On Living as Prodigals

I haven't really gone anywhere. I'm still here. I guess you could say I've been hiding. Hiding behind the words of others - translation: reading all those deep, insightful, witty words other people blog. I can get lost there. I tend to live there and not come home. But today I'm facing some writing and for some reason I thought I'd start here. At home. In my own blog.

I've been thinking about the story of the prodigal today. Steph over at Just Etchings posted a poem yesterday called "At the Edge" that knocked my socks off. It's definitely worth a read. She sees us at the edge of the ocean, that huge expanse of water, trying to decide to retreat or move deeper into it. Water and being enveloped in it seems so suffocating so I tend to see myself "at the edge" of a fork in the road, which brings me to the prodigal. At every moment I have to decide to run to the arms of the Father or run in to the world. It seems like a no-brainer. I mean come on, loving arms or cold, cruel world. But for some reason we see the world as enticing and adventurous and alluring. satan is good at making it seem appealing. But I know from experience that is not the case. It is a much more rewarding, exciting, fulfilling adventure to live in the arms of God. He has so much more for us. His celebrations are more explosive! His dance is much more free! His walk is true.

It's funny how we want to control our own lives and, many times, the lives of others. We don't want God to do it. Or at least that's been my modus operandi in the past. I want that to change. I want me to change. I don't want to eat pig food anymore. I want to celebrate my homecoming every moment of every day! I don't want to live in my Father's home taking for granted the life I'm leading in Him. I don't want to be jealous of my brothers and sisters when I see them return home to His arms. I want us to celebrate together!! I want to Dance!! I want to know that in Him I live - I mean really, truly live! It is not drudgery to live in Him. It is a grand and glorious adventure!! So why do we choose to live as prodigals or jealous older brothers? We are not orphans. We have a Father and a Mother. (Have you ever seen that painting of the prodigal by Rembrandt? One hand is masculine and one is feminine. I love that.) And the good news is that God delights in us in spite of ourselves. Isaiah 62:2-4 says,

"you will be called by a new name
that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.

3 You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD's hand,
a royal diadem in the hand of your God.

4 No longer will they call you Deserted,
or name your land Desolate.
But you will be called Hephzibah,
and your land Beulah;
for the LORD will take delight in you,
and your land will be married."

A few years ago God called me by a new name and gave me the word "Hephzibah". It means "my delight is in her". I want to live in the full knowledge of His love. I want a new revelation of His love to fall on me every moment of everyday as I choose the fork that leads me to His arms. I want to know Him more.