Good morning…
She prayed over me as we finished our monthly spiritual direction phone call, and her words landed in my open journal: “LORD, these mixed emotions are so tender. There is so much wrapped up in the place where Sue is sitting. We know You are a resurrection God. We don’t know what will be resurrected from the death of Sue’s dreams.” (For details of my angry dilemma, visit our post I Was So Mad.)
Her prayer continued to wash over me: “Sue is living out this difficult situation with You, God, I truly sense that. She is waiting patiently for Your plans to take form. I am moved by her faith in You. Beneath all her soul-searching Sue is discovering Your priority: ‘Relationships come first.’ But we know the cost of humble acceptance. Forgiveness costs.”
Her prayer concluded: “I pray that You pour out the oil of grace and help Sue to suspend her fears of what might happen. Her dreams may still come true, but in an even better way. ‘Do what love asks of us,’ that is our simple requirement. Remove the burden of thinking that this decision is determined. Overwhelm Sue with Your kindness. Help her to live centered in Your presence. We know this is a hard ask, but You specialize in hard things. Amen.”
Touched to my core, I sat motionless on the wooden bench for a long, quiet moment. “Thank you for that blessing,” I finally said. And in that very instant puffy clouds parted and the bright sun came back to melt my whole being.
Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. Then you will say to the Lord, “You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you” (Psalm 91:1-2, CEV).
From this place of safety, protection, and trust, we learn the primary lesson Jesus taught in his lifetime. Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. This is the first and most important commandment (Matthew 22:37-38, CEV). Intimate relationship with God must come first.
From this place of safety, protection, and trust, we learn to love ourselves and love each other in a balanced, mutual way. As Jesus explains: The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself” (Matthew 22:39, CEV). Intimate relationship with our self and with others organically overflows from our loving relationship with God.
“Relationships come first,” God reassures. “Trust in My resurrection power.”
…Sue…
