A Valentine for You

Once you start experiencing God, you are ruined for every thing else.--Priscilla Shirer

This is one of the most genuine, true, resoundingly accurate quotes I've seen in a very long time.

I think many of us are sitting in the grandstand watching God perform all around us, thinking we ARE experiencing Him because we are watching the show.  Yet, we haven't gotten out of our seats, walked down onto the grass, and asked Him if we could show Him how important He is in our lives.

We aren't living what He's teaching because we won't slow down and listen.

We aren't being blessed by what He has to offer because we are too consumed by what the world is giving out and we continuously miss His open hand generously giving the best we could ask for or want.

We aren't working toward the qualities He counts as good and right because we haven't cracked our Bibles open or sat in a pew or had open dialogue with a person about living for Jesus in so long we can't remember.  Or, maybe worse, we are doing those things but discounting the voice of God telling us we aren't on the right path.

God is all about experience.  He made a world for us to enjoy.  He made other people for us to love.  He made hearts for us to share.

But, without Him in the equation, all the experiences are for naught.

Look upward today.  Remember the God who loves you sacrificially.  Remember that you are the best version of you He could possibly make.

The world around you is going to fight and disagree and be generally corrupt.  Refuse to worry about it, instead praying over all of it.  Experience what God knows to be true:  your prayers don't fall on deaf ears.  Never confuse worry for prayer;  one is of this world, the other of our God.

Let it start with something as small as going for one hour offering every worry up as a prayer.  Experience the peace.  Let it soak in.  Drink in God's voice when you turn down the radio and silence the TV and become in tune to Him.

Before you know it, that one hour will blossom into a day.  And you'll find yourself seeking God again and again and again.  You'll work toward finding Him, the way He seeks you every second of every minute of every day of your life.

This Valentine's Day, drink in the gifts He has bestowed.  Accept whatever earthly gifts are given you this day, without expectation or hesitation.  Give back generously, with hugs and kisses and sweet reminders of your love to friends and family. 

When you seek God in your life, give up worry in favor of prayer, and focus your attention on those you love, contentment follows.  What better Valentine could you ask for than that?