But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. John 17:13**
Do I have even the slightest measure of the fullness You intended for me? Have I even sampled one iota?
Your intentions are rich, because You are rich. You share them all with me. You prayed this for them, way back then, but You live in me — I have access to this well, within. All of Yourself is available to me, here, now. And You are patient as I move, inch by inch, out of life’s tepid waters into Your wide-sea.
There is so much waiting for me in You. In this moment, alone, there are latent promises — even buried deep inside of me — to which You’ve given access. You are nowhere near boring, You are radiant, piercing. If my sluggish insides would just gain an appetite for that which I was made, I would feast.
And You prayed to Him … for them. Then for me. You knew of me then and asked that my now-moments might be full.
What do You think about when You see me floundering?
Your gracious heart doesn’t relent because You are still my intercessor. You interceded with Your life then, and Your Spirit, within me, continually offers expansion on that millenia-past prayer. You’ve made Your deep to seep into my deep. It’s available. You are available. Within me.
Joy of which I’ve only had a scent, You prayed I that would know its fullness. That I would live its fulness. (I can hardly believe these words.) What would that be like, for me to carry a fulfillment of You? What kind of God are You that You would rest the fullness of Your plans, and the very God-Person, within a frame full of flesh? Relationship is Your mantle, even though You don’t really need me.
I adore You, oh God of a love which partners. I worship You, God who invites me into all You had with Your Father.
The two of You (Father, Son) and Your Spirit are one. You are perfect. Finished. Complete. And yet You invite me to participate.
You make me whole when I step into the union of Your trinity’s wholeness. The joy You had in loving Your Daddy and being loved by the Creator of the universe is the joy to which I’ve been offered access. Oh Father of invitation, I barely know this love. It is foreign to who I have made You to be? I’m confounded by this Truth of You.
I am hungry for what You laid aside, for that which You prayed for me, then. You provoke me by the request You made 2000 years ago which is still working its way into this flesh-of-mine You inhabit.
I praise You oh God who knows my dull moments, intimately — who knew they would happen way back when, and who believes there is more for me now.
I adore You oh God of full joy, waiting to expand inside of me.
**So what do I do with these posts, you ask, other than just read them? First, if you haven’t yet, read: Why I Adore and Morning Chai, Explained to give you a context for this little space on my blog.
If you are compelled, I invite you to participate. Set up a space and time in your own life to begin adoring. Over laundry or dinner dishes, on your commute to work, or in the wee morning hours — five or ten minutes is a great start. You can use the verse I list here every day or two as a launch pad for your own adoration. (Showing Up gives you some practicals.)
Then practice praise.
Add to my adoration here, by posting a comment with your own words back to God about God …or hide it in your heart. Or wait until a Monday and link up to my adoration posts with your own adoration.
I promise your weary soul won’t regret it.
***You can easily subscribe to these devotional meditations as they are delivered, by using this feed: http://www.EveryBitterThingisSweet.com/posts/chai/feed or by entering your email address in the second box on the right-hand side… (scroll up a bit)
Additionally, all of the Morning Chai Posts can be seen, in the order of posting, by clicking here or adding this address to your reader: http://EveryBitterThingisSweet.com/posts/chai
