Red Wednesday's Wisdom - CHG #2, Part Two

Love the Lord
Before I get started, I want to remind you that if you ever have any questions or need clarification with the spirit work, Scripture, or things that you are reading in the posts, I encourage you to use the comments section at the bottom of the postings to let me know what is on your mind.  I will then be able respond back to you.  If you are emailing to the blog I will never see your questions or comments.

Having said this, this past week I was asked this question in regards to doing the SW, “Do I write down the first answer that comes to me or do I marinate on the other words that can also enter my mind?”  I can not predict how the Holy Spirit works with any of us.  I can tell you that in my own life it is often the first word that comes to me, but there are times when the word is not readily manifested.  In fact, there can be many words that come to you.  So, apply CHG # 1 and allow yourself to slow down with how much is coming into your brain.  Ask the Holy Spirit to help you focus on just the one word that He wants you to receive. It can be days or an entire week until the Holy Spirit gets my attention with a specific word or thought.  I do not vacillate over the answer because that then clutters my trust in God speaking to me.  Our God is the God of pattern and order, consequently, He will often speak the same word over and over to us.  Please do not labor over getting an answer of the “right” one.  Remember that SW is prayerful communication between you and God’s Spirit.  Be at peace in trusting that the Holy Spirit will answer your prayer and give you what you need.  It was God’s Spirit that led me to write the SW questions so that we can be drawn into a working and loving relationship with Him.  So it is His Spirit that will prayerfully lead you to the answer that He wants you to have. He knows your heart and what you need at every specific moment.

As I reflected on the first SW question from the last post that related to my thought or belief regarding God, the word all was consistently showing up in my Scripture and devotional readings, as well as my journaling.  As I looked at the second SW question that related to the one major feeling that was elicited when I meditated on the word all, it was a feeling of gratitude, because I am continuously learning what it means to love God and believe in Him.  And because of the relationship I have with the Lord, I am blessed to witness how alive and present He is in my life.  He is not dead.  He is always demonstrating His love and care for me.
 
So, on a practical level, as I have been going through the process of selling my house and moving, there is one word that is reflective of the third SW question that asks how my heart, soul, mind or strength have been influenced by thinking about CHG #2.  The word would be struggle.  I have had my moments of struggleing between doubt and faith.   There is a part of me that wants to go to doubt and ask what if……, what if…..?   And when that has happened, I have reminded myself to trust God with all of my heart, all of my soul, all of my mind and all of my strength.  There is no question about what I heard God telling me, “It is time to sell and it will happen quickly.” Things have moved very quickly.  But the doubt wants to ask if I believe all of what God has said or do I believe in just part of it?

As I write about CHG #2 I believe that its focus came at just the right time for me.  It has caused me to have a new trust in the word all.  I believe in all of what has God put on my mind and heart about selling my home, and I believe with all of my soul and all of my strength that He has empowered me to do all of this in the midst of healing my broken ankle very quickly as well.

SW question # 4 had to do with how God uses symbolism to get my attention in turning towards God and loving Him.  Symbolism plays a big role in how God will communicate with us if we are in His Word daily and we are seeking Him though the course of our day.  I loved how the Lord used the symbolism of a song verse during church recently to emphasize this word all for me.  It was the song called, “Jesus Paid it All.”

I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots
And melt the heart of stone.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

When from my dying bed
My ransomed soul shall rise,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
Shall rend the vaulted skies.
Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

And when before the throne
I stand in Him complete,
I’ll lay my trophies down,
All down at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

As you gather all your answers to the previous posting’s SW questions, what story is God wanting you to discover about loving Him?

When I was learning what loving God was all about, the Lord would bring the color green to my attention.  For me the color green symbolized growth and reinforced my need to grow in loving the Lord.

This week your SW is about reflecting on the color green.  Think about what it symbolizes in terms of growing in your knowledge of God and His love.  Jesus says in 1 John 4:8 “But anyone who does not love does not know God – for God is love.” 

I would like to close with this prayer.
Father God, as we reflect on Your amazing grace may it be that grace that sheds light on how we have cluttered our lives by not loving you or appreciating your goodness.  You are the Creator of love, so it can only be through You that we learn to love and connect with You, ourselves and one another.