Shielded in Faithfulness

What uppppp good people and others?! It's been a little minute since I've written a blog but here we are ready to share some love with one another. How have you been? How are you maintaining in these interesting times in the world? Hopefully you're standing strong despite the hardships currently taking place.

I'm not sure about you, but I read the word in relationship. Sounds strange I know. However, in my gaining of understanding, I see the Bible as a love story. 💕 A history of God's love and desires for his people. His love and forgiveness concerning his bride. A father's love and hope that his children would come back home. A God with an open heart for those who are not of his tribe but welcomes them to pasture as well. That's relationship.

In Psalms 91:4, there is a piece of scripture in the ESV Bible that says “His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall.”

In the context of relationship…..how often has infidelity made space for the ruin of your union? Infidelity (Adultery) is also the one thing God permits as a reason for divorce in marriage, in covenant (Mat 5:32). Yet, his faithfulness is a shield 🛡️, a protection, for the relationship we have with Christ.

God had me speak on the book of Nehemiah a little while ago. In my studies of Nehemiah being charged to build the wall 🧱 I discovered that a “broken wall” is a reproach to a city (Nehemiah 1:3). Is it not the same for our physical relationships?! 👀 When infidelity enters the chat (😆) or enters the relationship there is an instant “reproach” in that union. The relationship wall has been breached or broken & now it is up to the individuals to decide whether they are going to part ways or spend time repairing or rebuilding the wall that faithfulness once provided them.

Isn't that something?! 🤯

In God's call for us to “Build the wall” he is calling for us to reestablish faithfulness to him. 😆 Yet, in one of the most powerful Psalms we are reminded just how powerful faithfulness is! The full verse for Psalms 91:4 states “He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall.”

How often are people in search of security?! Whether it is in regards to their finances, relationship, career, or community groups?! Everyone wants security. Yet, some of us struggle with the key that will provide it ; faithfulness. How many times can you look back (reflect) on your life and see that God has secured you in some form or fashion even in the midst of your unfaithfulness?!

Yet, God's covering “his wings” has faithfully secured us in the midst of our mess. In the midst of our infidelity. Love conquers so many things! Yet, love without faithfulness leaves holes in our shields. Leaves holes in the walls that faithfulness has established around our city.

We can look throughout the Earth and see what hate has done. Hate brings destruction, jealousy and envy. All which bring about murder. Yet, love with faithfulness, brings about a strong fortress. A strong wall.

When unfaithfulness ruins a thing, it takes time to rebuild the wall. Doesn't always mean it's not worth rebuilding just means that it's going to take time, patience and a solid defense to rebuild it. There are people in this world who don't always desire to see a good thing reestablished. But when the love is strong enough it's worth fighting for to rebuild. Just like the example in the book of Nehemiah.

God's love for us is faithful and despite our infidelity with him, he has shown us countless times that we are worth fighting for. How much more can we show him the same thing?! God desires for us to come home. Will you come?! Will you help rebuild the wall? Will you fight to reestablish a “good thing”?

Y'all be easy. Love ya. Later.

Stay vigilant. Stay prayed up.

-Shya

We take his Love for granted 😞

Kinda bittersweet acknowledgement. So no typical greeting today. Just somber truths and hard pills to swallow. I do hope you're well but let's get into this message.

We take God's love for granted ❤️‍🩹.

We want to be loved without loving God in his love language. We want him to accept us as we are, in our mess, but don't want to change to strengthen the relationship. We change ourselves daily for worldly acceptance, jobs, and community. Yet, we fight with God when it comes to changing our nature.

We want his love without giving love in return 🫠. Then we turn around and wonder why the relationship keeps failing. Why the person we truly love won't love us back. We want to love him how we want to without taking heed to how he desires to be loved.

Of course it won't work like that. We have to be open to change. To sacrifice. To grow deeper in connection. To be vulnerable with our scars. To fight to make things last. To maintain fresh oil in the relationship.

But a lot of people today STILL just want the image of something good without actually being good. His requirements for relationship with us are simple. “If you love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) And the simplest way to keep them is by loving your neighbor. Yet, we feed and fan drama instead of exalting examples of love.

Thankfully, the solution is simple….turn back to God he's been calling us home.

God wants us faithful like anybody would in a relationship. The book of Nehemiah 1:8-9 states it this way “Remember the promise you made to Moses. You told him that if we were unfaithful, you would scatter us among foreign nations. But you also said that no matter how far away we were, we could turn to you and start obeying your laws. Then you would bring us back to the place where you have chosen to be worshipped.”

Have you stepped out on your relationship with God?! Thankfully, he's a loving and forgiving partner. He just wants you to come home. You can work out all the kinks when you get there. His grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)!

Return back to the Father. Repent of your sins. Let him love you. Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5).

Love ya. Later.

Shya