Scripture: For I am convinced that neither earth nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

Prayer: Let me grasp the full dimension of Paul's expression; nothing—not the world I tread, or my life circumstances, or the forces that roam above and below the universe, or the powers that rule, or the elevation climbed, or the depth descended, or anything else—can separate me from God's focused love for me in Christ Jesus.

Response: Is there anything missing that can cause you to doubt His love? Is there any more assurance you require to put this question aside and spend more valuable time on what does this mean for you this day, two thousand years after Paul's preaching was recorded? Do you catch the fire of his words that sear you this morning, seem to stir the cup of coffee on table? It's as if you turned on a recording of Handel's Messiah and didn't realize that the volume was high and you rushed to turn it down. You don't want to wake anyone, especially yourself if you are not fully awake—or do you—with these anointed words.

Perhaps, tomorrow you might want to choose some quieter verses, though your experience seems to be that no verse is quiet. Each resound, even the most bucolic scene or lesson, with a hidden power to touch you in a place that might have lingered in doubt, despair, anxiety, discouragement, confusion. It is precisely then that a verse or two crash down onto and into your consciousness like a wave hitting you unaware at the edge of the ocean on what you thought was to be a quiet day.

At such a time, don't rush from the water in haste, but linger in the swirl of truth, hope, and faith that tosses you about in His love.