{"id":6479,"date":"2024-11-13T23:14:16","date_gmt":"2024-11-14T04:14:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6479"},"modified":"2024-11-13T23:14:19","modified_gmt":"2024-11-14T04:14:19","slug":"when-i-dont-feel-gods-lovingkindness-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6479","title":{"rendered":"(In the Moments) The Cake Maker’s Blunder"},"content":{"rendered":"

The bride had waited for this moment. She\u2019d be marrying the man of her dreams. And she had the perfect verse for her wedding cake. There is no fear in love; but\u00a0perfect love casts out fear (I John 4:18<\/strong> NASB).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

She struggled with fear and wanted God\u2019s perfect love to cast it out.<\/p>\n

Wedding week had arrived. Final preparations were underway.<\/p>\n

She received a call from the cake maker. \u201cAre you absolutely sure you want I John 4:18 on your wedding cake?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cVery sure. It\u2019s one of my favorites.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d the baker responded. \u201cIt\u2019s your wedding.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bride didn\u2019t have the brain space to give the call much thought, but later she wished she\u2019d followed up.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The cake maker wasn\u2019t familiar with the Bible. He thought 1 John meant the first book of John he came across. So, the surprised bride got John 4:18<\/strong><\/span> on her cake instead, \u201cfor you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

The bride felt deeply humiliated. Eventually, the couple laughed about the cake maker\u2019s mistake. And they continued to ask the Lord to show them how perfect love casts out fear.<\/p>\n

How Does Perfect Love Cast Out Fear?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Perfect Love<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The Greek word John used for \u201cperfect<\/span>\u201d means completed, finished, lacking nothing.<\/em><\/p>\n

God\u2019s love is perfect, like a swaddled child, safe and warm in its mother\u2019s embrace. God\u2019s presence yields a transcendent peace which surpasses all comprehension in the face of any fear [1].<\/p>\n

Paul describes the quality of God\u2019s perfect love, in Ephesians 3:14-19<\/strong><\/span>. He prays we might comprehend it, though it surpasses our knowledge.<\/p>\n

For this reason I\u00a0bend my knees before the Father,\u00a015\u00a0<\/strong>from whom\u00a0every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,\u00a016\u00a0<\/strong>that He would grant you, according to\u00a0the riches of His glory, to be\u00a0strengthened with power through His Spirit in\u00a0the inner\u00a0self,\u00a017\u00a0<\/strong>so that\u00a0Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;\u00a0and\u00a0that you, being\u00a0rooted and\u00a0grounded in love,\u00a018\u00a0<\/strong>may comprehend with\u00a0all the\u00a0saints what is\u00a0the width and length and height and depth,\u00a019\u00a0<\/strong>and to know\u00a0the love of Christ which\u00a0surpasses knowledge, that you may be\u00a0filled to all the\u00a0fullness of God.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

When I read Paul\u2019s description of God\u2019s love, I picture a love as deep and long and wide as the ocean and as high as the sky.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

God\u2019s perfect love truly surpasses our knowledge. Paul prays that what won\u2019t fit in our heads will come alive in our hearts, our love receptor. [2]<\/p>\n

Disagreeing with Lies<\/strong><\/h4>\n

God\u2019s love grounds us. So, it\u2019s no wonder our enemy uses doubt and fear, trying to block our awareness of it.<\/p>\n

As much as God is love, Satan is fear. He\u2019s a defeated foe and his tactics don\u2019t change. He relentlessly uses deception and empty fear, luring us away from resting in God\u2019s great love for us.<\/p>\n

But our weapons of truth and prayer are divinely powerful to demolish these fortified strongholds, destroying his work in our lives and casting out his fear.<\/p>\n

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war\u00a0according to the flesh,\u00a04\u00a0<\/strong>for the\u00a0weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but\u00a0divinely powerful\u00a0for the destruction of fortresses.\u00a05\u00a0<\/strong>We are\u00a0destroying speculations and every\u00a0lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and\u00a0we are\u00a0taking every thought captive to the\u00a0obedience of Christ (II Corinthians 10:3-5<\/strong> NASB).<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Our job is to take every thought captive. Soaking in the truth of God\u2019s perfect love, we learn to disagree with Satan\u2019s lies and cast away his fear.<\/p>\n

Remaining in Perfect Love<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Besides praying for our hearts to be enlightened with God\u2019s perfect love, and disagreeing with Satan\u2019s lies, Jesus gives us explicit instruction on how we can continually live in His perfect love.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cAs the Father has loved me,\u00a0so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.\u00a010\u00a0<\/strong>If you keep my commands,\u00a0you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father\u2019s commands and remain in his love.\u00a011\u00a0<\/strong>I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.\u00a012\u00a0<\/strong>My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.\u201d (John 15:9-12<\/strong><\/span><\/em> NIV)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In these vital words, Jesus helps us understand the depth of His perfect love toward us. \u201cAs the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.”<\/em><\/span> Love can\u2019t be more perfect.<\/p>\n

Then He tells us how to abide or live in His love. To remain in His perfect love, which dispels fear, we\u2019re to love others as He\u2019s loved us. \u201cMy command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

