Series: New New
Genesis 1:3 ESV
While we can remember being in a dark room and looking for the light switch, most of us have not experienced total complete darkness as far as the eye can see.
It’s even difficult for us to comprehend being in a place where there is no light anywhere. There are no other people…no animals.
Genesis 1:3, “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.”
Even though we may not have been without light some of us have been blessed by the experience and feeling of being alone.
I say “blessed” because in the moment when we feel the terror of being alone we realize the answer is to seek the complete presence of God.
Being in that lonely place is a great blessing because we can understand and learn how to experience the presence of God.
Years ago after I experienced a difficult time I was introduced to the book, “The Practice of the Presence of God” written by 17th Century Monk Brother Lawrence. From that book I made it my ultimate resolve to make the love of God my goal in all my actions.
The first time I read his book years ago it changed how I thought about life and love. The difficulty with that change is that I came to realize my actions were everything they should not be.
I realized that while I love God and I look to the light, I am easily distracted by the darkness that surrounds me.
I have fear of uncertainty.
I want to know what tomorrow holds so I can prepare for it.
Of course that opened a new Pandora’s box that made me realize my main focus was on myself.
I was not focused on God’s love and making that love my goal in all my actions.
The new new self I wanted was constantly confronted by my old old self.
At some point along the way I came to realize I needed to forgive myself for what I saw as my failure.
I started talking to God and I asked God to remind me to think of God within and stand ready to receive the presence of God. I also asked God to remind me of how much God loves me.
I’ve had a tendency to struggle to believe that God really can love my crazy silly self. In many ways I really am like a carefree silly three year old who can easily forget my responsibilities in life. If I have a task to do I have to ask God to remind me to get it done.
I ask God to remind me to be on time when I have somewhere I need to go.
I’m often a lot like a kid when I write and draw pictures.
Another task I ask God to remind me of years ago was in keeping my “word” when I am praying for someone or some thing. I asked God to lay that person or situation on my heart and to remind me when I need to talk to God about their need. The Spirit is ever so diligent in this matter and I am very grateful for the reminders.
I would love to be able to say I’ve made great headway with always focusing on God’s love and doing everything in and because of God’s love. I am reminded that each day offers another opportunity to experience and act in God’s love. God doesn’t seem to be frustrated when I forget and when I fail. I simply return to the center and God is there loving me. I think that is what amazes me most. Even when I’ve been very silly and irresponsible God smiles.
When that happens I feel like God loves me exactly like I am.
God completely accepts me.
I wonder what the world would be like if everyone experienced the complete love and forgiveness of God. I do think that is what heaven is like. I remind myself I will be able to sit with God and I can be as silly and irresponsible as I’ve not been able to be before.
In heaven I’ll be completely me as God intended me to be.
Spiritual Practice: Be Yourself
Sit with God and practice the presence of God.
In God, Deborah
acrazyjourney
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