I’ve been in a funky place emotionally for far too long. I belong to Christ after all; I should be filled to overflowing with joy every day of my life. Right? Or maybe not, maybe it is ok to feel sad. Maybe my 3-year old nephew is right when he says, “I just want to be sad”. Maybe we just want to be sad sometimes; maybe we need to feel sad sometimes. Jesus even felt sadness. However, He was so connected to the Father that He didn’t linger in His sadness. He trusted God, He trusted the Words spoken before Him. We can’t linger there either. We have to trust God, and we have to believe His Word spoken over us.
The Lord has changed my focus this week. I’ve seen the beauty of His creation in the deep navy sky on a clear night with hundreds or thousands (Who knows how many) tiny stars sparkling in the sky like diamonds. Clear blue daytime skies, warm sunshine and the promise of new life in the bright fushia blooms of the flowers across the street from my office. I’ve received good news and encouragement towards opportunities to fulfill my God-given purpose and to use the talents, skills and joys He has placed in me to bless others. I’ve seen the power of prayers to bring physical healing, lift the spirits of the broken-hearted and restore places long devastated.
God is at work, He is directing divine purpose, and He is active. I can see the light shining through the trees, the dawn is near.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Trust: Confident expectation of something, hope.
I know what it is like to not trust others. Past hurts and disappointments make it very difficult to just share my hopes and fears and fully let others in. As mentioned in a previous post, I am currently reading Beth Moore's new book (So Long Insecurity). God is really using this book to help me open up; trust Him and the people He is placing in my life. He has blessed me with a sweet group of people who love Him and love others because He lives in them.
One way I am learning to trust others is sharing my hopes and fears and receiving the blessing of their prayers. In anticipation of God’s goodness revealed in my life I have questioned my ability to hear clearly and really believe what I believe He is saying to me. I so want to apply His word to every area of my life and I've felt over the last year He has told me to wait for Him.
Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. – Hebrews 10:36
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:29, 31
And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. – Habakkuk 2:2-3
Be still and know that I am God. – Psalm 46:10
No doubt, my faith has been tested in the waiting. However, recently I felt Him saying:
“You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” – Jeremiah 1:12
“None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed.” – Ezekiel 12:28
Surely I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! – Psalm 27:13-14
I still await His goodness. Not that He hasn’t been good to me and blessed me beyond measure…He most assuredly has, but with regards to some of my specific hopes and dreams I still await His purposes to be revealed and look for Him to act on my behalf. This very morning in my study of His word it was revealed to me that when Christ gives us His word, He wants us to live in absolute expectation of it, trusting that whether it happens sooner or later, it
will happen.
The trouble is that as I wait, we have a very real enemy who wants to make me doubt what I believe I have heard from the Lord when I go to Him and study His word. I again return to His word and cling to that which tells me to not lose my confidence:
The Lord will guide me always and satisfy my needs – Isaiah 58:11
He will keep me in perfect peace because I trust in Him – Isaiah 26:3
His law is in my heart, my feet will not slip. – Psalm 37:31
I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. – Proverbs 4:11-12
One way I am learning to trust others is sharing my hopes and fears and receiving the blessing of their prayers. In anticipation of God’s goodness revealed in my life I have questioned my ability to hear clearly and really believe what I believe He is saying to me. I so want to apply His word to every area of my life and I've felt over the last year He has told me to wait for Him.
Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised. – Hebrews 10:36
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. – Isaiah 40:29, 31
And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay. – Habakkuk 2:2-3
Be still and know that I am God. – Psalm 46:10
No doubt, my faith has been tested in the waiting. However, recently I felt Him saying:
“You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.” – Jeremiah 1:12
“None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed.” – Ezekiel 12:28
Surely I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! – Psalm 27:13-14
I still await His goodness. Not that He hasn’t been good to me and blessed me beyond measure…He most assuredly has, but with regards to some of my specific hopes and dreams I still await His purposes to be revealed and look for Him to act on my behalf. This very morning in my study of His word it was revealed to me that when Christ gives us His word, He wants us to live in absolute expectation of it, trusting that whether it happens sooner or later, it
will happen.
The trouble is that as I wait, we have a very real enemy who wants to make me doubt what I believe I have heard from the Lord when I go to Him and study His word. I again return to His word and cling to that which tells me to not lose my confidence:
The Lord will guide me always and satisfy my needs – Isaiah 58:11
He will keep me in perfect peace because I trust in Him – Isaiah 26:3
His law is in my heart, my feet will not slip. – Psalm 37:31
I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. – Proverbs 4:11-12
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