing. However, it is about delighting…about simply being delightfully conscious of My presence, beauty and love. How this pleases Me.
Everywhere new life emerges, showing off its splendor, its hope, its promise. Declarations are made about My goodness and provision for your life. Don’t let your heart, which has so much to be grateful for, be despondent because the accuser of the brethren has made an attempt to cloud in any way the incredible beauty of your life.
There are many principles and things I could teach you today; but, what you need most is a tender touch…a whisper of love. I made you to love Me, be loved by Me and by others. It is MY perfect, love without condemnation which will sustain you in the days to come, nothing else. Yes, I will send others and they will love you as well; but remember, they are human just like you and can fail too. Therefore, receive from Me…be with Me and when they do you will have the love and grace they need.
I am delighted in you, with you and for you. I never want you to feel far away from me. It simply isn’t true and cannot be true. You are hidden in Me. Lay your misgivings down and lay your ear against the beating of My heart. Find a soft chair…soft music and crawl up in My lap…My embrace. Hear My heart beat words of encouragement and praise.
Beloved, it isn’t your obedience to Me, your faith in Me or even the amount of love you have for Me that honors me the most. What honors Me the most is when you rest in…when you trust in My unconditional, unchanging, unfailing love. What honors Me is when you know you are accepted no matter what. Regardless of behavior, regardless of performance, regardless of success or failure you are accepted in the Beloved. Come and rest.
The LORD’s delight is in those who honor him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:11
Prayer
Lord, I lay my misgivings at Your feet and crawl up in Your lap, Your embrace. I lay my ear against the beating of Your ever encouraging heart. How I delight in you, my God and my King…my Friend and my Comforter…my Hope and my Wisdom. I receive Your tender touch today. I receive your touch right now, right in the midst of my busy and sometimes confusing life. I receive a sustaining grace to walk out the beauty of a life set free from expectation and performance. I am accepted in the Beloved and nothing can change that.
No power or principality can change the truth of who You say I am to you. I could lie down and never do another thing and you would love Me. This kind of love motivates me…encourages me to be about Your business…not out of duty, but out of reciprocal love for one who adores me. Today I relish Your closeness…Your faithfulness which never fluctuates no matter if I am joyous or despondent. Love is love and Yours is ever-present and unchanging. I am humbled by such an amazing grace. I have come this day to rest and be refreshed. Fill me to overflowing with love and strength. Amen.
Reflect and Journal
1. Have you ever thought about how the Lord delights in you simply because you hope in His unfailing love?
2. When nature displays its beauty, when the rain falls on parched ground, when new life emerges from a seed, declarations about the faithfulness and sovereignty of God are made in visible ways aimed at capturing our heart. Have you ever thought about the connection between the marvels of nature and the voice of the Father being connected? Have you ever just sat and marveled at Gods goodness and power in what you see. Scripture says He cares for the sparrow and cares even more for you. What misgivings do you need to let go of for even a moment to enjoy the beauty around you…to listen to His heartbeat…to sit in His lap. I was walking in my garden and the beautiful pink roses were in full bloom. I almost walked by. Instead, I cupped one in my hand. As I smelled its lovely fragrance, I thought of Jesus and the lovely fragrance of His life. I imagine Jesus smells like my rose and I hoped in Him. This delighted the Lord. Selah (meditate).
3. Are you so caught up in principles and obedience (all of which are good if walked out as Christ lives through you) that you miss the sweetness…the beauty? Are you so concerned about what you have or haven’t done that you miss delighting in the one who delights in you?
4. Do you feel accepted by Him who loves you no matter what? If not, write down your so called warts and give them to Him in an act of faith. Receive His rest…His complete acceptance.
I was hearing a portion of the song “Rest In Me’ this morning as I awoke. The beginning lines of the song, ‘you’re beautiful to Me’ are what I was hearing repeated over and over. Why do we struggle to accept that we are beautiful to Him?
The busyness of life robs this, and the pressure of others expectations and as you stated ‘being caught up in the principles of obedience instead of an intimate relationship with the Lord’.