And the love we\u2019re to love with comes from Him. \u201cWe love, because He first loved us\u201d (I John 4:19<\/strong> NASB). <\/em><\/span>(The verse after the bride\u2019s verse).<\/p>\n

The great cadence of our lives, which dispels every fear, is to receive God\u2019s perfect love and give it away.<\/p>\n

Challenge<\/h3>\n

Can you identify a lie which the enemy uses to keep you from fully experiencing the love of God in Christ?<\/p>\n

It’s important to identify these viscous strongholds which have created ruts in our hearts. Our adversary is only out to steal, kill, and destroy us. [3]<\/p>\n

For me, I\u2019m easily seduced by the lie that my value is based on what I do.<\/p>\n

How about you? Do you have lies you\u2019ve agreed with and have allowed strongholds to remain?<\/p>\n

Now is the time. Stand firm in the authority of God\u2019s truth, despite feelings and swirling half-truths.\u00a0 Speak the truth and pray.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Believe the words of Jesus in John 16:23b-24:<\/strong> \u201cTruly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.\u00a0 Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Pray and keep on praying. The healing He affords, in lies we\u2019ve believed, requires fervent attention to Christ and His ways, disagreeing with the lie of our advisory and agreeing with the eternal truth of God.<\/p>\n

The love of God, His love for us, casts out all fear.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Prayer<\/h3>\n

Dear Lord, I thank You that You\u2019ve provided a way for me to live in Your perfect love.<\/em><\/p>\n

Please give me the power to recognize and refute any lie about your complete love for me. When fear arises from the evil one, I want to give it to you quickly. I don\u2019t want to give the enemy a seat at my table. (From the title of a book by Louie Giglio) <\/em>[4]<\/p>\n

Please give me a love first mentality throughout each day. I don\u2019t want to be too busy to appreciate the people you bring my way. I yield to You to love through me.<\/em><\/p>\n

I depend upon You to work this in me. I can\u2019t do them without You.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fear has no place in my life.<\/em><\/p>\n

Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n

[1] Philippians 4:6-7<\/p>\n

[2] Ephesians 1:18-20<\/p>\n

[3] John 10:10<\/p>\n

[4] Don\u2019t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table<\/u>, Louie Giglio, Passion Publishing 2021<\/p>\n

Other posts in our series<\/span> In the Moments<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

As Sea Gulls Fly<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

It is Finished<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Behold the Moments<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Tranquility<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Stop Striving<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Simplicity In Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What is Good<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Yet Will I Rejoice<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Sorrowful, Yet Always Rejoicing<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Exploring Grace and Joy together<\/a><\/p>\n

Stay Present My Friends<\/a><\/p>\n

Quiddity. It Could Change Your Life<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
Robby Buck<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Nonfiction books by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn\u2019t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God\u2019s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It\u2019s not just a good idea, it\u2019s vital to our journey as human beings.\u00a0Rhythms of Joy<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Novels by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Please Check out the\u00a0\u00a0Cola City Podcast<\/a>\u00a0. Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A bride is excited to marry her dream man, choosing a verse for her wedding cake, but miscommunication leads to her getting the wrong verse, causing initial humiliation. <\/p>\n

She ultimately finds humor in the mistake, while exploring the theme of God’s perfect love casting out fear. <\/p>\n

The text discusses the nature of perfect love as described in the Bible, emphasizing its completeness and strength against fear and doubt. It encourages readers to reject lies from the enemy and live in God’s love by loving others, while maintaining a focus on prayer and truth to combat fear and establish a deeper connection with God.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6496,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3009],"tags":[1153,2849,3013,2212,2813,3016,423,3020,2889,3022,3019,3029,2221,2032,2976,814,3024,493,39,18,2850,3011,172,1068,2991,510,271,3290,3014,1235,3021,3027,3015,2208,235,89,3025,1154,484,3291,3023,3018,1053,1071,3017,1063,26,3012,3010],"class_list":["post-6479","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fearless","tag-abiding","tag-beyond-time","tag-cake-maker","tag-casting-out-fear","tag-cola-city-podcast","tag-completed","tag-courage","tag-deception","tag-deepen-trust-in-god","tag-defeated-foe","tag-disagreeing-with-lies","tag-ephesians-118-20","tag-ephesians-314-19","tag-eternal-god","tag-fathers-love","tag-fear","tag-fellowship","tag-following-jesus","tag-gods-nearness","tag-holy-spirit","tag-hope-remains","tag-i-john-418","tag-i-john-419","tag-ii-corinthians-103-5","tag-isaiah-714","tag-jesus-christ","tag-john-159-12","tag-john-1623-24","tag-john-418","tag-lacking-nothing","tag-lies","tag-louie-giglio","tag-perfect","tag-perfect-love","tag-philippians-46-7","tag-prayer","tag-quality-of-love","tag-remaining","tag-satan","tag-stronghold","tag-strongholds","tag-surpasses-knowledge","tag-surpassing-love","tag-taking-every-thought-captive","tag-transcendent-peace","tag-trusting-god","tag-truth","tag-wedding","tag-wedding-cake"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6479","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6479"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6479\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7108,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6479\/revisions\/7108"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6479"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6479"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6479"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}