prayer

Just Let It Go!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. The morning temperatures are dropping and Fall is in the air, but I’ll endure the colder temperatures as long as I can just to be able to meet with my Master outside before winter shows up. Like ointment for my soul, I hovered in the Psalms this morning, confident that my Heart could be Strengthened by David’s Heart, and I was right. I was feeling as if life was “pressing down” on me and I KNOW David felt that way plenty of times too…that is UNTIL He surrendered it all to God. So with a Sweet Reminder from David, I laid it all down too. God is always just a prayer away and Peace is always found in Surrender. The great “I AM” is much more capable of Managing my Life than I am, and I only fool myself into thinking I’m actually in “control” when I’m not in control at all. After years in this Journey of Faith, I Know what Surrender looks like and I Know where to go for my Nourishment. This morning I went from feeling envious of the deer because they seemingly don’t have a care in the world to relating to them because I Know that with God…I don’t either. Isn’t that the way you see your Journey too?

Some days the load seems heavy and the burdens look big, but I Serve a God who’s ready to carry the weight if I just turn it all over to Him. Some days are laced with adversity, but I Serve a God who can bring Peace to any situation as long as I turn it all over to Him. Some days are filled with sorrow and sadness, but I Serve a God who will wipe every tear away One Day, and He is always “near to the brokenhearted.” I Serve a God who treasures each of my tears so much that He stores them up “in a jar” because He loves me. Some days are filled with doubt and uncertainty, but I Serve a God who will “keep my path straight” and give me wisdom any time I ask for it. Some days are overwhelming, but I Serve a God who isn’t overwhelmed (or surprised) by ANYTHING and He is the Source of Peace. Some days feel like they’re out of control, but I Serve a God who holds the whole world in the palm of His Hands and He Controls it all. No matter the burdens we “carry”, pain is self-inflicted when we attempt to do what only God can do. My God is bigger! What a great reminder straight from the Throne of my Mighty and Merciful God this morning that all I ever need to do is to Turn to His Word for Direction and to the Holy Spirit for Guidance. This is the secret to Peace and Strength no matter what.

I’m Refreshed, I’m Strengthened and I’m Restored this morning despite the long list of things needing to be done ONLY BECAUSE I turned to my Source. Thank you, God. Thank you, David. All the “pressing down” I was succumbing to was self-inflicted AND from the pit of Hell intended to discourage me. But the liar from Hell doesn’t stand a chance with someone like me because my soul pants for the King like a deer pants for water and as long as I’m chasing after Jesus, I’ll always be Victorious.

How about you?

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91:14-16

Be Still…He’s Waiting For You!

/ www.LivingLarger.life

Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. My first thought was of the Living God when I opened my eyes this morning – He’s my first thought and my Biggest Priority in this Journey called life. I couldn’t wait to get in His presence so I headed out to the front porch eager to see what He had in store on this new day. What I saw took my breath away and it prepared me to sit in the presence of my Mighty God. I went from feeling “small” and insignificant in the big scheme of things to Praising the One Who Created me for His Purpose and Who Calls me by name! Hallejulah! Just like everybody else, there are plenty of other things I could choose to be doing in the early hours of any new day, but NOTHING compares to being in His Presence. His Word says to “be still and know that I am God” and it’s that “still” part that feeds my soul the most – more than Christian music playing in the background or a long walk to commune with His creation – it’s when we’re “still” that He is able to drive a Message home, and it’s when we’re “still” that He can Speak directly to the Heart of His people with no outward distractions at all. So, “still” I am day after day. Isn’t that the way you spend your morning too?

It’s interesting to hear how some people define their “quiet time” with God. Some people have a Bible reading plan to help them stay on track to read the entire Bible from start to finish and they never venture off track on their own. Some people put on Christian music while they prepare breakfast for the family and somehow in the middle of morning chaos, they believe they’ve had quiet time with the King. Some people read a page or two from a devotional and call it a day. Some people dedicate time to homework for a Bible study they’ve committed to and they label that as “quiet time” instead of extra credit. Some people read a chapter or two from a book written by a Christian author and that becomes “quiet time” for them. Some tune into a sermon on TV or on the Internet and they’ve sold themselves on the quality of their quiet time in their recliner. Some people multi-task by listening to a spiritual message while they work out at the gym or take an early morning walk or run. Some pray on their way to work or listen to a spiritual message along the way. There’s absolutely NOTHING wrong with any of these things because each one is an effort to fill the mind and the soul with Good things. BUT none of these things can be defined as “quiet time” and none of them leave room to “be still” before the Living God. None of them make room for those miraculous moments when God unexpectedly “shows up” in the quiet. Although God is always with us, and I’m sure He likes some of those attempts we take to fill our world with Him, I believe He likes it best when everything else in the world is set aside and tuned out and He gets some SERIOUS one-on-one time with His child in the quiet.

I’m just an average woman with an above-average Faith in the Living God and the Priorities in my very busy Life are in order. He’s my FIRST priority and it shows in all that I am and all that I do! It’s because of Him that I know how to Love. It’s because of Him that my Faith is unshakable. It’s because of Him that I Persevere no matter what. It’s because of Him that I hurt for the Lost ones and I do my part to Share. It’s because of Him that I have a Future laid out for me that is more beautiful than the mind can imagine – a place where there is no more sickness, sadness, or pain. With all that said, WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD I NOT make time to sit in silence before the Throne of a Mighty God? There is no doubt about Who my Heart belongs to. There’s no competing with my time because my world Knows that He comes first. I’ll always have a mile-long list of things to do and I’m (at least) as busy as the next guy, BUT before I get busy on any new day, I get “still” and in those “still” moments the world isn’t even a blip on my radar screen. He gets the One-on-one time that He tells me I need in order to live the Life He Created me to live. The King of all kings WANTS to spend time with His child and there is no greater Joy in my Life because of it. I’m being still.

How about you?