It's hard for me to grasp that it is the end of November and close to the end of 2020. It has
been a journey, adventure, a challenge and year of growing strong in the Lord and standing on His truths. So many changes and so, so many people are hurting right now. Prayer has taken on a deeper meaning for me as I continue to pray for our country, our church, our family and for friends all around the world. The tension, the stress, the attacks, the confusion and the list continues. Life went to a new level of commitment in the last 9 months. It's not necessarily a bad thing that we have gotten the opportunity to go deeper and higher in Him. The negativity and lies we are dealing with is a bad thing but we are overcomers in Christ!!!
This past week my heart was so much on praying for those struggling in so many ways. We were praying for the family of a 37 year old lady who was killed in a car accident. It was so tragic and left behind 2 little kids and a husband besides her extended family. Another couple lost their son in a motorcycle accident. Many, many marriages are on the edge of giving up. Oh how my heart aches for these people. Some of our church family have received negative Dr reports. The pandemic is causing havoc with businesses and people's livelihood. The fear level is heading back up higher than ever now with the political uncertainties to add to it. People are just getting weary of all the unknowns that continue in every area of life for the last 9 months.
One of my favorite verses is Isaiah 50:4 and actually I would say it's the verse that I feel is my call on life. "The Lord Yahweh has equipped me with the anointed, skillful tongue of a
teacher-to know how to speak a timely word to the weary. Morning by morning, he awakens my heart. He opens my ears to hear his voice, to be trained to teach."
Isaiah 50:4
My heart is to speak a timely word to the weary and hear the Lord direct me morning by morning. I hear the Lord speak to my heart about how to pray for others every morning. I love mornings. The darkness of the night becomes so bright and alive as the light fills the sky every morning. It's a time I feel so close to the Lord. It's a new day, a new time, a new opportunity.
"If you wait at wisdom's doorway, longing to hear a word for every day, joy will break forth within you as you listen for what I'll say. For the fountain of life pours into you every time that you find me, and this is the secret of growing in the delight and the favor of the Lord." Proverbs 8:34-35
The Lord longs to give us a word every day and I believe He does speak to each of our hearts even if we are not listening. Many times He speaks a word to me that is so hard to see possible. Right there I should know where my issue is because I am looking and not walking by faith. This is what I heard and read this week: Do you have situations that look (sight) outwardly impossible and visibly seem to remain immoveable? God has called us to have faith that defiantly resists impossibilities.
"And without faith living within us it would be impossible to please God. For we come to God in faith knowing that he is real and that he rewards the faith of those who give all their passion and strength into seeking him." Hebrews 11:6
As I read I realized how often I spend so much of my time trying to come up with an answer or solution and I am asking for His wisdom but I am asking from the perspective of what I see or what looks possible. I get to leaning on my own understanding. I know that faith is powerful and doesn't give in to what is seems impossible and immoveable. Actually, every seemingly impossible situation has to bow in the name of Jesus when I command it to. I have all authority over every situation in my life and many times I bow to the situation instead of commanding it to bow in the name of Jesus. Some situations and circumstances are harder than others and instead of continuing to take my authority, believe in faith and speak life and the truth I find myself living in or almost giving up to what I see. I'm so thankful that the Lord reminds me daily that I am an overcomer and a victor in Him and all things are possible to him so believes!!
"Every single moment you are thinking of me! How precious and wonderful to consider that you cherish me constantly in your every thought! O God, your desires toward me are more than the grains of sand on every shore! When I awake each morning, you re still with me." Psalm 139:17-18
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
One of the greatest ways to keep our heart and mind on the Lord and living in His presence is to have a heart of thanksgiving. We all know this and we all know the fruit of a life of thanksgiving. At this time of year and especially this year we are even more aware of the value of being thankful. It's our lifeline to His heart and love. Everything does look possible when we are thankful.
"Keep on giving your thanks to God, for he is so good! His constant, tender love lasts forever!" Psalm 118:1
"Sing out with songs of thanksgiving to the Lord! Let's sing our praises with melodies overflowing!" Psalm 147:7
"Singing: "Amen! Praise and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor, power, and might belong to our God forever and ever! Amen!" Revelation 7:12
This year your Thanksgiving may look different on the outside. You may not get to be with your family or loved ones. But on the inside it can be the greatest, most life changing day so far this year. Every day is an opportunity to draw closer to Him, to hear Him and "to know how to speak a timely word to the weary." Your heart full of thanksgiving longing to hear from the Lord and pray for someone who doesn't know or understand love can change a life forever.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day however you celebrate it. You may be without much family or you may be surrounded by family - either way take the time to cherish Him and all you are thankful for. Take communion and remember and thank Him for all He has done and given you. There is not enough minutes in the day to thank Him for all His love for you.
I'm adding a PS. After writing this I had a great opportunity to practice what I am preaching. Our dog, Summer, is doing pretty well with her surgeries but her rear end is so sore since she is not able to have control of all of her functions yet she has red bottom issues. She was struggling so much last night. I sat on the couch watching her pant in pain and looked at the redness on her bottom and got into fear. Do I need to take her to the vet? Can I leave her to go to church? Then the Lord reminded me of what I had just written. It's amazing how fast fear creeps in especially at night. So I decided to not to look at her and take authority over the situation. If everything I have belongs to the Lord then she is His dog and He definitely wants her healed and whole. I prayed, I commanded pain to be gone and healing to come to her body and we made it through the night. The night was rough and I woke up hourly to check her and pray. This morning she is resting calmly. The Lord showed me what to feed her to give her body a chance to he.al a bit. If I focus on the issue or try to figure it out myself fear will come in. I 'm thankful for His love and that He guides me in everything including my animals. I'm thankful for the word He gave me this week for such a time.as this. Her bottom is still red but it's not hurting as bad and I will not give up or give in and will continue to speak life to every part of our Summer girl.