My friend Nastassja came over a few weeks ago and said she had a gift for me. She got me a bible, with fancy pens and highlighters to boot. She told me that the she felt prompted by the Lord to get me a bible - I sat there in amazement, not sure of what to say. This past year, I've spent more time in the word and in that moment when Nastassja handed me the gift-wrapped package, I felt this clear affirmation from the Lord that he was going to continue to grow me deeper in the word. Let me rewind: I didn't know Nastassja earlier this year, she came into my life because she encountered the Lord and her life was flipped upside down. She became a believer, and our lives intersected in the most crazy way. I've been hanging out with her this summer and for the first time, we got together last night to read the Bible together. Honestly, reading scripture has never really been a strong passion of mine. As I grow in my walk with the Lord, however, I am more and more convicted of my need for it in my life. Like daily. I am convicted that walking with the Lord is not just simply based on relative experiences and emotions (as beautiful and powerful as those are); no, my walk with him ultimately needs to be grounded on scripture.
We spent two hours in Habbakuk and at one point, I looked up at her and exclaimed, "This is so weird, but I'm experiencing heart palpitations." I mean, it didn't hurt or anything. It just felt like my heart was jumping inside of my chest. Like in a really joyful way. And as Nastassja and I hung out and read Habbakuk together, I felt the joy of the Lord and my heart kept doing these little flips.
God's promises are fulfilled in and through Christ and are outlined in scripture. I desire for a deep deep hunger to know God - I want monotonous readings of scripture to be replaced by an unquenchable passion for his word. I want to know more of his love; I want to know more of his heart. Because to know God is to be changed by his love. There is no shame; there is no condemnation. It is God's love, not shame, that ushers you into his kingdom.
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