Psalm 40:1-3~I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 3 He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what He has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the Lord. Have you been in a place where you are waiting on the Lord during a season of the “mud and mire”? This passage brings such hope. The more I focus and do what it says, the more excited I get inside. A giddiness in seeing where God takes me. A happiness in my life. Because it is HIM who is leading. My heart is set on Him and in that I won’t fail. When I choose to keep my heart, mind and soul on Him, there is no fear in choosing where I go or what I do anymore. Every step, hand in hand with Him. When I step somewhere that there is pain, He holds me close and allows me to rest. When I step in excitement, He dances with me. So really there is no fear in what lies ahead as long as My God is with me. He IS good. I can put my trust in Him. He does pour out His drenching unquenchable love. In this picture I have shown a miracle of God placing my feet on a ship in the Caribbean, my first cruise. A gift from God through my parents, during a “mud and mire” time as I was waiting on God. He blew me away! Just a HUGE physical example of how HE blesses, sometimes above and beyond what I could imagine. During that trip He did a lot in my heart. Things that challenged me and healed me.
Challenge for today: Choose to praise God in EVERY circumstance. Observe what happens inside of you when you do. Feel free to share here, how purposing to praise today has lifted your heart. (When we hear each others stories of how making new changes changed us, it inspires others to make changes too!)
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Romans 8:38~And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from Gods's love.
I recently met with a friend who is at the place of gut wrenching hurt/betrayal, feeling worthless, alone, afraid, and imprisoned. She loves God deeply, but is not feeling Him right now. Have you ever felt this way? Are you feeling this way now? Do you find yourself reaching for what is comfortable or easy? Do you find that it is only a temporary fix from your pain? Do you find yourself not feeling God in these times? Here are a few truths in the Bible I have discovered to hold onto when the "feelings" aren't there:
He has shown me through these facts from the Bible, that when I keep my eyes on Him even when I don’t “feel” Him. When I rest, go through pain, do the daily life things, He proves to me that He goes before and with me. He shows me that He was with me in my darkest anguish. “Stones of remembrance” is what I have, looking at the many times I can see when God was with me during painful times, by providing for and loving me. In those moments when I don’t “feel” Him, I have proof of His work in my life. I am able to see His goodness, even when the feelings are not there. This is faith.
When I go through times of pain here is a way I might pray: Thank you Father for giving me this season to grow. Thank you for reminding me of your love through scripture. I don’t want to focus on the painful circumstances, but acknowledge them and continue to focus on you! Allowing me to be sheltered in Your arms of love. For you have my breath, You have my heart, You love me, you forgive me for picking up those things that don’t bring the life you desire for me, and You are patient with me in the moments I struggle to connect with Your heart. Thank You that You are God and I am not, so that I can cling to YOUR never ending love!
QUESTION: What are your “Stones of remembrance?” I would love for you to share them here. |