Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you. Isaiah 43:4
Some time ago I had a coaching client who asked me a most profound question during our zoom call. I was supposed to be asking him the questions no less. He asked me to imagine Jesus standing alone, in front of me, calling me to come closer. The client then asked, “What would Jesus say to you?” I remember that moment very clearly, and for some reason, the question made me deeply emotional. It stuck with me, took root, and I have thought of it many times since. Have you ever considered this? Imagine it now. Standing alone with Jesus, Him motioning for you to come closer, and then He gently whispers in your ear.
What would Jesus say to you?
I have since received an entire script of what I imagine Jesus, God in flesh, saying to me. But to spare you all the endless intimate details, I simply know it would start with “My daughter…come and listen to how much I have loved you. All along.” He would tell me to be at ease, rest my weariness at His feet, trust what He has stored up for me. He would tell me to not fear what is ahead, but look forward with the treasured hope of what will be mine in Heaven. The Father. He will tell me to let the worries of today float away like useless chaff. To focus on this moment, and listen to his voice alone.
He would tell me to not be under authority of my shifting ‘feelings’, but under solid authority of WHO HE IS.
To stop trying to win his affection, for I already have it.
I can hear him telling me to stay close and He will protect me with truth. I don’t need to be afraid of anything, or anxious about anything, any more. That He has already paved the road ahead for me and the road is beautiful.
He would tell me that He has already forgiven me, enough.
Then he will tell me that the only perfection I need in my life is Himself.
I believe He would end with telling me to smile more freely, and stop holding it down. To let His joy be the thing that overwhelms me. That I am allowed feel joy, and stop punishing myself.
Then I hear the end of the conversation…”go in peace daughter, you are my treasure”.
This entire scene unfolds in my mind when I think of this question asked of me so long ago. It gives me a fullness and assurance knowing these things are already written out for me in the Bible. And for you. He has already said them all. He has already told us who we are to Him, and in Him.
I visit this visualization often, and it helps me focus more on Christ and less on unholy things. Like most of you, I hear plenty of whispers all the time, and have to be intentional about singling out the messages from the Lord. Because there are endless wrong narratives pushing in, all around us. And in my struggles with control and performance, I can get pretty caught up being vigilant and on edge, waiting for a lurking enemy.
Then before I know it, that’s where all my focus is.
So why do we give Satan so much attention? Are we giving the defeated one too much credit? Perhaps Jesus would tell us all to amplify Him more, the enemy less. For He has already conquered the very one we spend time and energy dreading. Stay alert, of course. But direct our laser focus toward the Lord, enemies less. When we truly abide in the Lord, the enemy will flee. When we stay centered on hearing truth, we remove opportunities for the devil to speak lies. I think what I am learning in order to retrain my own brain, is that the Teller of Truth, Jesus, needs to run my internal playlist…not the Accuser. The words of Jesus on repeat.
Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:7-8.
May our scripts, our whispers, our lives, display more of God and less of anything that isn’t. Let’s magnify how big God is, not any enemy, little g god, idol, or lie.
Today, in this moment, thank God for all the goodness He has given to you, for Jesus. Imagine what He would whisper in your ear. What do you hear?
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