“Too late have I loved you, O Beauty of ancient days, yet ever new! Too late I loved you! And behold, you were within, and I abroad, and there I searched for you; I was deformed, plunging amid those fair forms, which you had made. You were with me, but I was not with you. Things held me far from you—things which, if they were not in you, were not at all. You called, and shouted, and burst my deafness. You flashed and shone, and scattered my blindness. You breathed odors and I drew in breath—and I pant for you. I tasted, and I hunger and thirst. You touched me, and I burned for your peace” (St. Augustine, Confessions)Every time I read this or hear Gungor's song 'Late Have I Loved You' it touches my heart tremendously. Especially in those seasons (like right now) where I don't feel like I need to be in my relationship with my King, and yet I don't nourish my spiritual needs. Just to know that he CALLS and he SHOUTS bursting through those times when I'm not turning my ear to Him, there are no words..
St.Augustine's thoughts are just so real, so deep and so true. This is just a constant reminder that no matter what, God is near. 'And behold, you were within, and I abroad...' It's not God who turns away from us, but us (me) who is on the outside. Once we ask Jesus into our hearts, He is always within us. I love my God!
7-11"Don't bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn't a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we're in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn't think of such a thing. You're at least decent to your own children. So don't you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? -Matthew 7:7-11 MSG
7 “Ask, and what you are asking for will be given to you. Look, and what you are looking for you will find. Knock, and the door you are knocking on will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 NLT
