“There’s no practice that facilitates the opening of our capacity to perceive him, and receive him, like the turning of our hearts and souls toward God in love. Active loving — love as a verb, not a noun. This is what we’re made for, and the soul knows it, even if it’s long been unused. We know it even though we’ve pulled back in sorrow or disappointment.”- John Eldredge
As John Eldredge continues Chapter 8 of Get Your Life Back, he stresses that the more we love God, the more we experience Him. Part of this, John explains, relates to the nature of God. And part of it has to do with our human nature.
Consequently, we know the following from our human experience. We find ourselves much more ready to make ourselves available to someone who loves us. However, John observes, we keep forgetting that God feels the same way. 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NIV) reminds us — “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”
Yet, the author expresses surprise that our human race expects God to pour Himself as well as His blessings into their lives. Because many people fail to see God as their highest priority -let alone a close and dear friend.
Thus, John draws upon his expertise with horses to provide a comparison. Horses, he notes, never allow you to get away with much. For example, if you present as hurried and distracted, horses refuse to cooperate when you try to rush them. John continues:
” . . . if you would enjoy the riches of a life with them, you can’t insist they enter your madness. And good for them. Of course they shouldn’t; they deserve more. To enjoy the fellowship of a horse, you have to step into their world, and they are happy to meet you there. Which is yet another of nature’s expressions of the heart of God. Whether or not you currently in-this-moment love him matters to him. Very much.”
Today’s question: What practice most turns our hearts and souls toward God? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the August Short Meditation, “All of heaven ahead of you”
