Enjoy an audio version of this devo here 🙂 (Or find Feeding on Jesus on iTunes, Google Play, or Stitcher!)
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“So I am going to attract her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her” (Hos. 2:14, NCV).
God wants to talk to you. He is keenly, intensely interested in communicating with you. This verse from Hosea opens a window for us into His heart. We learn through it that He longs to attract us unto Himself, that He might speak with us.
We are utterly dependent on Him to entice us this way. Jesus explained, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44a, NIV). We cannot approach God unless He decides to draw us. This is because He delights in being the Initiator in the relationship. He wants to be the Pursuer. What’s more, He has a ferocious appetite for fellowship with us. As a result, He is passionately focused on attracting us into His presence.
God does not pick only a few favorites to draw in for close friendship and communion. No; Jesus also earnestly told us, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself” (John 12:32, NET, emphasis mine). Today, He is actively pursuing everyone alive. He is drawing all people unto Himself.
This gets personal now. He is drawing… you. He is alluring… you. He is attracting… you. He fervently desires a private audience with… you. Yes, with you. He is an extremely involved, intimate God. He knows your name and absolutely everything about you. He is a scholar of you. He has studied you in a way that, by human standards, would be considered obsessive. No one on earth has ever been, or ever will be, as taken with you as He is.
(Think about this. You probably have at some point experienced someone becoming infatuated with you. Did that person fall so hard for you that s/he took the time to count every hair on your head? No? But God did!)
I’ll say it again. As smitten as He is, He really, really wants to talk to you.
As you quiet yourself, can you feel a tug on your spirit, something pulling on your attention? That’s Him! That’s the living Word! He is drawing you in, craving intimate conversation with you. How will you respond?
Maybe you are eager to hear what He wants to say to you, but you don’t know where to start. His Word is the perfect place. I encourage you to open it up today, and to simply ask Him what is on His heart. With expectation, invite Him to speak to you as you read what He has written there for you. His communication style is never outdated or stale. It is ever alive, ever active, ever beautifully penetrating. He has something vitally important to whisper to your heart, today.
“Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening!” (1 Sam. 3:10b).
“Take me away with you — let us hurry! Let the king bring me into his chambers” (Song 1:4, NIV).
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God has an amazingly individualized way of speaking to us. He tailors His messages to be just right for each of us. Is there a certain way that He likes to talk to you, that you have noticed?
Ooooh, another home run Jennifer. 🙂
We looooove Hosea 2:14. He allured us into the wilderness so we could learn to call Him, Ishi, my Beloved. What a wonderful superb verse. That truly happens and as we fall deeper and deeper into His hands it seems like there is no end. Truly glorious and yet so few actually venture into the barrens to find Him there. This really saddens Wanda and I.
Man Jennifer, you sure are making us very curious about what Jesus has brought you through to bring you to the place you are in today. One day we’ll have to compare notes on the journey. 😉
Blessings,
Homer Les
http://www.uncompromisingfaith.ca
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I agree with you Homer. What a wonderful God we have; so many people in the world, but He makes us feel like we are the only one! He makes us feel unique, priceless and loved; He fills the hole in our soul!
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Yes He does!! Until it absolutely overflows with His goodness! ❤ ❤
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Hehe, that made me chuckle good. Oh yes, there has been a long, painful journey. It makes me smile that you can tell. And oh so gloriously worth it!!
Also smiling at your mutual enjoyment of this beautiful passage from Hosea. I, too, long for more of our brothers and sisters to experience this wilderness intimacy with Him!
Thank you so much for your kind words! 🙂
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What a beautiful way to start the week. Thank you.
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Aw you are so welcome, Ann! Thank you, too! ❤ ❤
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Amen. He talks to me thru this blog and His word.
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I’m SO very glad, Bonnie! ❤ 🙂
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Blessings.
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Dwell In the Word, walk and talk in the woods for me. Great post Jennifer
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Are the woods close to your house? That sounds amazing!
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Yes, We have woods and fields close to the house. a few hundred acres to roam.
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What riches! A precious gift indeed!
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And, thank you, Gary! 🙂
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Awesome!!!!!!
Give the opportunity to listen!
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Amen, John!! And thank you!! 😀
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You’re welcome Jennifer!!
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He will do something to settle me down, and then, putting His arm around me, I hear, “I’ve got your back, now and always. Calm down. All is well.”
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Smiling. He is SO wonderful!! Beautiful description, Mike!
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I just love how personal God is! It makes it so much easier to come to him, to approach him, knowing that this is what he longs for us! Thanks for sharing 💗
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You are welcome, dearly loved Heather! He does! He longs for you!
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Yes and may it be so in all our lives. Closer walking day by day WITH HIM.
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Yes Jesus, this is what we long for! ❤
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