One night in Malaysia, I found myself with something of a rare treasure on the world race…. time and space ALONE. I turned off the lights, turned up the volume for my “heaven” playlist, and invited God, invited heaven into the room. He doesn’t disappoint. I was flooded with all that my spirit was craving. I could hear Him saying, “This is what I want you to do. Invite heaven everywhere you go.” I danced, sang, laughed, and received the peace, joy, and revelation I was in need of from God. Sweet moment. Sweet life. Sweet eternity.
Here’s a bit of revelation from that night…
One of my favorite spiritual disciplines comes from II Corinthians 10:5, “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
My mind and spirit often carry the rhythm of “every thought captive to Christ, every thought captive to Christ, every thought captive to Christ.” Sometimes we grow tired in constantly trying to lay our struggles, worries, and thoughts at Jesus’ feet. We do it again and again and again and wonder, “How many more times until I have freedom in this?” Our faith for this freedom seems to weaken each time we find our chains or burdens still with us after a visit to His feet. God showed me that too often we come to His feet with our heads hung low. We come in grumbling, guilt, doubt, or fear. Our eyes are downcast, set on the dirt and the burdens we bring. And then we leave Him too quickly, eyes still downcast, vision still skewed. But God is saying, “Look up! Look up, Love!” We should take every though captive to Christ, lay the burdens at His feet, BUT THEN LOOK UP. We must look into His eyes and just stay in that place. In that sweet spot of gazing into His eyes, there is victory, purpose, transformation, and the blessing- just to be with Him. I hold these two confidences… "You become like what you worship" and “When we see Him we will be like Him." As we look into His eyes to see how He sees us, our relationships, our circumstances, and as we choose to abide in His love, we are changed. In His eyes, we find freedom and transformation.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.
I John 3:2-3
Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Matthew 11:28-30
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
All of John 15… to sum up this favorite, abide in His love.
