Just a simple word became a huge lesson. Do you ever have those moments where it seems every time you turn around or hear something or read anything it keeps repeating the same message or idea? That is what happened with this passage of scripture I read and the idea of being flooded by God began to permeate my life.
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.” Ephesians 1:18 NLT
Every month we are given a Bible Study scripture to dig into with our team by our leadership. Our first one included this above mentioned verse. The word "flooded" in my translation really spoke to me. The hope isn't just to be given light but to be FLOODED with light. What a picture that paints.
In the beginning of October my family and friends were hit on the coastline of the Carolina’s with Hurricane Ian. That was right after I first read this scripture. It brought to mind the hurricanes I have experienced and the destruction a flood can create. With that in mind, all I could envision was God's light coming in and destructing my way of life and leaving a path for me to rebuild a life with spiritual wisdom, insight, confident hope & incredible power!
After the wake of Hurricane Ian in the United States, Guatemala was threatened with Hurricane Julia. In Chicaman, we luckily only experienced rain. However, it was just another reminder that God is knocking on our hearts and will do what it takes to consume our lives. He doesn’t want just a small room in our hearts, He wants to completely overtake us and hold the key. I have struggled before with this idea because it seems controlling and overbearing, but what I am discovering and leaning into is not that God is some self-seeking ruler but He is a gracious and loving Father and He only wants to protect His children and keep us safe.
It can be hard to let go, I am one who can surely testify to that. Perfectionism, people pleasing, and a logistical planner with high expectations and a tight grasp on the plan I have for my own life cripples me daily. It has taken a lot of prying my hands open and patience from God to start releasing those chains in my life. Floods are scary, nothing can stop them, walls buckle, buildings collapse, roads crumble, landscapes are forever changed. But once the devastation and loss of what was is grieved, in God there is beauty and a rebuilding by a Carpenter that died to save our souls. But not only did He lay down His life but He wants to build yours up.
God wants His power and Spirit to come inside and wash away everything that was there before. We wants to create a path so that He can rebuild your heart with the things of Him. He wants to renovate, paint and decorate with the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Imagine God as the Chip and Joanna Gains of your heart, soul and mind. He wants us to love our dwelling space. And as much as He wants our lives on Earth to shine and bring Him Glory, He really is after an eternal life with us. I don’t want you to miss out on either, a forever home in Heaven or a peaceful, joyful, loving, thriving existence on Earth with His Holy Spirit.
God gives us truth about His purpose in our life. Even if the flooding hurts and leaves devastation, God will use it for your eventual good. (Romans 8:28) “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” And we know that “our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). After all in Ephesians 1:18, it not only says God wants to flood us with light but it call us His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance. Let me say that again incase you missed it… we are chosen by Him and are His glorious inheritance!! Can you just imagine an inheritance from the Creator of the universe?!?!
So my prayer is that you are flooded. That you no longer are filled of this world or your past distractions. That God clears out your life and your heart so that you can be consumed with Him alone and He gives you hope that you can be confident in. An overwhelming hope that you can rest in knowing God will never forsake us or leave us, so be strong and courageous (Deuteronomy 31:6), and allow the flooding of light and the renovation of a life built on Him.
