Love letter and the scarlet thread…

When I mention spending time in Gods Word or Reading the Bible, what emotional response does that evoke in you? For myself, it was one of duty and drudgery. I knew as a Christian I should read it, I’d heard the words; “Gods word is alive,” “sharper than a double edged sword“, we were to “hide it in our heart” and heaven forbid…even memorize it.

Obviously, for me there were some issues, and these issues hindered me in my Spiritual growth for a very long time, preventing me from becoming All that God wanted me to become. I remember years ago, I made it my goal to read the Bible cover to cover… and I did, problem was I really didn’t get it… and seriously what was with all the blood?

This was a real hinderance for me, the brutality of the time and the apparent injustice didn’t fit well into my thought process, that is until someone finally pointed out to me; “I would never find Jesus in the OT, until I met Him personally in the NT, then I could go back and see His blood red threads woven throughout ALL scripture… pointing me onward to Jesus and His Redemptive work for both me and all mankind.

It seems odd, even to me, that I would say that I had to meet him personally in the NT. You see, I gave my life to Jesus when I was a child, although I never really started to grow until an adult, and sadly I easily got caught up into Legalism. I understood reward for good behaviour… I could do that.

The problem was, I was missing the most important issue. I wanted to gloss over the “ugly stuff” from my past and be comfortable in the parameters I knew, and in this way, I would be saved and God would be happy with me.

I lived that way a long time, no wonder I couldn’t understand Gods judgement and anger that fell onto the Israelites… His chosen children. Because like them, I had a Sin problem and I didn’t want to look at it. It just seemed too big to conquer on my own. I, like them, believed that if I just kept striving I would figure it out on my own.

Thankfully God is patient and just and in reality, very slow to anger. He not only knew ALL of my obstacles, He was building into my life, lesson opportunities for me to know Him better. Funny way this works, but it is often in our lowest points that He gets our closest attention.

If you’ve been following my journey for awhile, You will know the valley that we had been in; watching our business fail, giving up our home, toys and many personal possessions. (If you’re new to my blog, check my starting point here). God stripped us bare of most of our earthly comforts and in the process we found Him.

I started to get DEEP into His Word, and I was finally able to experience what was meant by the “living Word”, I started to experience the teaching of the Holy Spirit and my eyes were finally opened to Truths I simply did not see before.

I am so thankful that God had a plan for me, that He was at work, even when I could not see it. He knew what it would take, and when I would be ready to see that His Word was actually alive and speaking to me. He’s still teaching me, showing me when I think too lightly about certain sins, pointing our my areas of weakness, and challenging me to trust Him in ALL areas.

And the coolest part of it all… He’s not done with me. He has work for me to do and has given me Everything I need to do it. Thank you Jesus

JOURNAL ENTRY:  

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  Acts 1:8 NLT

Heavenly Father

Thank you for Your Word.  Your Word instructs us…encourages us…rebukes us…and directs us.  Your Word gives us everything we need to live in this world.  Father reach those that do not know you, those that do not recognize the power of Your Word.  

Forgive me for all the years I ignored Your instructions, forgive me for falling into the belief pattern that it was “a rule book”, making it distasteful to me.  When I first heard the Bible being called a Love letter, it simply did not comprehend, how could a book bathed in blood be a Love letter? 

Thank you Lord, that You prompted me to learn to seek and to dig, and in time you opened my eyes to see and my mind and heart to understand the over-arching truth of Your Word.  Every book from Genesis to Revelation points Your people to Jesus.  

You helped me to understand that the OT scriptures were the History of the Jewish people, how You set them apart as Your sacred possession.  You revealed my own deceptive heart to me as I saw, how easy it is to get caught up in the world around us and neglect our relationship to you. 

Once You opened my eyes to see, everything changed and I learned to Love Your Word, recognizing that through it You were still speaking… and now You were speaking directly to me.  You revealed to me the brokenness of man and how when we are left to our own devices, we simply can’t measure up.  

You showed me Why Jesus had to come to the earth, and Why He had to die, it was the ONLY way that we could be saved from the depravity within ourselves.  It simply wasn’t possible for us to live without sin, I finally saw the depth of Your Love for me as You willingly laid down Your life for the sins of the world. 

So now when I read Your Word Lord, I recognize the scarlet thread woven throughout the scriptures pointing to the Love of Jesus and how we as His children are to respond to His instructions.  Now when I read a verse like Acts 1:8 above, I recognize that these words are also for me, the promise of the Holy Spirit was also for me.   Thank you Lord. 

I can trust in the promise of the Holy Spirit to come…to fill me… to direct me and empower me, to do the work that You Lord have called me to do.  By the power of Your Spirit, I too can be Your witness everywhere I go, with ALL those You place in my path.  

Thank You Lord, this assures me that I don’t serve out of my own strength, words or actions, but through the power of the Holy Spirit.  What a gift Lord, forgive me for not acknowledging the depth and power of that gift, for believing I had enough strength on my own.  

I ask You again Father, Fill me with Your Spirit… equip me Lord, to be a powerful witness for You.  Direct my paths and cause divine appointments where I can point others towards Your Mercy and Love.  May others see the love of Jesus within me.  

Thank you Lord for ALL You are doing for us.  We still don’t see the picture clearly as to what Your path is, but we are starting to see some of the dots forming in front of us… connect those dots together for us Lord, so that we can continue to stay on the path that You have placed us.  Continue to strengthen our faith as we Trust is ALL that we can’t see. 

Forgive me Lord, when I choose to live for myself rather than for You… when I live selfishly rather than Lovingly.  Draw me closer to You every day Father and thank you for choosing me to follow You. 

In Jesus name ❤️ Amen

My Final Thoughts & Encouragement:

Friends, I don’t know where you might be on this topic of Bible reading.. study… instruction. But I do want to encourage you to stick with it. If like me, you tried reading through it as a duty, it may have resulted the same as mine… pretty dry and confusing.

What I have come to learn and enjoy most about Gods Word, is that it is Spirit led. Just as each author was led by the Spirit to write down the Words instructed, it is through this very Spirit that was promised to each of His Children, that instructs us when we read it.

So If you have never spent the time getting comfortable in Gods Word, let me encourage you to find a comfy chair in a quiet place, or a desk with a note book (my personal preference). Pray for the Holy Spirit to come and teach you what He wants you to learn.

It may take some time and some practice, but stay with it, write down or underline anything that seems to be jumping out at you, then spend time praying about those words, asking the Lord by His Spirit to teach you.

The point is, reading the Bible is not something you do alone, I believe it’s a coming together with the Holy Spirit, seeking His instruction and wisdom in the process. Gods Word is full of treasures and jewels to live by, that’s why every one of my journal entries starts with a passage of scripture that the Holy Spirit spoke to me through…revealing another portion of Gods beautiful Love letter to me. My prayer is that you my friend, will discover this beautiful treasure as well.

Blessings, Janet ❤️Journey4Jesus

Do you know Jesus ? He’s waiting for you… ( click the link to learn more)

If this benefited you in any way, I’d love to hear from you and I would be thrilled if you would share or invite more people to be encouraged. }