The Lord has been working on me a lot lately, like months!!!! So, it’s not surprising one bit that certain messages songs, and passages have been repeating over and over again. It is time to say, to admit, I am not okay! You know what? It is okay to admit it! It is okay for you to admit it too! I realize I have been silent for the past few months, then out of nowhere I emerge with my word of the year, RELENTLESS. Why?!?!
As Toby Mac sings in his song, “I did all that I could to do to undo me, But You loved me enough to pursue me.” As the scripture states in Jeremiah, “I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” As these and a few others speaks to me, they met me where I am, feeling alone, not seen, not known! But love breaks thru, His love breaks thru and He has been pursuing me, relentlessly loving me, unrelenting in His joy over me. It is His relentless joy that I want! It is His relentless love that I need! This is why I want to shine relentlessly for Him! Giving relentless joy to all! Giving relentless love always! I want to invite you on a little journey as I share the process of how I came to realize the word to define 2017 in my life, Relentless!
As I was writing this out, I realized it was to long for one post. I have broken it down into several post that will appear each Monday. I truly pray that God will reveal Himself to you as a loving Saviour, who is pursuing you relentlessly, regardless how you feel! Let us begin with the first part……
Let us look at the word relentless. How is it defined? Merriam Webster defines it as, showing or promising no abatement of severity, intensity, strength, or pace. Others define it as: constant, continual, continuous, nonstop, never-ending, unabating, interminable, incessant, unceasing, endless, unending, unremitting, unrelenting, unrelieved, unfaltering, unflagging, untiring, unwavering, dogged, tenacious, single-minded, tireless….I believe we can get an idea about the word relentless. Being relentless is about letting go of ourselves and giving of ourselves freely, unconditionally that like our heavenly Father. He loved us so much that He sent down His only Son to live, teach, show His pursuit of love for us by doing the unthinkable, unbelievable DYING on the cross for your sins, my sins, our sins. Then rose on that 3rd day. God was so relentless for us, He is still relentless towards us. Being relentless is not something that we can accomplish in a day, a week, a month, not even a year…..it is something we must press forward towards each and every day, to be more like Christ even when we feel alone, forgotten and yes, even when we feel forsaken. These are emotions, not reality….Christ is with us always!!!! It will not wear us out either, for God will give us the strength to carry on even in our weakest point, through His grace He pours over us. He gives when we need it the most.
These next few weeks, I will be sharing how God has used losses and grief to reveal to me His relentlessness towards me. It is my hope that you can see God’s relentlessness for you in your life. Our stories may not be alike but we do have at least one thing in common, we have a God who is pursuing us relentlessly and passionately.
