Wednesday, February 20, 2013 -- Living Lonely Or Living In Love (1)

Loneliness is a feeling of not being able to reach another. It is a feeling of being isolated even though people may surround you. Loneliness is the anxiety of unrelatedness. It’s a feeling of not having someone who really understands your heart. It can result from rejection, misunderstanding, separation, illness, or tragedy. Loneliness is often accompanied by feelings of worthlessness, a sense of isolation, feelings of being abandoned by God and others, crying easily, or feeling sorry for oneself.

People often suffer from two forms of loneliness:

1. Social loneliness – brought on by a lack of social network. Everyone needs people for “hanging out.”

2. Emotional loneliness – the absence of a close emotional relationship. Superficial acquaintances that can cure social loneliness won’t touch the emotional variety.

Someone has said: To deal effectively with loneliness, we must first admit to ourselves that we are lonely, and then try to understand what would help alleviate it.

What does God have to say about loneliness?

By day the Lord commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me. (Psalm 42:8 ESV)

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3: 22-23 ESV)

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28 NIV)

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for You are with me. (Psalm 23:1-4 ESV)

God, I come to you because I feel lonely and I don't know what to do about it. Thank you for caring. I give myself to you today so your love can be sung in my heart. I want a new experience of Your love today that you promise is fresh and new. I come to you because I need rest and I long to have my soul restored. Touch my heart right now. Hold me close to Your heart. Help me to experience Your closeness and show me how to live in love today. I'm willing to learn. Show me a new way. Bring someone along to help me know what to do.

 (Find telephone numbers for people to help at:http://pihprayer.blogspot.ca/2013/02/247-prayer-support.html)