Dericka Canada Cunningham, GBW Founder
June 3, 2024
This Week's Anchor
“Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the skies.”
Psalm 36:5 (NIV)
An overlooked blessing I think more about as I get older is the gift of Divine wisdom shared through stories and songs across generations. As someone who grew up in a little country church in a small town in Kentucky, the gospel songs that empowered my mother, aunties, and grandmothers shaped me. I no longer dwell within the little church or the small town, nevertheless, the songs that raised me have lingered. Even as an adult, I consistently recount the powerful words of the old Southern hymns I grew up on. In fact, the older I get the stronger these songs seem to live on within me. One song comes to mind as I reflect on this week’s anchor scripture—the hymn, “Love Lifted Me”. As I recall this song, a specific part of the chorus resonates: “When nothing else could help, love lifted me”. I’m truly grateful to God for the memory of not only this song, but most importantly of His Love. It’s beautiful to imagine, and each time I consider how God’s love has compellingly lifted me, my eyes well up in tears.
A verse nestled within a song written by David, our anchor scripture this week is simple, yet it illustrates the vast nature of this Divine love. Not only does His love reach beyond our universe, and not only has His love lifted us, but it consistently lifts us and will continue to lift us while we travel on this journey called life. That’s the kind of God we serve. Even while the world is on fire and our lives are in shambles, His Love lifts us. Even when we hit rock bottom and feel alone, His Love enters that space and will lift us. We witness David’s account of this love in the verses following our anchor scripture. God’s love is declared as priceless and unfailing (v.7) and we are reminded that God “is the fountain of life” and that in His “light, we see light” (v.9).
Aren’t you grateful for the power of God’s love to reach deep within our lives and lift us in moments when we need it most (and cannot lift ourselves or be lifted by others alone)? Take a moment to embrace the many ways God’s love lifts us amid the many seasons of our lives. While each of us has our unique ways of experiencing God’s love, here are a few ways that God’s love lifts us:
Being present with us—Those moments when we just feel God with us, reminding us that we are not alone even when we feel lonely.
Affirming His Word and promises—Bringing His Word alive and spiritually connecting the dots between what we receive from the Word and experience in our everyday lives.
Grounding us in purpose and life meaning—Helping us to see and feel our purpose in everything we experience and everyone we encounter in our lives.
Giving us peace, comfort, and encouragement—Enabling us to experience calm, feel empowered, and have the ability to move through tough emotions.
Granting us moments of laughter and joy—Even if fleeting, making the playful and fun moments matter and helping us to receive joy deeply and sincerely in our lives.
Showing His grace and mercy—Because we aren’t perfect. God loves us through our imperfections and mistakes.
Sparking our imagination and creativity—Those moments when we are internally inspired and motivated with a new idea, and when we get to tap into our curiosity and innovation.
Blessing us with our heart’s desires/requests—When God does the thing we’ve been praying for (and/or removes the thing we’ve been praying against); Being able to experience God’s abundance and blessings.
Sustaining us through difficult times—When despite all the odds, we somehow have the will to carry on; giving us hope for a better and brighter future.
Convicting and challenging us—When God compassionately provides us with Divine redirection, and we know deep in our souls that it is exactly what we need.
Reminding us that we are in community—Getting that random text or call from a friend, an unexpected message from an old acquaintance, encouragement from a family member, an affirming conversation with a co-worker, or inspiration from a book, show, a movie, or a social media post.
Other ways unique to you…
As we enter yet another week on this blue and green globe that we’ve been gifted to inhabit but are sometimes challenged to maintain, may the hymns of our ancestors embolden us. May the community we have with others inspire us. And like wind beneath wings, may God lovingly lift us.
Reflection
What is resonating for you about this scripture and/or this devotion?
How has/does God’s love lift you? What do you need from the Holy Trinity to lift you this week?
What intention(s) do you want to set to connect and/or reconnect with being grounded this week?
Related Scriptures to Ground You Through this Week
Deuteronomy 7:9
Psalm 3; Psalm 136
Isaiah 54:10
Lamentations 3:22-33
Romans 8:37-39
Ephesians 3:14-20
My Through-the-Week Reflection Guide
A Song of Inspiration
Quote of Love & Liberation
“Something that is loved is never lost.”
Toni Morrison
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