Walk with God

This is a letter I wrote and shared with a friend last week after she had given me a "soft no" as Lysa Terkeurst would say in The Best Yes.  We had planned on walking that morning together at Leita Thompson Park, to get back in our previous routine of accountability and exercise, but she had text me that morning saying that she felt called to spend time with God that morning writing.  Below is my transparent letter to her after I had spent time with God.  Come walk with me and share my journey with God that morning.  Blessings, Krista

Can I just share with you how good God is?!  After receiving your text message this morning that you were unable to walk with me as we had planned because you needed to spend time with God to write an Easter message, I was disappointed, but I understood.  So I opened my Bible and turned to Proverbs and read for a bit, but the birds were calling me to come join them outside, and I had prayed last night for God to postpone the rain till after 1030 am so we could go for a walk.  God was faithful in answering that prayer and delaying rain, and even now it is still delayed, but what I didn't realize last night, is the walk was meant for Him and me this morning.  

I made my decision that I would not waste this gift God had given me in delaying rain, and would go for a walk anyways.  I had thought about inviting other people to join me on this walk (friends from the weekend retreat), but something kept telling me I was meant to go alone, despite the fact that my father doesn't like me to go walking by myself.  So I picked up my laminated scripture cards from this weekend (only 4 out of the 6 and none were chosen intentionally by me) and headed to Leita Thompson Park.  As I walked along, I began to memorize those 4 scriptures and ponder them in my heart and mind, break them down to understand their meaning and not just read them.  

Would you know that the first scripture God had me memorize was John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."  This is exactly what I needed to hear at the beginning of this walk with God when I was feeling disappointed.  Then He led me to John 17:3, "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."  After that, John 10:38, "I give them eternal life and they will NEVER perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand."  But what is more remarkable is the verse God led me to last (and remember, I didn't pick these cards, I just took them off the table and out of my Bible)...John 15:11 "These things I have told you that my JOY may be in you and that YOUR JOY may be full."  Wow!  I was certainly feeling joyful (and loved) after finishing with that verse and thanking God for putting those verses in that order.  I then wanted to read the context for John 15:11- what things had Jesus told them prior to this verse that led to His joy being in them and their joy full?  John 15 is the vine and the branches which is what Clay Scroggins has been talking about for the last 3 weeks and what I listened to on Monday.  Wow.  And by the end of those first verses in John 15, Jesus leaves us with the command to love one another and that if we abide in him, we will bear much fruit.  He also tells us in verse 16, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit- fruit that will last [joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control]- and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you."  Isn't that incredible?!  Jesus chose us so that we will bear much fruit, the fruits of the Spirit, and when we stay connected to Him, when we are seeking God's will and purpose, then He'll grant whatever we ask.  And I just love how the word given to me the night of Esther's Table was "Chosen".  

I'm simply reveling in God's love for me right now.  :)  But alas, I must get some rest before work.  Love you, and thank you for choosing your best yes this morning and saying "no" to me so that I was able to discover God's love notes to me this morning and draw nearer to Him.