Typical Bible Drill verse. Every VBS, every Sunday
School class forever and always has taught this verse. And rightly so. It's a
great one. Sometimes "over-used" verses can kind of annoy me... I
know, I know, I shouldn't be annoyed by the Bible - I just mean that they are
said so much that it's hard to remember how important they are and you just
kind of think "I already know that one" and move on about your day
over looking the meaning you once found to be so beautiful. This verse wasn't
one of the "annoying" ones, but I have heard it quite often and I've
had it memorized for longer than I can remember. And I think the reason it
wasn't one of those "over-used" verses for me is because rather than
over looking the meaning, I never truly discovered it in the first place.
I have a few friends that, if asked, could tell you
exactly what God has been teaching them over the past few months, or even
years. And for these friends, the theme of what the Lord has been teaching them
remains constant. God is consistently working in their hearts and bringing to
their mind one theme as He deepens their relationship with Him. Anytime you ask
them "what are you struggling with?", or "what has God been
teaching you lately?', they always answer the same. Not to say they aren't
learning or growing, but that for whatever reason or for whatever future
circumstances may arise, God is diligently working in their lives to grow these
areas and strengthen their reliance and dependence on Him.
For one friend it's love. What does it mean to
truly love? And to be loved? And to trust God with that love? See, for her it's
about the heart. Over the past year and a half to two years the Lord has been
showing Himself to her in big ways. Showing her that He is all she needs.
Showing her that no matter what her earthly relationship status may be, He is
constant. He is ever-present. He is always there and always will be there. He's
been showing her that love isn't just for a significant other. It isn't just
for close friends and family. It's for everyone. It's for the weirdos and the
creeps. It's for the annoying children and the people that don't speak English
very well. It's for everyone. She's learning what it means to love the Lord her
God with all of her heart. All of it.
For many friends it's faith. What does it mean to
trust in the God of the universe? To trust that He sent His only son to die on
the cross so that we could be washed and cleansed in the blood of the Lamb and
have our sins forgiven, never to be remembered. These friends may not even know
that God is working in their hearts. But I can see it. Day by day or week by
week... even year by year, God is stirring their affections toward Him. Proving
Himself faithful time and time again. Showing them that He is the Ultimate. He
is Savior. He is God. Whether they know it or not, they are learning to love
the Lord their God with all of their soul. All of it.
For another friend it's peace. What does it mean to
totally surrender to God? To know that He has complete control of everything.
To know that His plans are the plans and they will ultimately work out
for His glory. God is teaching him to trust that His timing is perfect. He's
learning that full dependence on God is the only way and that anxious thoughts
are not going to bring any glory to God, but instead steal joy away from
himself and others. He's learning to love the Lord his God with all of his
mind. All of it.
I've never really struggled for a significant
period of time with any of these three things. I've given my soul over to the
Lord. He has it. Forever. I sometimes worry about the future, usually about
non-existent relationships/marriage (combining mind and heart). But these
worries and anxieties usually only last for a little while and then I give them
over to God.
Now, I don't know if you've noticed (because I
didn't), but there are more than three things listed in that verse. It doesn't
just stop after "mind"... See it now? The word "strength".
I guess I've just completely missed it for the last 20 years (well… those first
few years, I wasn't reading much).
A little less than two weeks after returning home from East Asia, I
moved into a new apartment. As I lay down in bed that night, I was exhausted.
My body was sore, not only from coming off jet-lag, but from moving and putting
together furniture, unpacking boxes, and running errands all day. At that
moment the Lord brought this verse before me. I just couldn't help but think
what it would be like to lay down every night feeling that same amount of
exhaustion as I did after moving, but knowing I had spent that day using all of
my strength for the Lord. I want that. I desperately want that. I want to know
that I am doing everything possible to serve God, point to God, bring Him
glory, and draw others to Him. This semester is already proving to be
challenging. God is giving me so many opportunities and resources to glorify Him.
And I am loving it. It's hard, and it's time-consuming, and it's different, and
it's difficult. But I am loving it. I want to continue to grow strong in the
Lord. I want to use everything that I am for His kingdom. I want others to see
Christ in me. I want to share God’s goodness with everyone. I want to make
disciples. God has already taught me to love Him with all of my heart, soul,
and mind, but now He is teaching me to love Him, the Lord my God, with all of
my strength. All of it.
