Living Inside

            Living inside the whole story of God’s way with this world. Not just partly, but living fully inside the whole story. Living inside Him, with all of who we are and letting the Spirit wash over us and live within us. The whole story of creation fall redemption in which our story is fully integrated and in which I participate with an understanding. Even though the story is beyond us, so far beyond us that we cannot get to it by ourselves God brings us there. We are taken up by Him so that we can start to understand the story and live our lives fully with Him, through Him, and in Him. This living inside is living in love, it is living in intimacy, it is living in Him.

            I lie here broken. Broken in my sin and wounded by pains and trials, by hurts and my own wrong doing. In that love, in that story of redemption lies a promise. A promise which picks me up and comforts me, a love which washes my wounds clean, a gift which heals my aches, and a gentle whisper which fills my soul. I stand amazed as I feel the strength of His arms around me, as I gaze into His tender grace filled eyes, as I hear His loving voice calling my name, as I ponder His gift of Life for me. I stand ashamed as I see myself head in the direction of disobedience, as I note my thoughts travel to places I should not go, as I walk away from His arms, as I ignore His call and close myself off.  “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate” (Romans 7:15).

            The deep need I note seems to become deeper. “I am desperate for a desperate heart and am reaching out; for all I am is dry bones - without you Lord – a desert soul. Only you can satisfy!” (Desert Soul by Rend Collective Experiment) It is not what where it ends – He makes me whole! He heals my pains, He leads me through trials and forgives my errors, to guide me to a path of obedience as He satisfies me. He places me inside the whole story of redemption and satisfies my soul. He lets me live within Him and gives me rest.

            I undergo a complete transformation… then I stray. I end up in a storm and forget where I am, where I came from and yet know what I am missing. I known I have strayed, that I am far from God. In that storm I drown by deep waters, the ocean rises and waves roar round about me. I then am called by name, and He tells me come. In that I may pray that my ‘faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Saviour. I pray the Spirit leads me, wherever He would call me” (Oceans by Hillsong United). Believing that the Lord works the transformation in me I believe He will also lead me places I never thought I could go, I believe he will bring me safely into unknown as I learn to walk beside Him in obedience.

            And this all because He loved! He loved the world and gave His beloved Son for us all. His Son, out of love for the Father and us all, gave His life so that we may experience love. So that we may live in love, live inside the most beautiful and incredible Life story filled with love. As we stand in the Light and are embraced by Love we live and move and have our being in Him who is the Beginning and the End. Only through Him that we can live God’s story, live in obedience, live in light, in love, in purity.  Holy. Set apart. Inside the story with our eyes on Him – Our Vision. Our Life. Our Love. Our Story.