Enjoy

Some time ago, I was leading a prayer meeting at home with a dozen or so people present. There came a lull in the praying and everyone went silent. This isn’t particularly unusual, but nobody spoke for ages. As the silence continued, we became more and more aware of the presence of God.

I sent up a silent prayer, “What do we do now, Lord?” I felt I had to do something or say something.

The stillness continued. I opened my eyes and looked around. Everyone in the room sat with their heads bowed. Some with open hands. Some with raised arms. Some with tears trickling down their faces.

Then God spoke; not in an audible voice, but into my spirit, quietly and gently, but powerfully. “Just enjoy it.” That was all. So, we did. We were all together in a room overwhelmed by the presence of God. We could feel His love, His holiness, His majesty. We were at peace with Him and with ourselves.

We’re so used to doing our thing and expecting things to happen our way. We’re so used to generating an atmosphere of praise, or worship. We want to come to God with our petitions and prayers, our repentance, our humility and gratitude. We want to give Him thanks because He’s worthy.

God knows He’s worthy. He knows He’s all powerful and loving and gentle and forgiving. He’s a God of mercy and peace. He’s faithful and just. He just wants us to live our lives as if it were true, which it is. He wants us to live in the unfathomable love of God, not to try to work it out, but just to live in it, to appreciate it, allow it to permeate our very being and know that He’s God. He longs for us to allow Him to love us.

Never mind the baggage. Never mind the regrets. Never mind the fact that we’re not good enough. He knows that. Time after time we let Him down and somehow seem incapable of being the person we know He wants us to be. But He knows all about us and our weaknesses and has already put them all to death.

I was in a friend’s house recently and saw these words on a poster on the wall. ‘A true friend is someone who knows everything about me, and still loves me.’ That’s God.

Let’s look through any fog of self-doubt and self-criticism. Breaking free from self-made shackles, we can grab hold of that for which Christ died. He made a way through the mire, washed us clean and led us on to the very throne of God. Let’s approach Him and embrace all He wants to give us. Let’s be aware that He lives within us by His Spirit. And, as He said to me in my living room on that memorable evening, “Just enjoy it.”

Prayer: Father, forgive me for allowing myself to flounder in doubt and uncertainty and striving to find favour with You. Lord, I already found favour with You, even before I was born, and Your love never changes. I choose now to give up struggling for acceptance and approval, and rest in Your ever-loving arms. Thank You, Jesus, for making this possible. Amen.