"He loves them!"

It's Day 4 and  I've Stepped Out of my Red Shoes for the time being 

and have entered into the secret place.

  

My prayers started before I even got out of bed this morning.  As I was chatting with the Lord, He showed me a picture of a person climbing a ladder. 

"What's that?"  I inquired.

"It's time to climb to the next level"  He returned.

"I thought I was already at the next level, Lord."

"Have you ever had a vision of yourself climbing to the next level before?"  He asked.

"No."  I responded.

"Well now you do."  He said rather matter-of-factly.

Okay...  so I guess it's time for me 

to go to the next level!

I spent most of my day today, curled up on the couch, reading, praying and searching the scriptures.  It was time well spent.  Flipping here and there in my Bible, I found myself getting so excited as I came upon many of my favorites.  I enjoyed being able to take the time to underline each one and dig deeper by looking at what the commentary had to say about them.  Before I knew it,  I was looking up other scriptures that the commentary was mentioning, and well -- the day flew by.

Years ago when I was teaching third grade, we started off each morning with forty-five minutes of Bible.  It was supposed to be fifteen minutes, but I never got that memo.  Oh well... my students and I had our own little worship service, Bible study, prayer time and scripture memory.  Personally, I thought it was the most exciting part of the school day!  

One day, a student raised his hand to ask a question. 

 "Mrs. Sullivan,"  He said,  " I noticed that every day, no matter which scripture we're studying, you always tell us that it's your favorite scripture.  Why is that?"

"Well,"  I responded,  "It's my favorite that day, because that's the scripture God is making alive in my heart at that very moment! 

That's still true today. 

 I love the entire Word God, 

but my favorite scripture is the one 

God's speaking to me at any given moment! 

Today, while I was looking up some scriptures that had to do with angels, there was one scripture in particular, that God decided to have a conversation with me about.  It was Matthew 18:10-11.

"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones.  

For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see 

the face of my Father in heaven."

At first, I was so intrigued by this scripture because basically it says that our guardian angels have continual access to God's throne room.  How awesome is that?  One minute they're watching over us, the next minute, they are at the feet of The Father.  Surely, He inquires how their job is going?

But here's what really blew me away.  This scripture is found in The Parable of the Lost Sheep.  The "little ones" referenced here are Christians that have wondered off.  

Right at that very moment, the Spirit of God began to pray through me in such a powerful way.  It was as if I could feel the heart of God.  POW!  Something broke in the Spirit realm as I prayed and weeped in a heavenly tongue.

When God did that in my heart. -- When I felt the intensity of His emotions. -- It was a love that went way beyond anything I'm familiar with.  

All I know is that my perspective 

has been forever changed!  

God made it a point to tell me personally that...

 He loves the one that has wondered off 

and that I should always remember that 

when I meet someone who is not doing well. 

It can be awkward when you meet someone who is not doing so well in the Lord.  They always have their reasons and excuses.  Many times they are hurt and broken from something that's taken place in their life.  Suddenly all the reasons and excuses don't seem to matter much.  

He loves them and He wants me to love them too.

He didn't stop there.  The Lord actually told me what to do in such situations. He made it clear that I don't need to evangelize them because they're already saved.  My job is to minister to them by showing them that I love and care about them.  I'm to be kind and gentle with them, washing them in the sweetness of God's Word, (not hitting them on the side of the head with hell, fire and brimstone).  God says that I should just converse with them, smile a lot, be nice, and share with them what He's doing in my life.   He told me that my stories, mixed with genuine love and kindness will give them hope.  

As I work in partnership with Him, 

He will restore and heal them in time. 

Today instead of stepping out in RED shoes,  I stepped into His Word and into His presence, and came out with some Godly advice and direction.

Gail