Bathed in Love
April 10
There is no fear in love.
1John 4:18
“Mom!” Shaohannah hollered. “Maria won’t wash her face!”
Mary Beth was chagrined at her six-year-old daughter’s tattling. Knowing it was birthed out of a disdain for anything dirty, especially where her little sister was concerned, she tried not to encourage her little snitch.
The real issue here was Maria’s unnatural fear of water. The mere mention of putting her head in or under water totally freaked her out! The fact that Maria wouldn’t even put her little face under the shower spoke of how strong the fear was.
Heading upstairs to the bathroom, Mary Beth silently asked God for wisdom, “Lord, your word says fear is from the enemy. So please help me help Maria to not be afraid.”
The answer was almost audible, “Tell her I am watching, and I love her so very much! And because of My great love for her, she doesn’t have to be afraid anymore.” Somehow Mary Beth knew it had been Jesus speaking. And as simple as it sounded, she knew it would work!
What happened next revealed the truth about child-like faith. For when Mary Beth told Maria what Jesus said, Maria immediately put it to the test by dunking her little head completely under the water!
Mary Beth and Shaohannah stared in wonder as little Maria came up laughing!
†
In his hit song, “Dive”, Steven Curtis Chapman sings about diving into the flow of God’s love. Chapman sings “I’m divin’ in, I’m goin’ deep in over my head I wanna be!” These lyrics do not speak of a casual or superficial act. And for good reason!
This mighty river of love, birthed in God’s heart, will consume us and drive out all fear if we abandon ourselves completely and unashamedly to its flow.
Sadly, the fear of drowning complicates matters for the reluctant heart. We don’t want to lose control; for if we do, our life is no longer our own. And that, in effect, keeps us at the edge of God’s cleansing and healing love.
The only way to overcome the fear in our heart is to jump, as Chapman says, without hesitation, with the knowledge Jesus is watching, and there’s no reason to fear! Jesus guarantees: “You will come up laughing.”
Prayer
“Here I come, Lord Jesus! Amen!”
Inspired by the song, Dive, by: Steven Curtis Chapman
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