The God I Love

I read to be inspired. If a book is not teaching or inspiring me, I usually close it and move on. I used to feel obligated after starting a book to finish it. I’m not sure why. I think after I plopped down $10-15, I felt I had to get my money’s worth. But now most of my book purchases come from Half Price Bookstores, so I pay a buck. I can assure you, there’s no guilt anymore if I don’t finish the book.

Over the past three weeks or so, I have not read a lot. I kinda went through a dry spell. Every time I picked up a book to read, it seemed flat. I found there was a reason for that. God wanted more of my attention in other areas at the moment. He had things to show me…He wanted to change me…He wanted to reveal specific things to me. I am convinced that every single thing in my life is ordained, even the books I read. I know this, because I live it and hear Jesus speak daily. I won’t reveal all He discussed with me recently—some is much too personal, but it’s safe to say I feel a greater peace and closeness with Him as a result.

But last Sunday after visiting my family in WV, I borrowed a book my mom just finished. It’s the memoir of Joni Eareckson Tada called The God I Love. The title alone drew me to the book. I finished it in a week.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine turned me on to an interview with her. I listened to it twice. It spoke very powerfully to me. Joni has been a quadriplegic for over 40 years. She just recently learned she had breast cancer. She said in the interview that when people come up and ask if they can pray for her healing, she says yes, but she’s more interested in them praying for her self-centeredness; pride; impotence, and slothfulness. Wow! She could garner all the authentic, godly sympathy she wanted in her condition, but she is more concerned about her sanctification and become closer to Christ. She truly inspires me.

I had this interview on my mind quite a bit and when I saw her memoir on mom’s nightstand, I knew I needed to read it. I finished in a week. She talks very candidly about her struggles after her diving accident, but it is clear she was and is fully aware that looking squarely in the face of Jesus and focusing on who He is is the only thing that brings her healing and peace. It’s not about what someone else did or didn’t do or what has happened to her or how she is feeling. It is all about the nature and character of God. And loving Him through His son Jesus!

She said at one point in the book, “My pursuit of Him was no longer something extraordinary—it was my everyday routine.” It was about the cross—nothing more; nothing less. “The world’s worst murder became the world’s only salvation.” As she poured over the Scriptures, memorized them, sung them and made them her own, she started to become the whole person He wanted her to be. I closed the book with a renewed joy to seek Him above all else—not just each day, but each minute of each day.