Measure the Measureless

In May, this year, I was invited to share my testimony at a women's retreat. I prayed about it and God prompted me that I should do it. I took some time to prepare a whole talk on that and three days before the retreat, God woke me up at 2AM and shared the Ephesians 3 scripture below.  He then gave me an extended version of "The Letter" (see my blog - The Letter from February 2013) to share.

He recently prompted me to share it here on my blog with you! So, here it is. Take time - listen to God's heart for you. He's been longing for you to really go deeper with Him.  Receive it!

Take a moment and sit in these verses.

Ephesians 3:14 - 21

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Long ago, Paul prayed this prayer for the Beloved in Ephesus AND for us (we’re the Lord’s holy people!).  How POWERFUL it is to agree (YOU and I agree with Paul, when we pray this) for each other and all of the Beloved in Christ.  We agree in prayer for God’s glory to strengthen us – give us power through His Spirit in our inner being so that Christ dwells in our hearts through faith,  and in love that power strengthens us to own and explore the dimensions of Christ’s love (how limitless those are!) and to know practically - through personal experience, His love (that is beyond all knowing) that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God – the fullest measure – flooded with God’s presence.  OK, so let’s just stop right there for a minute and think on that deeply.  Filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.   How amazing is that?!!  This is US  - you and me - that the Almighty, Everlasting, All POWERFUL one and only I AM wants to make His home in.   And not just a smidgen of Him, or whatever we think will fit, of Him - but – ALL OF HIM.  WOW, the goodness of God is just so good! It is sobering, His plan and design for us, His people.

And, Paul, he recognizes our limitations in looking at this, so he thoughtfully reminds us that God is the one able to do immeasurably more than ALL we ask or IMAGINE – wow, what could be beyond imagining?!  He has covered every base, it seems.  Thank you GOD!!! 

So, today, I want you to rest, expectantly and open yourself to receive God’s heart for you.  We receive again by faith what we already have, by God’s doing.  God, show us your glory!!!  Empower us to have the fullest dimensions of your love and self!  Breathe on us – Holy Spirit!   

Beloved,

Maybe you know me.  Maybe you have only heard or read about me.  I have always known and loved you.  Long before you were born, I knew what every one of your days would hold.  I crafted in my heart, your design and my vision for who you would be, putting my image - the very stamp of who I am into you.  I reveled in the role you would play in the world and eternity. When you were conceived I rejoiced that you had stepped into time.  I formed and shaped you with great care in your mother’s womb and protected and watched over you. When you were born, my excitement and love overflowed!  I smiled, sang and danced over your long anticipated life emerging into the world!

When you were a baby, I walked with you as you developed and grew, wonder and discovery in every moment.  I cared for you and protected you, delighting in your “ah –ha” moments and I held you close to me through your tears (catching every one). 

I saw your attempts over the years to venture out and try new things.  I sang over you with joy when you manifested the beauty and creativity I placed in you and stayed close by your side grieving, as you did, moments of deep pain, hurt and injustice when you withdrew hiding in fear, feeling shamed, rejected, UN-seen and UN-valued.  I was your fortress protection there and I shielded you and tenderly held you there – though you may have had no awareness of me.  I have many things to reveal to you about this – things that will set you free to be yourself.

You are priceless to me.   No one else is committed to you in the way that I am.  My love and care for you is life-giving and transformational.  When you come to me and spend time exploring the width, length, height and depth of my love, and really know that love in tangible ways - I bring you into line with your glorious original calling and design – that you may be filled to the measure of ALL of my fullness.  Giving yourself to be present with me is a moment by moment choice that I never force, but am always available for, welcome and invite.  Just think – Here I am, creator of the universe, all powerful, and my deepest and greatest joy is when you and I spend time together.  Do you understand how my heart longs for you? Do you know or even suspect who you are to me?  You are a one-of-a–kind masterpiece, there is no other like you. You are my very favorite! No other person (past, present or future) can ever replace you in my affections.  You are a deeply loved child who I take great delight in.  When my eyes land upon you, they light up!!  And, I always have my eyes on you!  I look forward to our time together and I am always with you, but it is times where you engage, when you take time to drink in deeply and refresh in me and my love for you – these are deeply satisfying times for me too.  Look into my eyes.  Do you see yourself there?  These eyes overflow my radiant and heartfelt welcome and pleasure in you.  My heart is always full and for you – I have so much to share with you and show you.  I am jealous for you to be who I’ve made you to be in Jesus. Who that is – the one seated in heavenly realms with Christ right now (yes even now already you are there!) – you really have no idea who that is!  That one (YOU) is beautiful inside and out with a radiance, purity, holiness and loveliness that you cannot imagine.  There is nothing in the world like you to compare you to.  Like a priceless jewel shines, you shine – ONLY MORE SO!  Like a deeply adored child – you are content, fulfilled with overflowing happiness and unstoppable joy – ONLY MORE SO!  You will be restless, unsatisfied and disappointed being anything other than who I’ve designed you to be!  Your own vision of you is nothing to the astonishing true YOU in me.  Your very design requires relationship with me, though I never force that. That doesn’t mean I am not relentless in pursuing you, but, I invite you because I want you to come to me from a real heart commitment on your part.

Come to me.  Lay down your busyness, set aside your anxiety and worries.  Put down your hurts, pride and anger.  Take off your masks of pretending to be good enough, smart enough, capable and protecting to avoid rejection – just come as you are.  Come, abide in my acceptance of you, my joyful rest, love and approval of you.  Practice spending time with me and receiving my great love for you.  When you receive my love and understand who I really am (more and more) – everything in your life falls rightly into place.  Where before anxiety, performance and rushing to complete tasks overrode your vision and all the hurts, protecting and concerns loomed large in your eyes – when you spend time with me, I and my extravagant over the top love and power will take up ALL of your vision. I’m really too big not to!  You will no longer have eyes for anxiety or worry – your eyes will be filled with me, safe, protected, working in confident peace from rest in me.  I have an intimate life long walk with you, whether you are aware of me or not.  Beloved, I long to spend intimate time with you. It’s an integral part of who you are.  Your part, if you choose – is to choose to spend time with me – not in a legalistic – do this many hours of bible study and this much time in your prayer lists and the list of good things to do as a Christian.  I want you – just yourself – real, wholehearted, with all weights on you, flaws, all the stuff – just to come talk to me, listen to me, rest with me.  Our relationship establishes the process of washing away any hurts, worries or troubles. And my powerful love, - my fruitful love that is ever joyful, my love that is peaceful, my love that displays patience and long suffering, my love of overflowing kindness, my love’s abundant outrageous “never get to the bottom of it” goodness, my love that’s faithful and always for you, my love that is powerfully gentle, and my love richly abundant in self-control overcomes every deficit and need in you – making you an over comer and bearer of that same fruit!  You are made to be more than a conqueror! You shine and the brilliance I designed in you continues to be unveiled as we walk together – you shine into all the world around you.  That’s Kingdom life!  Me in you, you in me, we together with all of the Beloved - are one!   Our unity, life giving love and power – testify to and lift up Christ - drawing all the world to Him. 

I set my love upon you, beloved, because I am Love and have made you, designed you for it.  Come, Jesus made it possible for you to come!  Receive what I have for you, for Jesus’ sake – He really is worthy.

God (Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit)