treasure trove

“You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands.”

“Look upon me with love; teach me all your principles.”

“Your laws are perfect and completely trustworthy.”

“Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live.”

“I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure.”

Psalm 119: 73, 135, 138, 144, 162

My Abba,

For a season, I approached time in your Word like I regarded time spent eating a healthy salad. Nutritious and necessary for my wellbeing but requiring a lot of discipline for daily consumption. I did not savor it as I swallowed.

 I realize discipline is good. But I want the extraordinary way you communicate with us through your Word to spawn something more in me than a desire to check some spiritual duty off my must-do list.  

 If you, the Most High God who spoke the galaxies into being, desire to communicate with me, I want to stand in awe of that indescribable privilege.

 I want to experience, like the psalmist, everything you designed your Word to do. Thank you that Scripture is living and active. When empowered by your Spirit, you assure me your words will never perch listlessly on the page.

Thank you for revitalizing my passion for your Word. I have thought about the “whys.” The only new practice is the simple prayer you have been encouraging me to speak to you before I begin.  

 You have granted my request to not just let me read the words, but to supernaturally receive your truth in a way that transforms my heart and mind. My time with you has new promise, vigor and delight. I am hungry and expectant.

 Although the binding is separating from the pages from years of use, I find myself smiling as I gently flip open the well-worn, curling pages of my Bible. Why? Because I have learned by experience you can breathe power and life into the words and miraculously open the eyes of my heart, if I am willing to ask and receive from you.

 Thank you for gloriously animating the inanimate words inked on the page. Then, the beauty of your truth bursts open within me creating new life. Please continue to sing your fervent love song in my heart.

I love you,

Mollie

My child,

Scripture gives you my blueprints for life, offering vibrant light, wisdom and direction. My truth can keep you from lying to yourself and settling for the lesser things. I can use it to revive and comfort you, bring you joy and freedom, encourage and restore you.

My principles are no longer popular. The only absolute in your culture is that there are no absolutes.

But in reality, it is right and good for the Creator to impart best practices and principles for his creation. When each created one does what is right in his or her own sight, the results land somewhere between less-than-best and disastrous. You see the evidence of this all around you.

 Since I created you, I am intimately acquainted with what is best for you. Don’t be fooled by winsome arguments that propel you into the latest thinking of the crowd. Those ideas are fickle - here today and gone tomorrow. There is a way that seems right to people, but only I have an infinite, perfect perspective.

 My relentless love compels me to reach out to you with truth. My guidelines for an abundant life will not always make sense to you. Trust me anyway. I know all things and never lie.

 I want to awaken your heart each day to the wonder of walking with me. Look to my Word for trustworthy, true signposts pointing you to my gracious path of life.

I love you,

Abba

photo: r.tavani