Well, the year is winding down. I put up the December calendar in my classroom this week, and it is so crazy for me to believe that there are only a few short weeks left in 2011. It seems like Christmas was just last month. And, oh… my life is so much different this year than it was on this date last year! God is so crazily incredible sometimes. There’s no way to handle all of it without Him!
Let’s take a peek at I John this week, then II John next week, shall we? Slip into the comments below and join the conversation!
I John 5:14 (NIV)–This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
John is all about love. If you read his books, I think “love” is used more in his writings than anywhere else in the Bible. (That is not scientific observation by any means. It’s a guess. But, believe me, it’s in there a lot!) While the word “love” is not used in this verse, isn’t it an amazing picture of God’s love?
Ever have those days/seasons when you go into prayer and feel even worse when you come out than you did when you went in? When every single prayer you pray seems to not only not pass the ceiling, but maybe even barely make it past your lips? Those are some of the hardest times to walk through, aren’t they? But that’s why this is one of my favorite verses.
Feelings can be fickle things. They can turn on a dime. Hallmark commercials can make us cry. A silly joke can make us laugh in the very next instant. Emotions aren’t really reliable, are they? So, although we may feel like our prayers don’t go anywhere, we can know, know, know that they certainly do go straight to God’s ear. No matter what, He hears us. Every time. This ties in with one of my other favorite verses (and the address escapes me right now), when Jesus steps in front of Lazarus’ tomb to pray and His first words, “Father, I know You always hear me.” On those days, when life feels like nothing short of a beating, it’s the first thing I say, “Father, the devil may be a great big liar telling me You’re deaf, but I know you always hear me.”
That is the ultimate comfort, the ultimate truth, the ultimate relationship. Ah. He always hears.
-JB
Dawn Lucowitz says
It’s hard to even comprehend a year ago. What a different place we were all in! It was by no means a “bad” place; in fact, it was an incredible mix for me. Jeffrey was away, but I was surrounded by amazing loving friends. I was as close to God as I have ever felt. I was preparing for the arrival of my niece (who I have only seen a few times but love more than words) as well as my first (and only at this point) half marathon where I was going to be in Disney with 2 of my best friends in the world.
As I took another look at 1 John, I totally agree it is all about love. In fact, almost ever verse I had highlighted did have the word “love” in it!
For this week I chose 1 John 3:18 – Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
I didn’t fully understand until I started really studying the bible and God’s word that love is not just an ooey, gooey feeling. It is an action. I’m sure I’ve heard that statement before, but it was usually empty lip-service when it was being said. Now I am really getting it. Yes, it is important to tell the ones you love that you love them, but it is so much more important to show it. My family wasn’t overly affectionate. If you met my mother, I would make way more sense to you! She very rarely said she loved us. I never noticed this until I was in Social Work school and had to analyze my family and all that junk. Even on the phone as I was getting off, I would say “I love you,” and her response was always “behave.” Never ever growing up, nor to this day do I doubt my mother’s love for my sister and I. She is all action all the time.
I also now have a better understanding of “love your neighbor” when I look at this verse. There have been so many people in my world that drive me insane. They grate on every last nerve in my body. But, I can still show love. I can still encourage them. I can pray for them. I can lend a hand when needed. I can show love. And, by doing these actions, it makes it harder to “dislike” someone!
It is always easy for me to do things for people I love. I will literally stop whatever I’m doing and do anything anytime a friend needs something. It’s the others in my world I need to start really paying attention to my actions.
Jodie says
You are AMAZING at showing love. You are one of those people with a real, loving, servants heart. Loved getting to be a part of last year with you. And I’m totally loving seeing you grow more every day. Your’e so much higher up that mountain than you think you are…
Jessica R. Patch says
I couldn’t agree more. God had popped up on occasion and done amazing things to let me know He was listening, even when I wasn’t really talking to Him, but just whispering a thought…a wish…I love those times as much as times I am on my knees praying and He answers those.
Loved the post, girl. Hope you had lots of fun on your birthday and were totally spoiled!
Jodie says
I was. My students are awesome. They totally surprised me. And my family always rocks. 🙂