I found myself in a state of annoyance on March 28th, 2020. I was annoyed because frankly, people can get on my nerves with nonsense. I opened my mouth to pray and actually began to speak to God telling Him what I did not have time for, including “the nonsense.” God firmly yet calmly stated to me, “Have time for My people.” I don’t know how anyone else experiences God’s corrections, but this hit me hard. I instantly shut my mouth of complaining and began to apologize because with this one phrase, the Father of all creation put me in my place, corrected me, and reminded me of what is most important to Him—His people.
My brothers and sisters, scripture tells us not to despise correction (Proverbs 3:11) as God corrects those He loves. God correcting me in this moment reminded me that I am indeed His child (Proverbs 3:12). It also reminded me of His love. As Creator of all things, He is the Master of words. God understands very well the power of spoken words (Genesis 1, Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 12:36). I am uncertain as to why I was so shocked at His response, but I was! God’s correction appealed to the love I also have for people—it softened my heart. It immediately brought me back to a place of awareness of what truly matters to God, His people. In an instant of seemingly unproductive emotion however, the love I normally have for people was overshadowed by the annoyance I was experiencing. I say seemingly unproductive emotion because it is not uncommon for me to view positive emotions as ones that make me feel happy, while negative emotions may elicit sourness or maybe even tension within myself. With this interaction, God taught me that everything can become a lesson that incites change. So, it seems my annoyance was helpful after all. See, we cannot remain with God and remain inauthentic, fake, phony—He knows us better than we know ourselves. What we do when we take all of us to Him, is allow Him to refine us. God truly works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28 NIV). In this case, my annoyance. Who would have thought?
Friends, God did not side with me in my complaints. I complain a lot more than I am proud of admitting but we are transparent here at Telle’s|”Truths”, right? If you are honest with yourself, you complain often as well— maybe sometimes unknowingly. I’ll insert the benefit of the doubt here. Instead of God siding with my complaint (why would He?), He showcased who He is…Love (1 John 4:16) and Truth (John 14:6) among so many other Awesome characteristics. Scripture also tells us that: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger (Proverbs 15:1 KJV). My grandmother has said this to me countless times over the years—it’s been stamped on my heart at this point. Here though, was God, my Papa, the One Who loves me so very much, putting this verse into action with His response.
I have shared this because I believe it is important to tell the truth. Who knows? Maybe set others who have had this similar experience at ease knowing that God STILL speaks to His sons and daughters. Most pressing of all, remind us all that God cares for His people. He cares so much that He sent His one and only Son to die for us (John 3:16). I am not aware of how everyone loves. Certain inventories have essentially attempted to bottled love—the 1,2,3s or the 5 steps to love (completely made that up) but you all get the point! There is no scientific experiment that can categorize or quantify the love of God—it just is. His love is perfect and it is complete. It never leaves nor forsakes (Deuteronomy 31:8). God’s corrections always feel like a sudden moment of heartbrokenness for me. It has often hit subtly yet so powerfully that sometimes I cry. In those moments, I genuinely feel sorry for whatever my actions were that caused me to have been corrected in the first place. Not, “I am sorry...but you…” It is, “I am sorry Lord and thank you.” This is fearing the Lord. Knowing that the Creator of all things has such power but has chosen to be gentle and loving to His tiny one instead—how can this clear sign of love not drive me to submit to what feels so natural? Does feeling the Love of God also do this for you?
After this interaction with God, I took a shower and was overcome with song. I have shared in my Instagram captions how anywhere is somewhere for God when we invite Him. God really proves: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” while I shower because I have had “God moments” in my shower more often than I can count. I was worshipping God with a voice that if I heard on one of my listening services, I would be curious as to who the voice was coming from. Y’all, I can’t sing to save my life. I guess when we use what God has given us to glorify Him (as we should) all things are just made perfect. The song I sang was: “Go Tell it on the Mountain.” Now y’all, I did not even get the lyrics correctly because what came out was: “Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhereeee. Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is LOOORDDDD.” I eventually Googled the lyrics. While I was singing however, I could not recall any more of this song, just this portion that I sang and sang. I laughed when I realized that I hadn’t gotten the words correctly. I even left the shower singing. This was the effect of these words. More so than the words, in hindsight, not only was the Holy Spirit’s fruit of joy so present but my heart was filled with such peace—all after God reminded me to “have time for My people.”
I challenge you to:
1. Never forget to LOVE God’s people because they are His TOP priority.
2. Remember that Jesus said: “…Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV)
3. Pray that your heart submits to God’s correction rather than to be defensive or dismissive.
4. As we hold onto God, our not so pleasant attitudes towards or about others can certainly change. The Apostle Paul said, “…being confident of this, that He Who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6 NIV). You can surely take God’s word to the bank, they never return void without completing the purpose He intended them to (Isaiah 55:11).
5. I am really challenging you to TRUST GOD! One step at a time. One day at a time.
Encouragement to Get You by
3/31/2020
"13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father, I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit--fruit that will last and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other." (John 15: 13-17 NIV) Jesus tells us Who He is and what He expects--that we love one another. In all of our days to come, may we remember Jesus' ultimate sacrifice (John 3:16) of love and do as He has commanded: LOVE ONE ANOTHER. As we continue, also remember this truth, to be a friend of Jesus means to do what He has commanded of us. All He has learned from God, He freely shares with us. With Jesus, we are only destined to win.