As I sit here this quiet morning on Veterans Day, my mind is full of a lot of things – I can’t help but think of all the people who sacrificed their very lives, left their families, and put the words loyalty, commitment, and defend into the bloodstream of not only how they live, but who they are. You know, we can’t help but admire people who truly demonstrate loyalty to their family, friends, co-workers, class mates, and leaders. Loyalty is critical for any relationship to experience everything God intends.
But when I think about total strangers, (men and women I’ve never met and many of whom I never will), choosing to serve my country on my behalf with never wavering devotion, I just to have say …. THANK YOU! Thank you for all the training, sacrificing, determination, sleepless nights, separation from your family, lugging around heavy equipment, seeing things you’ll never forget, acting on orders for the good of mankind, and for all the devastations you faced in defending and protecting this great nation in providing a homeland of safety and security. Nothing you’ve done goes unappreciated!
While I was doing some Veteran’s Day reading, I also found this – The Marine Corps Motto is, “Semper Fidelis” which means “Always Faithful.”
Always Faithful.
What a motto … for life!
You know, we live in a world where there’s plenty of betrayal, lack of trust, gossip and slander, unhealthy competitiveness, and yet, to read the Marine’s motto is, “Always Faithful” makes me think of Someone who truly truly is. Someone who never betrays, never breaks trust, and would never speak an unkind and injurious word of anyone.
His name is,
Jesus.
Before reading any more, will you take just a minute and read His name out loud. I did. As soon as I typed it out, I just whispered it softly. Enjoy its sound as you say the Name that is above all names. As you say the name of the One who is Faithful! Always Faithful. Jesus. The sweetest name I know.
I read something this morning and I wanted to pass it on to you because it was definitely a word in season for me because of how applicable it was to my current spiritual condition – needing to lean in and lean hard on the ‘always faithfulness’ of God –
“The worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful,” Mark 4:18-19.
If you are feeling somewhat unmotivated and ineffective today, realize that anxiety nearly always results in a person becoming less productive. When bound by insecurities and apprehensions, we simply cannot be effective for the kingdom of God or in our daily tasks.
So, consider, are you feeling somewhat paralyzed today? It may be because of some fear hidden in your heart. But friend, you aren’t going to feel secure about anything in life until you are confident of your relationship with the Lord. That’s because, by design, there’s a part of you that God made for Himself. Nothing else can fill that void or occupy that part of you except Him.
Until Jesus is the priority of your life, you will always fear the unknown and be “chocked” by the worries of this world. It is a relationship with Him and being connected to His power that enables you not to be anxious and fearful, but rather to grow and be victorious.
Here’s the sentence that read as a warm blanket being wrapped around my shoulders just for the sheer purpose to comfort and console: “…there’s a part of you that God made for Himself.” Read it again. This time, much slower.
Now, does that not speak such “intimacy?” To think, there is a part of yourself that God made intentionally for only Him to occupy. For His compassionate heart to reside. For His loving kindness to fill. And for His grace to overwhelm.
You see, God created that part of you that’s made for Himself because He longs to become part you – He created nothing and no-one else to fill that void or occupy that place of you except Himself. That is so incredibly intimate! He longs for the two of you to become part of each other. Literally, to be one. And for the Bride of Christ to be one, as the Father is in Christ and Christ is in the Father. This is the intimacy Jesus prayed for while He was on this earth:
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—” John 17:20-22
So that they may be one as we are one, literally means become part of each other.
On this Veteran’s Day, there is one last thing I want to share with you and it’s a section from the Marine’s creed regarding his rifle.
I will learn its weaknesses, its strength, its parts, its accessories, its sights and its barrel. I will ever guard it against the ravages of weather and damage as I will ever guard my legs, my arms, my eyes and my heart against damage. I will keep my rifle clean and ready. We will become part of each other.
Today, my friend, if you are anxious or have a fear hidden in your heart, soak your mind and your heart in the Word of God today. Read and enjoy quiet mediation in the Psalms and pray. Talk with Him. As you’re feeling distressed, call to Him for help. Cry if you need to. It’s not a sign of weakness, but a sign of release. His ears are open to you. He’s not distracted from your needs, and nothing is sweeter to Him than to hear the voice of His child calling Him to draw near.
“In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears,” Psalm 18:6.
I want you to know that you’ve been prayed for today. I prayed that anyone who reads this little post will experience the calling of God, the conviction of God, and the character of God in the most personal of ways. It’s a joy, a sheer joy to pray for you, my friend, because we ARE …
Part of Each Other,
Lisa
