December 3, 2013 - "Love Deep"

Ever awakened and decided you would lay in bed and pray for a moment? Then, drift to a place of sleep and find an hour has escaped? Yikes! Well, I certainly intended to touch the LORD with my prayers this morning. I welcomed the Holy Spirit into the day and then said 3-4 times, "and help me hear well, speak slowly, and love deep." When my pre-dawn nap was completed, I felt a wee bit connected with the disciples in the Garden of Gesthemane. Anybody else? Anyway, that simple prayer continued as soon as I came for coffee and look where it took me: Ephesians 3:16-21 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened andreinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. 17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, 18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; 19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being) unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! 20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far overand above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]— 21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). Notice the highlighted red parts. One came from my prayer (as simple as it was) and the other came from the lips of the Apostle Paul over each of us this day, but the Holy Spirit connected the two. I was blown away at how this happened. As I close this morning, pay close attention to vs. 20 that reminds us that the action of God's power within enables us to carry out all that He purposed for our day. We can be healthy, we can hear well, we can speak slowly and we can LOVE DEEP. I need God's help. How about you? PK Pastor Kathy Hill New City Church "God has not changed HIS mind about you!" email: kathy@newcitychurch.net blog: kathyshcgfamily.blogspot.com