A NEW YEARS TOUCH FROM GOD

"Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched." 1 Samuel 10:26

How did your 2010 go? For me, it was unequivocally the most difficult year of my life ending with me still battling a staph infection after 30 days. As I look ahead to the coming year I have been inspired by reading the words of 1 Samuel 10:26. I am asking for us all for a new, fresh, powerful, liberating, renewing touch in our hearts from the living God.

There is something so special about being touched. All of us as humans long to be touched. How precious is the gentle, inquisitive touch of a baby to a mothers face? Or when your dad touches your head and affectionately messes your hair? We are encouraged when a friend touches us with an arm around us or a pat on the back. How about the sensual, erotic touch of lovers expressing their love to one another? But the greatest touch of all is to be touched in the heart by God.

Oh how we need this touch in our heart and oh how willing is God to give us this touch as we approach 2011! The touch of God in the heart is an amazing and wonderful thing. Think of it; the very maker of the universe touching a heart. His touch is a deep touch because He touches us in our most vulnerable, intimate, and deep place, our heart. Our heart, the very core of our being, is the place that He touches.

"Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched." Just think of what is being said here! God touched these men. As wonderful as all other touches are, it was God! Not a wife. Not a child. Not a parent. Not a friend. But God. The very One with the most perfect and loving and infinite power in the universe. The One with infinite authority and infinite wisdom and infinite love and infinite goodness and infinite purity and infinite justice. That One touched their heart and wants to touch our heart.

The touch of God is awesome because it is a real touch. Just as Jesus full of mercy and compassion touched lepers, cripples, and blind men; God wants to touch you in the greatest most needful place to be touched, your heart. The valiant men were not just spoken to. They were not just swayed by a divine influence. They were not just seen and known. God, with infinite condescension, touched their heart. God was that close.

What in your heart needs to be touched? A deeply broken heart like mine? A hardened heart? A lonely heart? A fearful heart? A humbled heart? A cold heart? A divided heart? A loveless heart? A sad heart? Whatever it might be, God wants to touch your heart as you enter 2011 with His touch.

Oh how I love the touch of God on my heart. There is no other touch quite like it is there? I can never get enough of His touch and as I come into this new year I desperately need it and desire it more and more. I want it for myself and for all of you readers. O for the touch of God!

Would you join me in asking God to touch our hearts anew and afresh for His glory and our delight. I pray that he would touch all of our hearts with His life, His healing, His grace, His renewal, His mercy, His love, His faith, His freedom, His joy, His power, His heat, His light, His softening, His tenderness, His desire, and His peace this week.

O Lord, come. Come that close. Come so close that you touch my heart. Come and touch me. AMEN!

Longing for His touch in my heart and yours,
Bill