This morning in our Friday Morning Prayer Group, we were able to appreciate more of For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20. In the context of Fellowship as one of our group said, In the multitude is a greater container for God. In a video presentation, John Ortberg talked about our need for fellowship with others and that personalities united can contain more of God. Those are just words until you experience the fellowship of people seeking a closer relationship with God and friendship with one another. We share caring for each other. In that sharing together our hearts expand and God is there sharing His love and magnifying ours.

I can have my heart expanded in our group and then in private prayer confess what a mess my heart is and how twisted it becomes with self doubt and pride. There are times when I come before God in prayer and it feels like all of “me” is behind me and ahead of me is a precipice with no definable road. He reminded me my struggles bring my need for Him to my awareness so He can help. I can step each step with Him; He is leading each step of my faith journey with Him…every single step! There is such comfort in that. Faith step by step with Him leading me. He leads me to Him and He leads me to others because God is love and we are family with Him and learning from Him how to love and care for one another. Love magnified.

Reading 2 Samuel 11 reminds me of steps David took without God. David was so close to God except when he wasn’t. He was in his palace and because he couldn’t sleep he walked to the roof and from there he saw a woman bathing. She was beautiful and she was married. He had her brought to him and slept with her and she conceived. He is king. How does he fix this? He has her husband, one of his soldiers, sent into the fiercest part of battle knowing he will be killed because when David tried to have her husband brought home to sleep with her and thus cover up his own sin with her, her husband refused. He was more honorable than David. Learning her husband is dead in battle, Bathsheba mourns for him. After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the Lord. v. 27.

God never left David. He never leaves us. When I don’t know which way to go, when turmoils within me twist me all up, I turn my eyes to Him and He is here always. He never leaves. Sometimes, though, I lose sight of our path together. Why? Because my own thoughts twist me up and that’s all I can see and then doubts take over and I’m right back on that solid ground I know behind me. If you do that, too, turn to Him. Ask for His help and take the next step with Him and trust His love to guide you always. He will lead you to Him and He will lead you to fellowship that magnifies His love in you. Step by step forward always with Him. It’s a faith journey of trusting Him to guide you faithfully every step. Where will He lead you? To love magnified. Never forget…God is love.