Jeremiah 2:2 -Cloaked In Time
Step 1: Pray. Select.
When I awoke this morning, I looked forward to seeing what God had in store during my prayer practice today. Especially after running, no let me correct that, leaping, through the gate called "Beautiful" yesterday. What a rush!
I am dog-sitting my Aunt's two adorable dogs, who woke up with Hero (my dog) and me before sunrise, ready to run and play together outside in my backyard.
After they handled their morning business and wore each other out from chasing each other in circles around the yard, we all came back inside and hunkered down in the warm living room engulfed by lots of furry blankets.
As I began my prayer practice, the youngest of the group, a new puppy named Charlie, curled up next to me and, before dozing back to sleep, looked at me with such devotion as dogs loyally do to let you know how much they appreciate being your best friend. Looking into those puppy dog eyes, my heart completely melted. Then he securely settled in and went back to a peaceful sleep.
I closed my eyes and thought about the word devotion that was dancing around in my mind. As I prayed, I thought about the 30-day journey I am currently on and how I feel honored and joyfully committed to meeting with the Holy Spirit every day to listen to what He has to say. Like a new bride, committed and hopeful for our future ahead.
So, this is where I will begin my journey today. With a scripture I found based upon the importance of devotion to the Lord and the feeling of being His bride.
Step 2: Write. Read. Circle
Jeremiah 2:2 - "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: "This is what the LORD says: "'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.
After reading the scripture three times, the following words stood out:
I Remember
As A Bride
You Loved Me
Through A Land Not Sown
Step 3: Re-Write
Adding my name to the front and with a focus on the words that stood out, here is the sentence(s) I came up with for today:
Jennifer, I remember as a bride you loved me through a land not sown.
Step 4: Visualize
As I close my eyes, I am immediately taken back to the majestic endless hallway or tunnel I had seen from outside the gate called "Beautiful" yesterday. Standing inside now is strange; there is no orientation of this passageway's beginning or end. I can't go back, but I don't know where going forward will lead. Yet, somehow, I am content exactly where I am.
The air is still, and the temperature is perfect. But there is something different about this place, making it familiar yet foreign at the same time.
Suddenly, I feel a figure putting a massive robe around my shoulders, cloaking me in riches I have never seen before. It is not clothing as you and I know, it is a feeling.
As I soak in the moment of being cared for, I am not concerned with where I am going; I realize this place, wherever I am, is filled with overwhelming glory. The Lord is here. He is all around.
I think about the request from the scripture to "remember," and I start to think about at what point, if any, was I able to feel how it is to have no agenda in life. No responsibilities. A time as a child when I had no idea of what I would become or what was next.
That is it! Time doesn't exist in this place. That is the feeling I am cloaked in right now.
For some reason being in the womb comes to mind coupled with the verse, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5) Jeremiah goes onto say in Jeremiah 1:6 that he is too young and doesn't know how to speak.
Imagine that. Returning to a time of innocence as a child, we didn't rely on what we would say and lived more on instinctive behavior. Who were you walking with? Who was there? Before you came to the earth, who was telling you to kick and push to be delivered. Who was telling your heart to beat? Who was forming you? Everyone anticipated you coming into the earth, naked and just as you are. He reminds me that even if the worldly circumstances of your birth did not welcome you in this world with picturesque joy, He rejoiced in you and delighted in you because He created you to kick and scream towards what He had ahead for you. You obediently obeyed then, and here you are now.
I hear about people being able to remember what it is like to be in the womb. I have not remembered myself, but maybe this is what it felt like. This hallway. The one I am standing in right now in my vision, dressed in everything I need.
Once we got to the world, time began ticking, and we have felt that ticking ever since. We age and count the years; we tally our achievements and boast about our successes rather than stand in the infinite multitude of moments of pure perfection God has created for us to walk out. We are so focused on the next moment or making moments happen by a particular time, but every moment of the human experience is precisely what God wants us to feel. Even the bad or hurtful moments.
We may be thinking about everything incorrectly. Jesus walked out our human experience of joy, love, pain, sacrifice, betrayal, and every other emotion, but can I just depart for a moment and think about how God already felt all those things beforehand.
He had to send Jesus so we believed he was still with us and understood us and our pain so he could save our souls and know there is an eternity with unlimited time, so immaculately demonstrated in the resurrection.
If we hadn't had that wonder, would humanity have gotten so lost in the wilderness, chopping down trees and setting up perfect log cabins of our own design when we were never meant to stay here anyways?
He wanted us to know that in the depths of our darkest moments and the heights of our highest achievements, he has been with us always, but since we focus on time more than Him, we become slaves to our oppressors.
Another thing I am discovering as I sit here writing this is that if you remove time, you wipe out the spirit of competition, which is running amok!
Today, I want to stop running against the clock. The most precious gift I have here on earth is every moment I am experiencing. I will stop here today because I realize that is precisely where he wants me to stay. I don't need to push to get through the tunnel I am in; I will stop and smell the roses.
I don't need any answers to what lies at the end of the path because I have all the answers I need if I walk with God; I just need to trust that he has a plan, and it is a good one.
Step 5: Ask. Seek
The main question(s) that came to mind were:
Holy Spirit, how do I remain in the moment regularly since the world consistently acts like it is running out of time?
Step 6: Hear. Write. Receive
Holy Spirit, how do I remain in the moment more regularly since the world is running as if they are out of time?
"Yesterday, you ran to me. Now I have you in my arms. Just like that puppy looked at you today with utter devotion and trust, that is all I am asking of you. We got here together. Now, let me walk it out with you the rest of the way. Remember, I am in no rush since I do not live under your rules. Tomorrow, I will be here waiting for you to talk, laugh, and love you the same way I do today. I am the constant. I am the alpha and omega. So, even though you must depart to tend to the day's needs, don't get ahead of what I have planned for you. If you feel anything other than the cloak I have dressed you in, filled with the richness of unconditional love and time, call to me so you feel me again. I am with you always. Be kind wherever you go and walk with the knowledge that this place is temporary. Don't get lost again in the wilderness; don't spend your time building log cabins that are not by my design. Look up and I will tell you what to do and give you the tools you need in the moment to overcome any challenge you encounter. Thank you for devoting yourself to me today."
Step 7: Pray. Confirm
I am speechless! A God who thanks me simply for allowing him to dress me and take care of me. I truly have no words.
I will remind my two witnesses to continue to pray over what I have heard and keep my commitment to stay on track with the 30-day blogging challenge from God.
If you used the scripture of the day and need prayer or someone to pray with you, connect Here. Remember, you are not alone!
Step 8: Share. Testify
I don't have a testimony today that comes to mind. Wait! I do!
How could I discount today that I took another breath that allowed me to wake up this morning? I received a miraculous new day and a chance to continue through life. It is a miracle I have discounting too long.
If you workshopped any of the verses mentioned above using the 8-Step Prayer Practice, we would love to hear from you in the comments below about what the Holy Spirit showed or spoke to you today.
Don't forget to Spread Hope and share HERE if you have a miracle or testimony. We want to see how God is working in your life!
Conclusion:
Today's message was clear. It doesn't matter what happens next. This is a journey. Let's not waste another moment building something God did not design or intend for us to live in.
Take in his instruction moment by moment, and though we all have responsibilities to tend to, let's remember to look up along the way.
Don't forget to share where the Holy Spirit took you with this scripture!
May all your journeys be blessed in the overabundance of moments, we will all experience today!
