Receiving and Giving

June 30

Receiving and Giving Love to God by Mike Bickle

"I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:1-3

Many Christians who reach out to others burn out quickly because they launch into ministry before they establish in themselves the foundations of being lovers of God.

Discouragement, despair, boredom, and frustration will inevitably occur if we do not recognize that we are first called to be lovers. 

The reward of our labor is that we get to enjoy being a lover as the primary preoccupation of our lives. It's a pleasure beyond compare.

As a lover first, now when I experience attacks from other people, when I am undermined, when things don't work out, when disappointment comes while I am laboring for the gospel, I can always run back to the secret place.

I still have a secret place of joy where I am immersed in the knowledge that God loves me. This is where God imparts back to me a little bit of the Father's love for His Son.

This is true spiritual delight!

Lord, You have privileged me to share Your intimacy as Your bride. It is that love relationship that allows me to fulfill Your will for my life. I am Your loved one.

God fashioned us to receive love and to be vessels through which His affection flows back to Him, and as we do so, we are lavished in the blessedness of knowing we are precious in the beloved.