I stood. Still in the wind but quick in the heart. Rest had not overtaken me, for I felt a need must be met before slumber. Intimacy was my search, and intimacy I found, but not of my own accord.
My right arm went numb then strengthened, and my left in the same manner. My legs shook then found stable ground. The wind softly blew away the dust that covered me. And it was so that I stood, not knowing what but knowing Who.
Moment of honesty: I crave intimacy!
Bold statement: Not only do we all desire intimacy, we need it!
I was reading through John 15 the other day and the word “abide” made quite an appearance. I’d like to say I’m an expert match-ups player (my record against my Grandma is unprecedented), and so my brain is programmed to pick up duplicates. Between versus 4-16 Jesus uses the word “abide” 11 times! Light Bulb! (Yes, I love Despicable Me). I’m no Sherlock, but I think He’s trying to emphasis something here.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my Love.” (John 15:9) ESV
This verse is incredible! Our Father isn’t calling us to put on some grand performance to impress Him or earn His love. Rather, He is inviting us to simply live life in intimacy with Him and reside in His Love! We are His inheritance and He wants His Children to abide in the richness of that reality!
I’m self critical to a fault, so this truth really hits home with me. God doesn’t even want to talk about our shortcomings or sins, He just wants to enjoy life with us! Each day I have to wake up and remind myself of this. What freedom awaits us if we could only put this truth into action! I wrote this poem as an overflow of this revelation…
Abide
An optimist I am
On the outside I stand,
Firm with a smile
Though heavy in quicksand.
Joy, oh the joy
If I could just embrace,
The peace of a Father
The Love in His face!
To the depth of my soul
I shall take this the truth.
And to all those lies
Simply let loose.
For Love He came
And in Love we abide,
If life’s distractions
We just put aside.
By our power is folly
By His we will rise,
If we just fix our vision
On the love in His Eyes!
Abide, Abide
He has called us home!
For our Father is jealous
For His Children who roam.
