SWEET PRAISE TO MY ETERNAL LOVER

“Who shall separate us from the LOVE of CHRIST? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” – Romans 8:35

Today, I offer SWEET PRAISE to MY ETERNAL LOVER – JESUS CHRIST: “Who shall separate us from the LOVE of CHRIST?...” (Rom.8:35a). I hail His endless love! Christ’s Love is eternal: “…having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (Jh.13:1b). No tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or sword can sever me from Him! Christ’s Love is redemptive: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jh.3:16). Christ’s Love is great: “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us” (Eph.2:4). I love Him because He first loved me (1Jh.4:19).

As I muse on His exceeding love toward me, I choose to write my Lord Jesus a Love Letter – Pure Praise springing from a thoughtful and thankful heart. To tell Jesus I love Him is basically what it means to praise and worship Him. As people the world over share cards, flowers and special words to those they love, I choose to think of JESUS with fondness, affection and the highest regard, and to refresh Him with my devotion and adoration. I set aside all else to say, “Jesus I love you!”.

Dear Lord, Your Presence is the greatest present I could ever receive. Your Presence fills my heart my joy, my mind with peace, and my life with power. To be with You is perfect serenity and sweet paradise.

Dear Lord, Your Voice to me is the most precious sound in existence. Your Voice is sweet melody to my soul. One Word from You is great comfort to me. What a moment of wonder it is when I hear Your Voice – however tough things might be!!

Dear Lord, Your Wisdom is a Wonder to my soul. How foolish I am when I take steps in any situation without Your Mind or Your counsel. What emptiness it is for me to desire anything outside of You. The world without You profits me nothing.

Dear Lord, Your Power is my eternal mainstay. When You are with me no enemy can hurt me. You are the  Treasure above all treasures – the Good above all good! And I know “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His [Your] purpose” (v.28). Your Love makes all things to always turn out good!

Dear Lord, Your Love foreknew me, and predestined me to be conformed to Your Image. Your Love called me, justified me, and shall glorify me! (vv.29-30). Oh, what a progressive, uplifting, and elevating Love!

Dear Lord, Your Love empower me to become “more than conquerors”: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (v.37).

Dear Lord, You’re the Friend who bears all my sins and misery! It is a blessing to come to You each day and hand over my fears and tears. It is a privilege to carry everything to You in prayer, and no longer forfeit my peace or bear needless pain!

Dear Lord, no matter the trials, temptations or trouble, I shall never be discouraged, for You are my faithful Friend, who takes my sorrows and exchanges Your Strength for my weakness!

Dear Lord, however weak or heavy-laden I might be, however cumbered with loads of care, You, my Precious Saviour, remains my refuge. If earthly friends despise and forsake me, You will take and shield me in Your arms, to find solace.

Blessed Saviour, I thank You for bearing all my burdens, as I bring them all to You in earnest prayer, until soon, in glory bright, unclouded, there will be no need for prayer! What rapture, praise, and endless worship will be my sweet portion there!

Lord, may this devotional love letter open my eyes to deeper intimacy with You, stir my hearts to greater Devotion to You, as I long for You to further stoke the flame of my love!