Deepening

This past weekend's retreat was simply wonderful on so many levels: perfect weather, lovely small town, comfortable accomodations, marvelous company (I love and feel loved by the brothers and sisters of my worshipping community), easy timetable, and a great speaker. The most meaningful thing for me was that the stated teaching of the retreat, "Deepening our walk with Jesus" has, indeed, helped me grow a little deeper.

The Spirit spoke through Nouhoum to convict me that a deepened walk with God comes through his word (God speaks to us) and prayer (we speak to God). As this relationship building happens two things get stronger - love for God and trust in God. However, God is not in the business of cheap love or cheap trust. These will be tested by temptation ("an invitation to sin..." - going for shallow things rather than depth in Christ) and affliction ("any condition that causes bodily suffering or mental distress" - enticement to trust in something other than Christ). The only way to deal with these is to go back to Jesus, namely, in-life response to the whole counsel of God (his word), and prayer.

True, true, true. I am overwhelmed by God's love for me.