Thursday, August 17, 2023
“I love you.”
On a warm spring day in 1999, I heard those three words that hopefully every young couple shares when they’re in the right relationship. I was 20 and hadn’t experienced such a display of affection before because I rarely dated in high school. I responded in a way that only I could:
“Thank you.”
Believe me, I know it sounds terrible. After all, I was there. (DISCLAIMER: She and I remain friends.) Thankfully, that girl wasn’t my wife, Erica.
I’m a lot like Nick Miller from the show “New Girl.” Feelings aren’t something I share easily through verbal communication, but thanks to my kids, I continue to work on that. And in an attempt to raise my children to be better people and live in a way that merges their passions with God’s purpose, I’ve become an open book to them, willingly sharing details from my past. And although it’s hard, I’ve also learned to have a repentant heart with my kids and tell them when I am wrong. That one stings.
Expressing my feelings in an open and honest way and admitting my wrongdoing are all displays of my love that I learned through growing my relationship with our Father.
Matthew 22:37
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’”
We are called to love God with our soul, the doorway to experiencing emotions and feelings. It’s an opportunity to be authentic in a world where concealing yourself is typically the preferred option, too often a habit, and sometimes a forced reality of societal norms.
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Brazilian scholar and author Paulo Freire said, “No one can be authentically human while he prevents others from being so.” It’s a flaw of our imperfections, but God doesn’t have that problem. He invites us to be ourselves. Our expression is God’s soul music. God can handle all we are and build up all we aren’t. You’ll see how much weight is lifted when you learn to speak to God with an open heart. So, proclaim you have feelings and say, “Lord, don’t you ever let me go. You make it well with my soul.”
Questions:
How often do you share your true feelings with God? Are you an open book when it comes to him? If not, why, and how can you change that?
Next Steps:
Be open with God through prayer during bad times and good. Don’t forget to express your feelings when things are going well!
Text “21DAYS” to 419-419-0707 to take part in 21 Days of Prayer. Follow CedarCreek on social media to receive notifications for the morning prayers.
Prayer:
21 Days of Prayer
Day 4 Prayer Focus - For Our World - For the Churches (Acts 1:8)
Dear God, you alone deserve all honor, glory, and praise. You are our refuge and strength in every storm we face. You are the only true solution to the problems that plague our world today. Fill our world with your love and empower us to share your love with others. I also pray that you would ignite a deep passion in the church for your mission and for your message to reach every corner of the earth.
Series Theme Verse:
1 John 4:10-11
10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.