A friend of mine shared the following devotional with me today. I want to share it with you. This is from Sarah Young's book Jesus Calling
"Find me in the midst of the maelstrom. Sometimes events whirl around you so quickly that they become a blur. Whisper My Name in recognition that I am still with you. Without skipping a beat in the activities that occupy you, you find strength and Peace through praying My Name. Later, when the happenings have run their course, you can talk with Me more fully.
Accept each day just as it comes to you. Do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances. Instead, trust Me enough to yield to My design and purposes. Remember that nothing can separate you from My loving Presence; you are Mine."
What an awesome assurance that we cannot be separated from God's love and presence - we are His. What an awesome promise that we can call out to God and know that He is walking with us - leading us - carrying us - healing us. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 73:21-28 (HCS)
When I became embittered
and my innermost being was wounded, I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward You.
Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me up in glory Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever. Those far from You will certainly perish;
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all You do.
and my innermost being was wounded, I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward You.
Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me up in glory Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever. Those far from You will certainly perish;
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all You do.
I am so incredibly blessed with the promise that God will not leave me. He will hold my right hand. He will be my counsels. When my heart fails, God is my strength, and my portion. There is a song, You are my Shield or Make me Glad, that reminded me of these promises many years ago when Cliff was in Africa and I was in Richmond, Va attending a Beth Moore Simulcast. The song reinforces the passage from Psalm 73 that I mentioned above. Here are the lyrics from Hillsong United
I will bless the Lord forever,
And I will trust Him at all times.
He has delivered me from all things,
And He has set my feet upon the Rock.
I will not be moved, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.
Whom have I in Heaven but you.
There's no one I desire beside You.
You have made me glad, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.
My very present help in time of need.
My very present help in time of need.
And I will trust Him at all times.
He has delivered me from all things,
And He has set my feet upon the Rock.
I will not be moved, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.
Whom have I in Heaven but you.
There's no one I desire beside You.
You have made me glad, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.
My very present help in time of need.
My very present help in time of need.
So, when my heart becomes embittered or grieved I have a hope! I have a promise of God's love, peace, counsel, and strength. He is my portion, forever!
I have a hard time remembering the time that I did not trust God and He was not my life. It makes me so sad to think of it now and I still cry before Him very often to think how I must have grieved Him.
ReplyDeleteNow when times are hard or sad and I try to figure out what is going on or how will things turn out, I know that whatever or however things go that He is sovereign and I trust Him. Without any doubt in my mind I know because of Him I can make it through because I believe that He will never leave me and I have experienced His love and comfort and I do have hope.
In my distress I called to the Lord, and He answered me...I called for help and you listened to me my cry. Jonah 2:2
That's how I feel that when I wasn't faithful He was still there ready to help me. It overwhemes me sometimes when I think of His goodness and mercy and I am so undeserving. Yes He is so deserving of our praise and worship. I don't fall down or get on my knees as often as I should because my knees hurt but you know that is going to change, surely I can suffer a little pain for the One who has loved me and given me so much and only asks for my love and obedience. Praise His holy name!
Angie