Holy Hug

Listen to these words form Psalm 13:5-6 (Message Version), "I've thrown myself headlong into Your arms - I'm celebrating your rescue. I'm singing at the top of my lungs, I'm so full of answered prayers." There are times when God simply embraces us with a holy hug. He grips us in His arms of love and simply enfolds us in the never-ending revelation of Who He is and what He's done for us through Christ.

His Holy Spirit reinforces this visceral encounter, Romans 8:15 (again from The Message Version) explains more, "This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa? God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children." An indulgent sugar daddy He is not, but we all need to know that touch of His presence in our lives, whatever our age, man and woman, boy and girl.

There have been moments when I can confirm the truth of this statement through the reality of my own life and walk with God. Sometimes, He ambushes me. I'm quietly minding my own business praying and worshipping, and then He suddenly breaks through and grips me with His love. When I became a Christian at 16 years old, standing at the front of Earl's Curt in London as Billy Graham preached the Gospel that I was flooded with Father love; He literally came down and embraced me in a tangible way.

Today I am a grown man. Yet I still need those Holy Hugs. I'm not advocating a silly, indulgent view of a Holy, Perfect God, but we must remember that we too, like the Psalmist, can throw ourselves headlong into the arms of God, knowing His love for us is both tangible, real and fuel for the fires of our faith. I'm not a great fan of meaningless, superficial hugs. Thankfully, neither is God and when He reaches down and embraces me, my soul sings once again and I am refreshed and ready to continue walking with Jesus.

Let Him do the same to you today.