Our relationship with God is strengthened in moments of quiet contemplation when we’re using the gifts He has provided us.
His sacrificial love for us is how we are called to love one another. “As I have loved you, so should you love others.” Sacrificing your own wants and needs at times to help others.
Jesus taught us so much about love just by the very nature of who He was. Then He took it a step further and followed Our Father’s will. He willingly gave His life on the cross to save us all and bring us to everlasting life.
We see His faithfulness and love for us again and again as we witness His healing grace and mercy. We see His love for God, our Father, when He asks Him to allow the cup to pass over Him, but recognizes that His Father’s will supersedes His own. We see it again when He heals the leper who no one else would touch and responds to the woman who touched His garment with gentle grace calling her “daughter” and letting her know that she was healed.
Jesus had a great desire to help others and found joy and fulfillment in His life. His desire is no different for us, now. He not only helped people to change their lives, but he helped them to shift their mindset into a place of fullness and redemption.
He wants us to laugh, to give praise, to dance, to share in His joy here on earth. He wants to fill our hearts with love. He wants us to know joy. He wants us to know Him.
We can arrive at this place any time of day; however, I have a challenge for you.
Set aside time this week to write a love letter to God.
You might include:
Thanks! Thank Him for the gift of the day. Thank Him for your life. Thank Him for something from the day before or the morning of. Thank Him for anything that you can think of.
Peace. Ask God to help you find peace even in situations that you have yet to experience or find difficult to navigate.
Trust. Let God know that you trust Him. Ask Him to help you trust that He is working in all circumstances. Ask Him to trust you with more. Then pray for Him to provide you with guidance.
Strength. Thank God for providing you with the strength that you needed to walk away from troubling circumstances or moments when temptation was strong. Thank Him for providing you with the strength to get through a difficult time. Thank Him for the strength to stay even when you wanted to walk away.
Discipline. Thank God for providing the training that you needed in order to follow Him. Thank Him for grounding you and helping you to discern His voice above all others. Thank Him for staying with you in the storm.
Spending time with God in this way is like sending a letter to a friend or lover. It’s fun! It’s exciting! It is also humbling, apologetic, and incredibly intimate. It is a place to open up to God, to open up to your best friend. Though you will never mail it, God wants to know what is on your heart.
You don’t have to keep the letter forever - not even for a minute after you have written it- but while you are writing, be present.
Feel the hope, the excitement, the joy. Let it radiate through your body. Feel the pain, the hurt, the heartache. Let the tears fall and the anger rise up. Think about God’s reaction as He reads your letter- He already knows what’s coming… but, you might not. Listen. Allow Him the space and time that he needs to comfort you.
Should you choose to save your letter and go back to it later, you may glean much wisdom from the thoughts and ideas that were shared. Ask God to help you see and understand what you need to know.
Ultimately, it is a beautiful way to testify to God’s greatness and glory in your life and in the lives of those around you. You may experience forgiveness, transformation, love, peace, and joy in a way that you never even thought about. You may see others doing the same.
Sometimes, prioritizing prayer can feel like you are leaving all of the things undone. Sometimes even like you are abandoning or jumping ship, but here’s the thing when you invite God into the boat suddenly you can pull in the oars (notice I used the plural oars because you have been rowing for like 16 people) and take a moment to breathe. Then put one oar back into the water and paddle with Him. Because time with Him somehow gives you time for it all. Some things that seemed emergent suddenly resolve themselves. Some things that seemed like they required only you, suddenly fell off. Some things you realize you can ask others to help with. With Him, you come to realize that you can not only manage time better but also gain clarity on what matters most.
God does not tell us that there won’t be work to do, but He does say if you knock, I will answer and bring you peace. Happy knocking!
Heavenly Father,
In moments of stillness, we lean into You, grateful for the tools You have given us to deepen our relationship. Thank You for the gift of today, for life, and for the love You constantly shower upon us.
Lord, we seek Your peace, even in the storms we face. Help us trust in Your divine plan and provide us the strength to navigate challenges with grace. We thank You for the courage to walk away from temptation and for the discipline to follow Your path.
As we reflect on the sacrificial love of Jesus, may we learn to love others as He loved us, putting aside our desires to serve those around us. Teach us to embrace joy and fulfillment in helping others, just as Jesus did.
Guide our hearts as we prepare to write our love letters to You, expressing our deepest gratitude, trust, and hopes. Let us feel Your comfort and wisdom as we open up to You, knowing that You listen and care.
Thank You for being our anchor, our strength, and our joy. May we always seek Your presence and prioritize our relationship with You, finding clarity and peace in Your love.
Thank you for all the gifts that you have given to us. We are forever yours.
Amen.
Thank you for leaning into PTSD with us over these past 30 days. Your prayers mean the world to us and we are incredibly grateful for your love and support. We hope that in some small way, you are finding more peace, trust, strength, and discipline in your own life too.
Thank you so much! Ya’ll have a beautiful day! ☀️🌈
All My Love,
Jen
For more information about Get Strong with Jen! click here.
To view Lean Into PTSD - Day 29 of Prayer click here.
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