I haven't been writing much lately. It's not that I haven't had much to say, I've just not felt the freedom to say them. It's almost like God has shut my mouth on purpose. Partly, I think it's to remind me that He is my source for everything: happiness, peace, creativity, finances, direction, everything that I could possibly need comes from Him alone.
Needless to say, I've also been quiet in real life, too. It's hard to describe this season because really there are no adequate words. I love that God uses different times, seasons, vessels and instruments to speak to me and lead me. Sometimes a song will come on, and it's like He's pouring His love right over me. Sometimes a dear friend will say just one word that sets off a chain reaction of thoughts that could only come from Him. Last night, it was in my dream (this happens frequently for me).
I haven't been depressed in a while, but I have felt funky. I've also been really distant and not pursuing a relationship with the Lord. I haven't been hiding the word in my heart like I've done for so many years. A pastor I knew growing up would always say "hide the word in your heart when you don't need it, so when you do need it, it will be there." I know, the truth is, that we really need the word everyday, but for this purpose, I am using this quote.
So, last night, I kept hearing the song "this is my commandment that you love one another that your joy may be full." I wasn't really dreaming, it was more of a prophetic state where I knew God was speaking to my heart and reminding me of His word. I can't post all of John 15, but that's where we get the command to love so that our joy will be full.
John 15:11-12 "I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you."
The key to complete joy is to love. Throughout much of John 15, Jesus talks about what it looks like to love and how to love like He does. Joy found in our things, people, worldly hopes and dreams is temporal and fades quickly. The joy of a new car fades as soon as the first bill comes and new car smell goes. Putting our joy on the actions, words or intentions of others will fade as soon as they fail us, because they will.
However, when joy comes through the Lord, wisdom is born and we are strengthened in that joy. Not much can move us off that foundation. Jesus gave us many charges as believers to show people we are followers of Him, but this is the one commandment that He reiterates over and over. I think there is a reason He would put so much emphasis on love.
John 15:17 "These things I command you, so that you will love one another."
It's like after teaching all this stuff about love, Jesus closes His sermon out with this last thing "love one another." That's what it all comes down to. That's where we find our joy. It's not in the hating of our brothers and sisters in Christ, or even those who have not come to know Him yet. It's in love that we find our joy.
Father, thank you for speaking to me in dreams. Thank you for reminding me to walk in love, and to keep hiding Your word in my heart. You are so faithful and true, and Your love never fails. I praise you and I thank you for your goodness and mercy, may they continue to follow me everyday. May Your love be so evident in my life that joy overflows everywhere I go. In Jesus Name, Amen!
