I ran across an old screen saver for my phone just the other day that reads, God is writing my love story. As the month of February begins, I realize that so far this year has been full of tears of joy, tears of sadness, and tears of anger. I find myself drawn to scripture and searching for God’s plan, God’s path. I wonder sometimes if I have missed a turn or signpost from God. As I look to the future and ponder my past, I can’t help but wonder if I am meeting the plan that God has for me and for my life. Then I see the phone screensaver and realize that God is still busy writing my love story. All is not lost and hope is still abundant with His grace and mercy. Romans 5:5, “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” My heart is full of the hope from God as the future lies ahead.
A recent sermon on first chapter of Esther prompt me to reread the this old testament book. Esther’s story full of joy, pain, and anger reminds us how God’s plan works in our lives and in the lives of those around us. Esther remained true to herself and her people and King Ahasuerus loved her and God provided for her and her people. Esther walked both through joy that filled her soul and the pain that shattered it knowing God was present. Esther 2:17 reads, “the king loved Esther more than all woman, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.”
The ebb and flow of our lives are sometimes shattered by pain or fills our souls with joy. These are moments that God is intense and full in our lives. This is when He is writing our story by placing us in the midst of conflict or gladness to direct our lives for His Glory. This intensity is found in Esther and her decision to follow the love story God was writing for her and her people. ” For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”, Esther 4:14. Sometimes it is hard to reach for God at both the lowest and highest points in our lives, yet these are moments that God has allowed in our story in order for us to glorify Him. Psalm 86:12 reads, “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.” Are we choosing to Glorify God and share His love for us with others around us? Are we glorifying his name forever? Matthew 6:21 reminds Christians that “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
As Valentine’s Day arrives, I ponder my heart and God’s love for me. What is the love story he is writing for me? What part of my story is left to be written? Am I listening to him and following him? I remember to love God as the wisdom from the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches in Luke 10:27, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
As I walk through this year and see what it will bring into my life, I lean on his word which comforts me with “What no eye has seen , nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him–.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. I know he is writing my story, preparing my path and my future home in heaven. As February turns to spring and spring to summer, I will turn my focus on the journey God has for me by preparing my heart to listen to his guidance. Proverbs 16:9 tells me, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”
Looking backwards from today, I see the story that he has already written. So much to be thankful for, so much to worship and praise him for. Although sometimes life seems unfair, if we stop and look back at the story he is writing we will see His Glory. I yearn for the rest of the love story God is writing for me. I strive to be patient as I move through my life and listen to his guidance. What does God have in store for me? for you? How Esther must have felt when she looked back at the love story God wrote for her?
Closing Verse: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26
Challenge: Search Scripture and your heart today for the wisdom of God’s word for your life. God is already writing a great love story for you. “…nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39. Stop and wait for his guidance in the next chapter he will write.
Allie's Way 