Advocate

My Ella told me a story about a big, old horse at the barn. His name is Ivan and Ivan is large. So when you have teens guiding him to where they want him to go, and HE decides he has other plans…guess who wins? It made me laugh, but honestly it’s a bit dangerous, isn’t it? He sees hay and decides that their plans are boring and lunges for what he wants.

It’s a much different story with our little Luna who weighs in at about 11 pounds. First, we have to catch her. Haha. Thankfully she LOVES food. We can tantalize her if she has gotten out. If she is doing something we don’t want, we move her. We pick her up and take her where she needs to be.

In my life with God, this is probably going to sound strange, but I do not want my way with God. I want to walk in his will. I’ve heard people say that God is the benevolent gentleman and will not force his way.

I’ve been pretty honest about my struggle with fear and worry. And this morning, as I hear the thunder and rain fall, I am calm. But, give me a sleepless night, spiraling thoughts, and I become tense and anxious. Yet the more I am transparent about this, the more I am honest with myself, the less I seem to be holding on to what I cannot control. God has proven himself more times than I can count.

God does not want me starving for what is not actually good for me, I want to learn and rest. And if I have decided to take off running around, being afraid and nervous, I am quicker to see all these shenanigans (what a great word) and come back inside. Remind myself of the truth. Memorize the truth.

But, just like that old horse and cute little puppy, this requires me to trust that God knows best. God will take care of me. He hears my prayers. Jesus is my advocate. I’ll end today with these words from 1 John 2.

1 John 2:1-6

”My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.“
https://bible.com/bible/100/1jn.2.1-6.NASB1995

May that be our prayer today. Lord Jesus, I want to walk as Jesus walked. Teach my heart. I want to know you. I want the truth to abide in me. Thank you for your forgiveness. I begin today asking for your grace and your mercy and find you have already met me here. I love you, Lord.

Amen