When the world gets noisy

Isaiah 26:3-4 ESV

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

The world can be loud.  Distractions from "to-do" list and obligations swirl around.  It can rock you and seek to rob you of your peace. Transparently, I was feeling this way this morning and I cried out to God to center me.  I asked Him to show me how. Immediately His word rose up in my spirit.

When I am centered in Christ, peace is restored.  All the things I have to do are still there, but I place them in their proper perspective.  I seek God first(Mathew 6:33).  I seek His will for my life(Romans 12:1-2).  I seek HIs wisdom and guidance(James 1:5).  I lean on Him and trust in Him knowing that He will guide my steps (Proverbs 3:5-6).

The world gets quiet. His word flows to my mind and nourishes my spirit. My heart rate is lowered.  My breathing is regulated as I go to the God(the only One) who ushers in His amazing love and grace.  I focus on what matters and trust that God will help me do the rest.  I center myself in Him and now with my full armor(Ephesians 6:10-18) on, I am ready to conquer the day.

Lord, I thank You for Your Spirit.  I thank You Your word.  Thank You for holding me up when the world gets to much.  Thanks for quieting the noise as You center me in You. Thank you for your peace. Thank you for your love.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

Call to Him

 Psalm 120:1~ In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.

The dictionary defines distress as extreme anxiety, sorrow or pain. As a person who suffers from anxiety, I can attest to the mental and emotional weariness it causes.  I also know how it feel sorrow and pain and how debilitating it can be.  Distress can feel like the walls are closing.  You can feel trapped in a cycle that never ends, but there is hope.  There is Jesus.

His word testifies to the fact that when we are distressed we can call to the Lord.  Not only can we call to Him, but we can rest in the fact that He will answer.  He will not leave us in a state of panic.  He is our solution as He ushered in peace.  God is good and He loves His children.

Life for me right now is hectic, there is always something to do.  If feels overwhelming, but I choose to trust in God.  The only wise God who sees me, hears me, and answers me.  I choose to remember that I am not alone and my Father will never leave or forsake me.

Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Precious Father, thank You for being such a gracious God.  Thank You for being available.  Thank You for being near.  Thank You for hearing my call and answering me.  Thank You for coming through for me time and time again.  You are magnificent and all together Holy.  In Jesus name. Amen

Joy in the Journey

 

James 1:2 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds

This week was a trying week.  I faced many challenges, test, and trials.  I'll admit that it did not feel joyous, but as someone said I looked for glimpses of Jesus throughout my day.  At the end of the day I thank God for getting me through the day and I thanked Him for the small victories He handed me along the way.  I thanked Him for the rest He wove in between my weariness.  I thanked Him for the opportunities to poor into someone else and be filled in the process.

I was not a perfect week.  I dealt with frustration, but I trusted in God.  That's the joy.  Having my faith muscles flexed as I depend and rely completely on Him to see me through.  The joy I feel today even though I still have test before me is invigorating.  The trial is not joyous, but knowing Jesus is with you every step of the way is joyous.  The enemy thought He had me, but God said no.  Hallelujah.

I do not know what you are going through or how long, but I do know that God is faithful.  Call out to Him and know that He hears you and that He will answer.  You can trust Him.  He did it for me, He will do it for you.  In fact, yesterday I looked at a bird feeding himself on whatever he found in my yard and my mind went the word. Matthew 6:26 -Look at the birds in of the air; the do no sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? I said to myself God takes care of them, He will take care of me.

Lord, thank You.  Thank you for the strength and faith to endure the test.  Help me to remember that trials have a purpose and that i will come out on the other side if I keep my hand in Yours and trust You.  Thank You for all the ways You show up.  In Jesus name. Amen

What’s Next

 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.~2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Last Friday we commemorated Good Friday.  The day when our Lord and Savior took our sins upon Himself and paid the penalty of death.  On Sunday we celebrated the truth of the gospel.  Jesus got up!  Conquering sin and death for us.  So what’s next?

I would “argue” that what’s next is living a life for Christ.  As His word says, Christ’s love for us compels us to do so. We no longer live for self, but rather for our Savior. How do we do that ? 

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.~Romans 12:1-2

We live as living sacrifice, not conforming to the ways of this world but rather renewing our minds. We our minds on Christ.  We ask Him for wisdom (James 1:5) and we lean into the fact that “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness”(2 Peter 1:3).

We love God hard and we love our neighbor( Mathew 22:37-40).  It has to be more than just a routine ceremony that we go through year after year.  His life, death, and resurrection showed His love and now it’s time to show ours.  The beauty of it is that He gives us everything we need to take the next step so we are not striving but rather striding in His love.

Lord, thank You for your compelling love for me and my neighbor.  Thank You for dying for me and I ask that You show me how to live for You.  How to walk in relationship with my risen Savior.  In Jesus name. Amen