“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Today’s Christian daily devotional
“My third client canceled today.” Normally, nothing aggravates John more. But today he’s sporting a smile.
“Let’s hop in the car and drive until the sun sets. Then, let’s turn around and head right back home.”
John doesn’t need to say another word. I grab my coat and throw on my hat while he’s still speaking.
We hop in our little Prius and take advantage of the open road and day.
Laughing and jamming to the tunes of Aerosmith, we do what we always do on our little road trips. We talk until we get slaphappy.
I’m not quite sure if this is the result from our numerous coffee runs or the kickback feel of just having an unexpected day off. But, life is so terribly good when it’s as simple as this.
The sun has dipped its golden head behind the mountains curving to the west. My thoughts drift to the other side of the world that will be welcoming those very rays that we are both saying goodnight to.
As John turns the car around, he changes the CD. When I see him pop in the Beatles’ White album, I know exactly what’s coming next.
He skips to the end of the disk and pushes play on tract number seventeen “Julia”.
“You’re forever famous, Julia.” John’s lips curve gently into a sweet grin…and I brace myself for that next moment; the one where John massacres the song my parents named me after.
“Okay.” I turn the volume down on. That will probably haunt me until the day I die. “How about we just talk.”
“So, let me guess what you’re going to ask.” John keeps his eyes on the road, his face steady and serious.
“John, when did you know you first fell in love with me?” His voice is pitched and he sounds like a husky soprano on steroids.
I slap his right arm, but he’s braced for it.
“No. The official question for today is: What do you love most about me?” I bat my eyelashes shamelessly angling for my romantic moment.
“You really want to know?” He pauses, knowing that it’s killing me.
“You’re laugh is like a sonic boom. It comes out of nowhere and it’s…loud. I think most people who don’t know you might find it…odd. But, I like it. It’s funny coming from such a small girl.”
My nose crinkles in disdain. Not exactly my idea of romantic, but hey, I did ask…
In all truth, as much as I enjoy John’s flashy muscles, I really appreciate the tiny freckles that speckle them. They remind me that no matter how much John shapes and molds his body with diet and exercise; God custom mapped his outer wrapping. And, that hasn’t changed since the day I met him.
These un-contrived moments of discovery are the fabric of our intimacy. I imagine that’s what God desires when He dreams of connecting with us.
Repetitious prayers in beautiful synagogues of worship may ‘feel good’ to the human that craves the comforts of tradition. But, at the end of the day, there is a sterility to them that tends to put God at a ‘healthy’ distance. One where man gets the feeling that the only kind of prayer God hears is one thats spoken in a gilded building.
When I pray to the Lord and feel the heartbeat of His presence near me, it’s usually never in a setting filled with other strangers or uttering words fed to me by a man in elaborate religious garb. It is in those quiet moments where I bask in just being simply Jules with her Heavenly Father.
Sometimes, when I pray, things can get downright ugly. I cry. I wail. I vent to the Lord my deep struggle to love others the way Jesus did. At any rate, I’m honest. I may not be pretty, but God knows that. And, it certainly does me no good to go around denying it or pretending that I don’t need His help.
When you love someone, you don’t just love the lovely things. Unconditional love is…well, unconditional. You must love all: the good, the bad and the ugly. And, although us humans have a very shallow idea of what true love really is, God knows; because God is love.
True intimacy means you take a risk exposing yourself. With humans, when we let down our guard and expose who we really there’s always a fear of being rejected.
If you’re in need love, don’t forget that God is love. There should never be any fear in coming to Him. I challenge you to risk it all—show God the REAL you: raw, uncut and uncensored. Experience the supernatural love of a God who promised to never leave you or forsake you…no matter how ugly or broken you feel. He’ll take you.
“Dear Heavenly Father,
Often times I have put you up on this pedestal. One so high that I feel you’re out of reach for me. So, I’ve gotten out of touch with you…thinking that intimacy is unattainable.
Jesus died for so many reasons; not only to save me from my sins, but to also share the benefits of being the Son of God. By asking Jesus into my heart, I have become a joint heir with Him. What Christ did has given me intimacy with you, Lord.
I can now come to you freely—broken, crying, honest and raw. Because when you love someone, you aren’t afraid to be who you really are.
Lord, I want to experience the depths of intimacy with you. You are so much higher and greater than me, but you are not unattainable my any means.
You’re precious gift of Jesus says it all. You sacrificed your only Son to enjoy a close relationship with me. Show me what I have been missing this whole time.
Take me to that level where I can call you Abba (Daddy) and it feels like I have come home again.
In Jesus’ precious name, Lord, I need more of you. Amen.”
Thank you for reading today’s Christian daily devotional on verse: Deuteronomy 31:6
Please check back and see what we have for you tomorrow!
Author: Julia Shalom Jordan
*I dedicate this devotional to John Turk. The man who makes everyday feel like Valentines and Christmas rolled into one! God is so good and I have proof: He gave me YOU.