I was frustrated with myself for running late to church…again. I walked quickly with my friend Joanna into the auditorium, my mind racing with to-dos for the day and the week ahead.
The worship band had already started playing and the congregation was on their feet. “That guitar sounds incredible, what kind is it?” I asked my friend standing next to me. “It’s a lap guitar with some German-sounding name that I can’t remember” he answered. The deep smooth strums of that instrument warmed my heart, so much that it got my attention immediately. The sound put me in a state of such peacefulness that I couldn’t help but bow my head in gratitude and pray as my distracted thoughts slowly refocused on the message God had for me that day.
His Message on Transformation
The pastor gave a powerful sermon on John 3:1-9, Jesus’ command to be born again. The message had me thinking about how immensely my life has been transformed through my relationship with Jesus. Before I was a believer, I didn’t enjoy reading the Bible, I didn’t invest in community, I didn’t have a clue about sacrificial love (I will always be learning about this one). Now, I treasure the Word, I couldn’t imagine life without my church community and I have experienced the joy of loving selflessly. It was as if God wanted me to acknowledge the ways He’s been transforming my heart! He also knew I needed encouragement at that exact moment.
There are also many areas in my life that need work; especially in my relationships. Any of you women out there struggle with being overly controlling? I do. Especially when there are a lot of changes happening all at once. This is a sure sign that I am not trusting in God. It is a relief to know that He is in control; if I have faith, He will provide for all of my needs (Philippians 4).
Loving Like Jesus
I will never be as selfless as Jesus while I am on this earth; He loved so passionately and with such grace. He gave and He gave and He gave, and still gives. It is amazing to me that I am being taught how to love like that! God is transforming us each day to look like Him, teaching us how to love each other like Jesus loves us. This truth gives me hope when I don’t feel strong enough to love because I don’t have to do it on my own.
Relationships are one of the best measurements of where I’m putting my trust. Am I looking out for the other person’s needs or my own? Am I praying for my friends and family? Am I keeping up with their lives? These are a few of the questions that help me to see where I need to let God in. He is not through molding me yet.
Whether you are married or engaged or desire to be married some day, my hope is that each day the love you have for your spouse or future spouse would look more like God’s gracious love for you.
Lord, teach me how to love graciously, selflessly, securely, patiently and unconditionally. Provide me with opportunities today to choose to love in that way. Thank you for catching my attention in the midst of this noisy world, turning my focus away from myself up to you and to the other people you’ve put in my life.
He’s Always With Me
As the worship team solemnly played that morning, the mesmerizing sound of the lap guitar rang in my ears and in my heart. It was as if God was using the steady beat of the strum to slow down the beat of my heart and put my restless mind at ease. I pressed pause that morning on my racing thoughts and said to God,
Lord, slow down my thoughts. Continue to transform me. Thank you for showing me how to love like your son and for this sweet . sweet . moment of peace.
I felt reassurance that Jesus would show me the way, that God was in control (not me) and that He would continue to transform me. I don’t need to be perfect to come to Him. His Spirit was oh so present in the sanctuary that morning—that was one of the few times I’ve been moved to tears in a church service.
The Instrument
Later that afternoon I Googled “lap guitars.” The instrument with a German-sounding name is called a Weissenborn. God used a musical instrument and our gifted worship band to catch my attention that day. He had a message that He wanted me to hear about transformation and love; my busy thoughts are no match for God’s voice. Today, I look forward to opportunities to love the people in my life a little better than yesterday.
Reflection:
- How has God caught my attention lately?
- What is He teaching me about serving others through my devotional time?
- What specific areas of my life are being/have been transformed?
- What areas in my life am I not surrendering to Him?
- What is one way I can better love and serve the people God puts in my path?
(My spouse? fiancé? family? friends? coworkers?)
