Stephen Anthony Ray

Tonight, the Father and I had a good chat. I realized a few things. My past doesn’t have to shape my present or my future. God’s power for me is greater than the world’s power against me. And more than anything, the Father loves me and has good plans for me. As of now, I don’t know how big they are or how small they are, whether they will involve many or involve few, whether my deep desires will be granted or be refused - but what I do know is this: God knows what is best for me, whether I choose to acknowledge it or not. And if I live according to his Word by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, then those good plans will come to fruition, regardless of the details. And at that point it will seem to me undeniably that those plans are what I have been made for. Indeed, God can completely satisfy me. The only questions left for me are…will I let him? Or will I continue to attempt to find satisfaction and meaning apart from Him?

Isn’t that the essence of humanity’s struggle (and consequent sin) with God anyway? - a perpetual attempt to find purpose and love apart from God. Isn’t that the ultimate fallacy - how can one find purpose and love apart from the author and embodiment of purpose and love? In fact, if one has convinced himself that he has indeed found purpose and love apart from God, he has either deceived himself or he has only attained it in such a measure that, if compared to what one could attain in Christ, could only be described as incomplete or sad.

We were created to be loved by God and to love God.

SRay