Shifting Shadows & Heavenly Light

 “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:13-17

My Abba,

Father of the Heavenly Lights! Another fitting name for you, Beautiful God. I treasure you and your perfect gifts. I love that you never change. No need to worry that you will lose your luster, deteriorate or become irrelevant. Everything else is so inconstant but you are perfect - always.

Thank you that you are not my tempter. Please alert me to evil desires when they knock on the door of my heart, armed with their smooth sales pitches. I want to cry out to you prior to answering the door. Give me the supernatural sense to reach for you, before I even give my temptation the time of day, much less allow it to entice and drag me away.

I know many of my desires are sacred and from you. But I don't want those that are mangled or misdirected to give birth to sin in my life. And I certainly don't want the death in my life that results from my sin. One definition I saw for death this morning was this: a damaging or destructive state of affairs. That describes what my sin produces in my life and in the lives of those around me.

Each day I have the opportunity to choose life with you, the Author of Life, or the errant thoughts and behaviors that bring damage and destruction. Please give me the power, Holy Spirit, to choose well today.

I love you,

Mollie

My child,

Free will (the sacred option for choice) for those I created is a magnificent gift that allows for love. I did not create will-bound puppets without the ability to choose. I wanted the opportunity for a love relationship. Choice and love must go hand in hand.

It is impossible to force someone to love you. That is not love.

The price for this opportunity to love is the opportunity to hate. I don't ever tempt you to hate others or me, or sin against others or me. But the option must be there. One choice cannot be open to you without the other.

Love is a good and perfect gift I give. But you must choose each day, whether or not, to receive that gift from me. I want to flood your heart with my love today, so you can enjoy loving me and others well. 

When you are living deeply in my love, and temptation knocks, you will be too involved with me to answer it. Leave the shifting shadows outside today and enjoy being at home with me, reveling in my heavenly light.

I love you,

Abba

photo: i. zhuravlov