Head to Heart

I'm linking up today with Peggy for her Friday Feature .

The verse I've chosen for this week is Jeremiah 31:3:

 

365 Promises

Just to fill you in a little....my brain has known this fact--this promise from God--that His love for me will last forever, no matter what--for a long time.

My head knew, but my heart did not.  I memorized this verse long ago--along with many other memorizations  required by my church.  Memorize, repeat back verbatim, then you could move along in your "journey" to the next step.  Memorize, memorize, memorize. 

All of this information stored in my brain.  And that's where it stayed for many, many years--my brain. 

So, though I had all of this head knowledge, I did not have heart knowledge. 

What changed this?  What moved this love of God for me from my head to my heart? 

This happened when I had no where else to turn...no where else to go...

Bitter, angry, mean, jealous, hard as a rock...these were terms you could use to describe me.  I moved through life just trying to get by...just from day to day with no real purpose except to survive another day....I felt dead inside...emotionless....

When someone suggested to me that I attend their church, I brushed them off.  I felt that God had failed me in so many ways, and yes, I was angry at Him, too. 

This friend didn't give up though...didn't berate me for saying that "yes, I would meet her" and then not showing up.  She just asked again...and again....and again....

Until finally, I thought to myself that she's not going to stop asking and bugging me about this until I go...so I may as well go and get it over with....just so she stops...

That Sunday service...this song was played....and the Spirit moved within me...worked against all the bitterness and anger....worked in a huge, powerful, stirring way.

I do not claim to understand the mysteries and ways of God. 

All I know is what happened on that day.....

On that day, my head knowledge moved to my heart and settled there.  I felt God's love for me....I felt drawn closer to Him.....I felt peace and joy like I had never felt in my entire life.  The bitterness, anger, jealousy for others who seemed to have an 'easier life' was swept away....I had been cleaned by my God....covered in the blood of Jesus who died for me.

Yes, God's love is a "forever love".  This love is not dependent upon us "doing" something spectacular.  All He is asking is that we accept His Son, Jesus, as our Savior...and love Him in return.

It is a choice...God's free will allows this choice...to love Him or not.  He is not a pushy, demanding God....but, rather wants us to come to Him freely.

Yes, I was broken at that point in my life.  I have been broken since then....and I will be broken again.

But, knowing in my heart that God's love lasts forever....I can give my brokenness to Him....and He will show me the way....guide me along....restore me to a wholeness that would have never been possible without being shattered first.