After the Miracle

Today's Devotional Thought
May 01, 2016 by Rachel Piferi

Here's My Heart Lord, Speak What is True

My heart is so full as I write to you all this evening. Over the last couple of days, I have spent time with one of the best Bible teachers around as nearly 7000 women worshipped, prayed, cried, laughed, and fellowshipped at Living Proof Live in Norfolk, VA. I promise you a conference like this is one of the closest things to heaven that you will get on this earth. There is simply nothing like a room full of women worshipping Jesus and just basking in His presence.

And I cannot wait until we get to do that for all of eternity....

As we were singing the last songs yesterday, I had this moment of thinking (and I even said it to Wendy beside me), "I want to get every last bit of Jesus I can get before we leave." I knew our time under Beth's teaching was coming to an end and the last note was soon upon us. I knew that the lights & energy of the arena would soon turn into a walk to the parking lot, waiting in traffic, and a re-entry into the broken world that we live in.

A re-entry into all the pain. All the stress. All the illness. All the brokenness.

And while I knew we were about to leave this momentary breath of heaven for the brokenness of this world, I was re-entering this broken world as a woman with a fresh fire from 2 days focused entirely on Jesus.

A fire just burning in my bones to get even closer to Jesus than I was already.

A fire just burning in my bones to spend more time with Him in His Word.

A fire just burning in my bones to find new ways of sharing this Savior I love so much with others.

A fire to not forget the truths we'd spent 2 days learning about.

For those of you who have gone to conferences before, you know the let-down that can happen once you go back to life. Oh how you want to stay in the euphoric state of worship that is present in that arena. You want to continue living the truths you've heard. But you often feel powerless to create it for yourself when the band walks off the stage and the mighty teacher boards her plane home.

So, how do we stay on fire when the lights of the arena go dim?

When its just you, a pile of laundry, a stack of bills, and a new work week ahead of you, how do you keep your fire for Jesus burning strong?

I know there are many ways that others stay close to Jesus in their everyday life. But tonight, I am just going to share with you how I do. To encourage you as you walk your journey with Jesus. Oh sweet sisters, there is nothing more sweet than communing with Jesus. Oh how I live for it. I make time for it. I feed on it.

I would be nothing without Him.

Oh friends, I have lived enough life trying to do it without Him to know that I am so much better with Him and when I make time for Him than when I take on my week without Him.

And that is the first thing I would say to anyone who wants to stay on fire after the conference weekend.

Make time to spend time with Jesus. And not just a quick 15 minutes to check it off your list of "to-do's" for the day. Linger with Him. Imagine you are meeting a friend for coffee to catch her up on the things happening in your life and to hear from her. You know those coffee dates that wander from one conversation to the next and you leave just feeling so full because you've been with someone who loves you and cares about you? Do that with Jesus. That kind of time. That kind of linger.

Now, I know we can't do that every single day and that the demands of life do not allow that in each quiet time, but make a point to do this kind of lingering regularly. To sit with Jesus, a cup of coffee, your Bible and just linger with Him. Share your heart like you were talking to a friend. Read a passage of Scripture and sit back and think about it. Ask Him to show you something in His Word and ask Him what it means when He shows you.

Talk to Him.

And let Him talk to you.

Oh just the thought of it now fills my soul like nothing else. And I cannot wait until tomorrow morning when I can sit with Him and do just this.

Oh sweet friends, there is nothing I want more for you than a vibrant relationship with Jesus. I wish you were in front of me now and I could share with you how many times I have just laid in His presence and cried to Him and let Him just know my heart. How many times I have put my headphones on and listened to my favorite praise song over and over and over because I simply wanted to be in His presence. To feel Him before I had to take on the responsibilities of my day.

As we leave this weekend and the amazing experience of being with 7000 other women worshipping and learning, I beg you to continue it in your daily life. I beg you to take the time to read His Word, talk to Him, and just sit with Him.

Ask Him to your table for coffee.

And just talk to Him.

In the morning.

In the car.

Throughout your day.

As your head hits the pillow at night.

Simply whisper, "I love you Jesus. And I need you. I need to feel your presence."

And like any relationship, it will grow with time. As you take time to read His word and get to know Him and as you talk to Him, you will grow to know Him more. And He will become the very love of your life.

I know because I've experienced it.

Steadily. Slowly. Sweetly.

Take the time sweet sisters to spend with your Savior. I promise you it will be the best way to spend your time. And it will fill you like nothing else in this world.

If you are leaving this weekend's conference feeling like you want to continue the experience we had this weekend, then simply spend time with Him this week. Purposeful, slow time to just savor conversation with Him. Bask in His love, His Word, and His presence.

As we close, I want to share a song that I put on often in my quiet time when I just want to sit with Him and feel Him close. It is often how I start my quiet time with Him when I need to just settle my heart and focus my mind on His amazing love & purpose for me. I pray it encourages your heart too and helps you feel Him close to you today.

I love you all...and I wish you sweet moments with Jesus this week...

"'When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed.' God's Decree."
~Jeremiah 29:13 (MSG)