Faith, Hope, and Love
-Michelle Tonkin
“Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 (TPT – Passion Translation)
I sat down to listen to what the LORD wanted to say to you, and you want to know what I heard?! …(crickets)… I didn’t hear anything. Have you experienced this? Now instead of getting huffy puffy, I decided I’ll just find another time (trust).
Again…I sat down…and I finally heard one word…
HOPE.
Literally, it was a. Singular. Word. But I didn’t hear anything else to go along with this one word. I made a choice to seek Him another time. I knew He would show me what He wanted to tell you (and tell me because I feel like this may have been for me to keep placing my hope in Him for this devotional. Heehee).
Once again, as I was journaling, I believe God highlighted the words “crossover”, “transition”, “wait”, and then He said…
“I AM in the waiting.”
I see a ‘transitioning into crossing over’ everywhere; beginning with Resurrection Sunday, my son’s 11th birthday (the number 11 represents ‘transition’), then the 7 days of Passover, representing Israelites ‘crossing over’ the Red Sea. Now we ‘wait’ for the next Biblical feast, Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came, which is May 31, 2020.
I believe Holy Spirit is prompting me to encourage you. I do get lost in numbers with God at times, but I invite you to continue on this little journey and be inspired to meet God in maybe a different way. As I write this to you, I am surrounded by the number 19… Psalms 139:19 (overcoming wickedness), COVID-19, my 19th wedding anniversary – 19 represents FAITH.
April 21st represents a covenant of LOVE I made with my husband, my bridegroom on earth, but did you also know that in Ezra 6:19 (YES vs19!!!) says the returned exiles celebrated Passover on the exact date of our Anniversary, April 21, but back in 515 B.C.. Then in my quiet time today I was in Daniel 10, and guess what verse stuck out to me for you! 19!!!!
Daniel 10:19a New Living Translation (NLT)
“Don’t be afraid,” He said, “for you are deeply loved by God. Be at peace; take heart and be strong!”
I believe God is saying, “My daughter, My beautiful one, don’t be afraid for I deeply love you. Be at peace; be encouraged and strengthened. Remain in Me and I will remain in you. Together we will bear much fruit. (John 15:4)”
Read Philippians 3:12-16. I challenge you to read it in both the VOICE and Passion Translations and see how it correlates with the above 1 Corinthians 13:13 (TPT). Are you forgetting the past, the lies, pain cycle, etc.? Are you pressing on toward what lies ahead and desiring to cross over that finish line? What prize are you running and straining to reach at the end of the race?
Dig deeper:
Read Exodus 12. This is the instructions and first mention of the LORD’s Passover in Egypt, also called Festival of Unleavened Bread.
Read Matthew 26. This is where Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples before He became the Passover Lamb, the sacrifice without spot or wrinkle for all of us.
Activation:
Be intentional. Carve out a moment this week just to listen. If you sit down to journal & don’t hear anything or get interrupted, then try again another time or in a different way: like go for a walk & listen to see what you hear or paint or draw a picture, maybe even just put on your favorite music and dance. Just be intentional in listening. Take a moment and reflect on how you personally know how much God loves you and declare the truths above your feelings.
