Where do I begin? My heart is full. My heart is heavy. My heart wants so much to understand all this stuff and He continues to tell me “Rest”. To be honest, I don’t like the place we as a country are at right now. As I walk with the Lord through my many thoughts and feelings I will share them with you. I know they might be a bit scattered but pray you can understand. I constantly go back and read what the Lord has given me the last few weeks because there are times when I watch too much TV or read too many social media posts that I can get some negative thinking. I know the vital necessity is keeping my focus on Him and His Word. I understand its value even more when I let down my guard because it messes me up. “So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23
I am going to pretty transparent with some of what is happening in my life. I know so many people that are content in this season and enjoying whatever comes their way. Contentment and peace is good. It is the best place to be and not in strife. Many of them are safe at home including financially. So many are without any income, including the government money they haven’t received. This is extremely hard for them. In my thinking they are also heroes to give up all their livelihood to protect others. I am okay to stay home and enjoy the quietness of the days but I’m not okay with this being a mandate to protect us and keep thousands of people from working and actually going to worship and pray together. Something doesn’t feel right about it. I know the Lord is doing mighty things in people’s hearts right now. I’ve shared the last few weeks that even though we don’t know all that is ahead we do know what is certain – Jesus – His Love – His promises – His Word. Today as I was struggling to find any truth to anything being said about this situation He gave me Psalm 23, which I will talk about more. . I suppose there is some facts that are accurate with the virus but don’t know which ones. Maybe our leaders have a tiny bit of interest in the well being of Americans and America but it’s hard to tell which little bit they really care about. I earnestly pray and intercede for our President and leadership. I truly believe some of them are desiring the wisdom of the Lord. I can’t imagine how this effects their lives. They are really in a battle.
The other day Ed and I talked about how much people are like sheep to the slaughter which means they just follow whoever is leading and are in the line to be slaughtered and don’t know it. It’s a very good idea to KNOW the shepherd or lead sheep you are following. But right now there are a lot of wolves in sheep’s clothing who are leading people blindly on the wrong path. I get the concept to be safe and care about others but we need to make sure it’s our Shepherd Jesus that is leading us in what to do not uncaring leaders. I’m not too content in the ways things are headed. Maybe I should be but deep inside I know something is wrong and I am listening to His still small voice to lead me. I know that we have victory already as we follow Him. I can rest in Him and His promises and still discern the deceitfulness and evil that is being spread to the people. Whatever I am feeling I can’t hold on to or I will become bitter and hateful so I must cast my cares on Him. “Casting all your cares, all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all on Him, for He cares about you with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully.” 1 Peter 5:7 We are His sheep and His sheep hear His voice. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27 Sheep don’t always know what to do or where to go. That’s why they need a shepherd. They are easily led astray if their eyes aren’t on the shepherd. Sheep are followers. They follow the leader in front of them. We never want to follow the crowd – the flock - unless we KNOW which shepherd the other sheep are following.
Sometimes I have days of tears as I pray for our country, the leaders, our friends, family and church. As I see so many people struggle, hurt, in confusion, in anger my heart is broken for them. The Lord showed me my heart is grieving for the lost sheep, those so unsure who to follow and why. Many follow what appears to be the easiest path at the moment. I long for them, the lost and the Believers, to hear and listen to the voice of the Shepherd’s voice and follow Him. We are blessed right now with so much ministry going out on the internet and social media. The right message is going forth. I continue to pray and believe that people will hear the Truth and be set free from this bondage of the evil one. We keep hearing we need to take the virus serious but we need to take our Lord and Savior serious and listen to Him and as our Shepherd He will guide us in the right path.
“The Lord is my best friend and shepherd. I always have more than enough.
He offers a resting place for me in His luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis
of peace, the quiet brook of bliss. That’s where He restores and revives my life.
He opens before me pathways to God’s pleasure and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so I can bring honor to His name.
Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness,
fear will never conquer me, for You already have! You remain close to me
and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace.
The comfort of Your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.
You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight.
You anoint me with the fragrance of the Holy Spirit,
You give me all I can drink of You until my heart overflows.
So why would I fear the future? For Your goodness and love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with You!” Psalm 23 (The Passion Translation)
During this time of “what’s next? When can we go forward? What? When? How?” we have to remember we cannot meet our own needs and the government is not going to take care of us or supply what we need. He is our Shepherd. All we need to do is seek Him! We have everything in Him. Read the Psalm again, is anything we need left out? It says with Him as our Shepherd we only have to follow Him, come to Him and we will always have enough. He leads our path through the darkest valleys and FEAR WILL NEVER CONQUER us when we are with Him!! He gives us a resting place in His luxurious love. We are to rest in Him as we go through this time.
I realized today that even though I pray, believe and speak life I have also gotten discouraged when our shelter in place continues to be extended, now May 9th, when people cannot go back to work, when those in charge say one thing but change it right at the last minute. I found myself starting to lose hope in different areas instead of standing up and declaring what the Lord said to me. The Lord spoke it’s time to go forward in areas of ministry and I started to doubt. Our plan isn’t to fight the authorities but to follow our Shepherd. This is a battle with the enemy. The enemy can’t stop our voices from going forth, in fact more voices are over the airwaves than ever before. He has tried to stopped us coming together as a church, praying together, laying hands on the sick, families being together, being able to provide for ourselves and so much more. He has lied and deceived in such clever ways. But he hasn’t won because Believers are tired of it and standing firm on the Word and love of Jesus and NOT GIVING UP HOPE. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
We already have the victory. Don’t get discouraged in well doing! Follow your Shepherd and not another shepherd or lost sheep. He is taking care of you. Trust His love. Continue to thank Him, praise and worship Him always. Pray and believe for one another and encourage one another, too. This is keeping our focus on Him! Thank you for listening. Blessings to you all!