Do you need to recharge your spiritual batteries? A Proverbs 31 Woman Wannabe is the place to do it. We welcome all and strive to love all with true agape love.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV
While the verse above is not what yesterday's sermon was about, nevertheless, yesterday's sermon in church spoke to me. We were studying one of the miracles of Jesus. This was the third week of a six week series on the miracles of Jesus. You can listen here, if you so choose. (The sermon notes are also available here, if you want them.) It wasn't so much the miracle that Jesus performed, and that which was the sermon topic that had me thinking, so much as the fact that we all have wounds that keep us from being our very best, and more than just a beautiful mess.
All of us bring old wounds into the present on a consistent basis. In some instances, it clouds our judgement, and in others, it's just a minor irritating reminder. Having been married before, and having a husband that was married before, I can guarantee that there have been "ghosts" of the past that have haunted our marriage. I also know that my childhood has brought many such wounds.
One such circumstance happened the other day. My husband was playing around with me, and lifted his arm as though he was going to swipe at me, and I involuntarily flinched. Now, I know without a doubt that my husband would never hit me, but my old wounds from childhood have caused me to flinch at even a hint of violence.
I relate this story to you, because I think many of us flinch away from asking God for anything, because we don't want to be hurt. We shy away from any amount of brokenness and dependence, because we don't want to be vulnerable. We don't want anyone to take away our sense of being able to take care of ourselves. Even when common sense tells us we can't. And even when our faith tells us we must. So today, I pray that we will all learn how to be broken, before Our Lord, knowing that He will never harm us, and He will never forsake us. Isn't that a beautiful thought?! Knowing always that there is One that we can always depend on, One that always has our best in mind.
--Lord, thank you for seeing me as more than just a beautiful mess. Thank you for having plans for me. Thank you for being a God we all can depend upon. Lord, I thank you for taking my old wounds, and causing them to make me pause and think of You. Thank you for healing my old wounds, and making them just a slight scar of a reminder. May I always, rest in You. I pray these things in Jesus' Holy Name. Amen
First, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and well wishes, and ask that you continue to pray for us. This pregnancy is not viable; and in fact, there is no baby in my womb. Only the gestational sac. I will be taking medication tonight to help my body to flush it out itself, so that prayerfully, I won't have to have another D&C. I also ask for your prayers for next time. We will be trying again in a few months. Until then, thank you again for your prayers for this pregnancy, and know that my faith has not been shaken at all. Though I'm not happy, I know that God's will is always what is best for me. I may not always know the reasons, but I don't have to. I don't know whether I'll feel up to posting tomorrow or not. I'll either be in pain or drugged up from the pain killers. So we will see. Blessings to all of you. Jesus loves you and so do I.
Blog Owner's Note: Though I don't ordinarily post other author's devotions on my blog anymore, I'm doing so today because I have a friend that could use this message. I'm hoping that they visit my blog today, and that it helps clear some things up. Now on to the Devotional:
Change. It comes to all of us on our journey. Some of the changes we embrace heartily and with anticipation. Other changes are more difficult.
Being God's children we know He has a plan for our lives. Yet at times we long to know... does it include this move, this change? Sometimes we have a hard time figuring it out. Is this an opportunity from the hand of God? Can we know His will for our lives for sure?
As we seek to know God's will we find that His word reveals fresh insight.
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
When we know nothing else of God's will, we do know these three things. We are to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful! The perplexity of our anxious wondering can hinder these things in our lives. Joy fades when fear and anxiousness creep in. When God seems silent on a matter we can find our prayers dwindling. The attitude of gratitude is hard to maintain as we worry about making the right choice.
We choose. In every change and every uncertain step... we choose. Either we continue to stew about what God's will is...or we embrace what we already know is His will as taught right from His Word. We ask Him to cultivate in us a thankful spirit, a joyful heart and a prayerful attitude.
Over time the way becomes clear. God shows us that He is more interested in our internal state than in our external location. Once we get His perspective, peace can settle into the soul. He can be trusted to open and close the right doors.
Make a conscious effort to ask the Holy Spirit to help you to be joyful and thankful today. These are not our natural reactions in situations of uncertainty.
~Father God, In the midst of the uncertainty of my life I ask that You would help me to make the most important change...the change in me. I ask that You would help me to have a joyful attitude, a thankful spirit and a praying heart. Work in me by the power of Your Holy Spirit today. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
