A few weeks ago I purchased a key necklace from a company that partners with Adventures in Missions called Keys for the Journey. These keys are really unique in that each key is made specifically for the racer that buys it. It is prayed over and stamped with a word. The word that was given to me was “Deeper.”
This word immediately resonated with me, but I wanted to know more. I prayed that God would reveal the meaning behind this word, and why it was specifically chosen for me. Man did he deliver, as always.
I was meditating on this word before worship and I asked God once again to reveal its meaning to me. The very first song played was Oceans. The worship leader went straight to the bridge which sings,
“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders. Let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me. Take me DEEPER than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.”
I can’t make this stuff up. As we sang the bridge over and over, I looked back at the teaching that we had heard before worship started. The passage preached on was Matthew 14, where Jesus walked on water and called Peter out of the boat. It was then that God revealed the first thing about this word, Deeper. The explanation is obvious, but was something I needed. These next nine months are ‘outside of my boat.’ I can’t even see my boat anymore. I am so far outside of my comfort zone, it’s ridiculous. The only chance I have to endure this journey is to keep my eyes on the one who is calling me out into the water in the first place. Keeping my eyes on Jesus allows him to “take me deeper.” Deeper than I could ever imagine myself going on my own.
The second realization came during the second song. After Oceans played King of my Heart. During the first chorus as everyone sang, “You are good, good, Ohhh,” I heard God speak. He said, “Your sin runs deep, but my love runs deeper.” The more I learn about Father God, the more I realize that I and completely and utterly filthy by comparison. One sin could keep me from heaven, yet I sin countless times every day. Despite all of my filth, God’s love remains steadfast, and his love ALWAYS trumps my imperfections. How can we choose not to serve a God whose love runs deeper than all of our filth, and who promises to never leave or forsake us?
The third realization came towards the end of the service. Some song lyrics came to my head (my spiritual pathway is worship if you couldn’t tell). The lyrics were from Good Good Father. The lyrics sing:
“As you call me deeper still. As you call me deeper still
As you call me deeper still into love, love, love.”
There is never going to be a point in my relationship with God where I have reached an end. Never will there be a short-supply of love or mercy from him. I see myself getting complacent in my walk with the LORD sometimes saying, “Well I’ve been a Christian for a long time so I pretty much know what God’s about by now.” And every time He tells me, “No no no, come deeper. There’s so much more.” Abba calls me deeper and deeper until all I see is him. He surrounds me with songs of deliverance and fills me with the Holy Spirit. If I searched for a thousand years, I would find no end to his love and faithfulness. Oh what a God we serve!
The word, deeper, is so rich and full of meaning. I look forward to God continuing to reveal the depth of who he is by diving DEEPER into the things of him.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23
“so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
Ephesians 3:17-19
