Practical Suggestions

I want to share a few ways that help to make these truths a reality in my own experience.

Firstly, I continue to work at my understanding and acceptance of the great biblical truths of God's love as shared in Scripture. I then start to work at areas of hurt in my own life that may make it difficult to experience these truths. Identifying and owning these areas of hurt is especially important. For example, my perfectionism will make it difficult for me to accept failure and God's forgiveness. It may instead encourage me to see God as demanding and threatening, even though I know in theory that this is not so. I must continually remind myself to rely on the facts of God's love for me (ie my theology) rather than simply my feelings. I then need to take those facts and work at ways in which I can experience them.

One way in which I do this is to use my imagination. If I can use my imagination for a fantasy, then how much more positive to use it for a reality! The fact or reality is that God, through the Lord Jesus Christ, is forever with me and within me. Therefore there are times when I can use my imagination to feel His arms around me, or sense His physical presence. At times I may take a deep breath, or sigh a deep sigh, knowing that God's love and power is also within and 'breathing' through me.

I can also experience the reality of His love within me, as I allow Him to use me in everyday situations. I need to continually remind myself that wherever I am and whatever I'm doing, the Lord can use me, not despite myself and the situation, but because of it. The Lord Jesus can love through us in our so-called 'failures' as well as the 'victories or successes'. When I'm in the pits I can be used to draw alongside others who will relate to me because I'm in the pits, rather than on the mountain top. Likewise, when I'm on the mountain top I can draw alongside others because of where I am at that time, although for some that might be too threatening. We tend to limit God by believing that He will only use us when we are 'all sorted out'. That is a lie from the accuser of the brethren (Satan). This doesn't mean that we shouldn't work at being more whole and complete - of course we should! However, our own journey towards wholeness will involve a multitude of positive and negative experiences.

Close your eyes for a moment, and try to use your imagination to experience the totally safe and secure arms of Jesus wrapped around you, enfolding you and comforting you. He shares in every situation with you, both the good and the bad. When you are hurt, so is He.

Don't feel anxious or frustrated if you find it difficult to experience this. It may not be easy, but it's something that you can work at with the Lord.