Sweet Sounds From Heaven

My goal is for God to become more real to me daily. The Bible says draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8). He longs for this probably more than I know. Once when in my prayer chair fellowshipping with My Heavenly Father the feeling of closeness was so real and natural, I asked Him to hold that thought, I’d be right back. It was funny when I realized what I had said. I was excusing myself to go to the bathroom as if He were sitting in the other chair. I’m sure He gets a lot of laughs out of our relationship. He loves me in spite of me, and I am so grateful.

Upon receiving this new faith, I told God I did not want to be an ordinary Christian. I wanted to really make my life count for Him. He told me He wanted my men, my mouth and my money. Immediately I thought it was a new candy, M&M&M. I understood the men. I knew what the Bible said about sex outside of marriage. He told me I could not cuss and preach at the same time. Later I found in James 3:10 & 11 where it says “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing, my brethren, these things ought not so to be. Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” Again, I got it.  I said, ” but God, I don’t understand this money thing, I don’t have any.” He said , “I know I want to get some to you.” I started tithing immediately. Even when it didn’t look like I could, I would.

I really connected God with Love and He is Love. But remember, I’m just a baby Christian and don’t know anything except my whole world has just changed…and for the better I might add. So since it’s already settled with God that I don’t want to be just ordinary, He lead me to study Love. First of all, I found out that Love never fails; that made me happy. So, I set out to learn how to walk in Love early on. He lead me to read 1 Cor. 13: 4-8 and 1^st, 2^nd, and 3rd John. I did this every night for 2 years. I finally started to get this revelation that God is Love and Love lives inside of me and what Love looks like.

Perfect Love casts out fear and Love never fails. So how do I do it, I’m wondering. The Book of Galatians taught me that Love is one of the Fruits of the Spirit. Fruit grows and this Love thing is going to be a process. Only time will tell if this Love fruit is edible or should I say evident. The only way to get good at something is to practice it over and over. Oh brother, Now look what I’ve done. I’ve given God permission to test me in this area until I get it right. Many, many learning opportunities were in my path from that day until now.

One day at work, my coworker had evidently experienced a bad week-end and came in all mad at the world. She was ranting and raving about everything. The coworker was throwing my name around and insults that were not appreciated. I’ve been meditating on Love all week-end. I did not know this was a test I was about to take and fail. Finally, I had about all this flesh could handle and marched right down to her office and said, “listen here coworker, if you continue to falsely accuse me, and continue to insult me, you are going to be sorry.” And turned on my heals and walked back toward my office.

On the walk back and still fuming, God said, “now are you happy?”  I said “No.”  He said, “and you never will be as long as you take matters into your own hands.”  I said, “But God, she is missing a golden opportunity to walk in Love.”  God said, “she does not have my Love Sandra, YOU do.”  I broke. He was teaching me wonderful truths.

I excused myself and went to the bathroom and cried and repented. I bound the enemy that was causing her to act that way in the first place. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12 we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. So I knew my battle was not with my coworker. I returned and asked my coworker to forgive me for my attitude and actions and she did. That repentance by me and praying for her turned the tide. She was like a different person the rest of the day. When we do things Gods way, things just work out, don’t they.

Over the years I have learned to be more sensitive to the real problem and it’s not the people, it’s the enemy of God that hates us because we are made in Gods image. God was just teaching me. He is still teaching me and will be until He takes me home.

Do I always get it right? Oh Please, I wish. I’m just like everyone else. But I have committed to get better and better until I hardly know myself. I have committed to walk in Love to the best of my ability. It’s a growth process. As we learn to trust Him more and believe in the Love he has toward us, we will be able to Love others with that supernatural Love that we only get from HIM.

Romans 5:5 tells us that the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. We just have to believe that and let that Love work in us. It gives a whole new dimension to the song we’ve sung since childhood, Jesus Loves me this I know. It’s the knowing that takes time. So just jump on the band wagon and learn with the rest of us. It’s a wonderful journey and the view is great. Sometimes the road gets rocky but He will show us things we will only get to see IN HIS LOVE.

Filed under: Spiritual Insights