Stone Under Rushing Water

I chose this title because that is what I am and lately the water has seemed quite forceful and painful. It is the title of a song by the band needtobreathe. Although that song, to me, is talking about a relationship between a man and a woman it's not much different than my relationship with the Father. I have, in the past 2 years experienced several low lows in my relationship with God and felt so far away that it was almost as if I didn't even have a relationship with Him. But I have had some great times with Him too. There were times in my walk with God in the past 2 years when I didn't speak to Him for weeks at a time...I couldn't even listen to Christian music because it convicted me so much. I was at the lowest point I have ever been with God. Thankfully, He continued to pursue me and call me back to Himself daily...even when I completely ignored Him. I missed my intimate times with God. I missed my fellowship with the Lord.  I am so thankful that my God is a forgiving and passionate lover of my soul. 

My Sunday school teacher talked about conviction this morning in a way I had NEVER thought about it before. We have been talking about the trinity and our relationship with God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit. We talked about how we get physical symptoms when we are under conviction such as sweating, pounding heart and like a compressing weight on our chests. Last week we discussed how Jesus always touched people He healed. There was always that physical element in the stories we read in the NT. Thinking about how Jesus could possibly physically interact with us now, since He's not on Earth anymore as a man, we discussed how the physical manifestations of conviction are Jesus "touching" our very soul through the conviction of the HS. This also leads us to obedience to God the Father. By responding to conviction, the trinity is able to guide us and lead us down the path of obedience. We are able to respond to what God is calling us to do through the HS who convicts us and Jesus touches our hearts to respond. I think that's the most beautiful description I have ever heard. Conviction isn't a nasty, make you feel bad tactic God uses. It's a lovely invitation to love and obey a God who loves us enough to care. Thank you Lord for convicting me...even when I don't want to hear it.