“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)

Imagine yourself standing on a warm, sandy beach.  Look out over the ocean, the vast expanse of water, its unfathomable depths.  And allow yourself to pause for a moment of awe.

Now, for the truly awe-inspiring.  God’s love for us is wider and longer and higher and deeper than the waters stretching out before you.  His love is immeasurable and without limit.  

 Looking out over the water, you also sense God’s overwhelming power. Like the waves crashing relentlessly against the shore or high tide rising heedless of what is washed away before it, at times God’s call requires us to embrace change, challenge, and loss.

To be honest, those vast and powerful waters don’t feel completely safe.  But we know that God is completely good. The truth is counterintuitive and unexpected. Our best response is to jump headfirst into the waves rather than wait for them to break over our heads.

Questions: 

• At this moment in your life, where are you in relation to the water? Are you standing on the dunes, viewing the waves from a distance? Are you standing along the water’s edge with the waves gently lapping over your feet? Are you out in the surf with waves crashing violently over your head?

• What is one step you could take toward deeper water?

Prayer: Consider God’s invitation to move toward deeper water. Respond to his invitation.