John 14:21 - Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.
I don't know if you've heard Chris Tomlin's song, Awakening (lyrics are at the bottom), but it is truly what the Lord used to speak to my heart while trying to come up with a title for this blog. If you haven't heard it, I highly recommend that you find some quietness in your day and just let this song minister to your heart. It is a major prayer that I pray for our family. This song will eventually be on the blog...I just need to figure out how to do that :)
An "awakening"....it's what happened to our souls...they were "awakened" to adoption. Adoption has always pulled on my heartstrings, but almost 2 yrs. ago, the Lord lifted the veil and it was time. We were awakened. Our eyes were suddenly opened to glimpses of how near this is to His heart....how much of a need...how much He cares, and how He was choosing us to do this.
As we were "awakened," and I was listening to this song, I felt the Lord saying to me, "This is the Christian life, Kristi. Life is made up of constant awakenings." It moved me, and it's been ringing in my ears since. If we are passionately living for Jesus, then shouldn't our lives be constantly awakened? Constantly becoming more like him...seeing more like He does and loving more like He does. We should consistently be in the midst of an awakening to something. Consistently having these moments of, "Ok God, that's what you're teaching me!" These moments where we feel our souls being awakened to His will...the Holy Spirit speaking and veils being lifted. It's as if we were in the dark before, and then suddently the sun comes bursting through. And if we don't feel like we are, then we better ask, because the awakenings that He has for us in this life are endless. As I look back on our (Cole and myself) lives together, I can see many of these awakenings. Awakenings to being a Biblical wife, financial brokenness, moving to the inner city of Peoria, parenting, the Lord's will in expanding our family, and adoption. The list could go on, and I pray that it does!
My question to you would be, what is God currently awakening you or your family to? If you don't know, then I would encourage you to ask :) We are privileged to serve such a loving Savior that He just loves when we ask for him to give us some glimpses of Himself! He is the one that sent His son to die for us so that we are able to spend eternity with Him. Creator of the universe....HOLY! And HE longs to speak with US. We are so unworthy...what a privilege!
As we desire this, we must consistently be putting ourselves in a position to be awakened and to hear from Him. We must consistently be in His word and spending time with him. Praising him and involving Him in ALL areas of our lives. Surrounding ourselves with Him. I referenced a scripture at the top in John. In this scripture, he says that whoever has God's commands and keeps them is the one that loves him. The major way to know His commands and keep them is to be in the word consistently. If we truly are passionately in love with Christ, then we will long to be in his word and spend time with Him. He goes on to say that He will love us and show himself to us. This is exactly what an awakening is...Him showing Himself to us. A powerful upclose and personal experience with the Almighty and our King. How amazing that He would do that!
Oh how I pray, that He would continue to awaken our souls and we would continue to hear His voice. That not only our families and city would be awakened but that the nations would. May His will be done and may we desire that and trust it, even when things look messy and don't make sense. May HIS will be done even when it's not our own. May our prayer be for him to make HIS will ours. That we would get smaller and HE would get bigger...lifted high and glorified in our lives!
The amazing part is that we don't deserve any of this, and He pours out His mercy and grace on us and reveals Himself to us anyway! You see, only Jesus can truly awaken. And when He does, it's powerful, and we are different because of it...a little bit more like Him and less like us.
Awakening Lyrics
Chris Tomlin
In our hearts, Lord, in this nation Awakening Holy Spirit, we desire Awakening
For You and You alone Awake my soul Awake my soul and sing For the world You love Your will be done Let Your will be done in me
In Your presence, in Your power Awakening For this moment, for this hour Awakening
For You and You alone Awake my soul Awake my soul and sing For the world You love Your will be done Let Your will be done in me
For You and You alone Awake my soul Awake my soul and sing For the world You love Your will be done Let Your will be done in me
Like the rising sun that shines From the darkness, comes a light I hear Your voice And this is my awakening
Like the rising sun that shines From the darkness, comes a light I hear Your voice And this is my awakening Awake my soul
Like the rising sun that shines Awake my soul Awake my soul and sing From the darkness comes a light Awake my soul Awake my soul and sing
Like the rising sun that shines Awake my soul Awake my soul and sing Only You can raise a life Awake my soul Awake my soul and sing
In our hearts, Lord, in the nations Awakening
No comments:
Post a Comment