Treasures of the heart

Matthew 6:21,

²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I had someone say these words to me recently and it has taken me a few weeks to mediate on them. I suddenly realized that there is a huge possibility that the main struggle in my life is a direct result of not fully laying down and giving over my heart to the Lord. It isn’t as if I have not tracked down this road with God before, I guess I was just taken back at the fact that even though I have come so far, I still have so far to go. Why do I have such a hard time FULLY trusting God with everything? What do I have to gain in believing that I have one ounce of control over this life other than who I choose to serve and the way I choose to live it?

These treasures are not mine, they are His, and until I am willing to unleash the tight grip I have over them then I will not experience the fullness of what this treasure has to offer. I’m exhausted and frustrated and maybe even a little bitter about it but ultimately I have no one to blame here but myself.

The Bible tells us over and over again how we are to live, it’s time we stop applying this only to the areas of our life that least inconvenience us.

I have been obsessed with time lately, ok for the past 3 or 4 years. I am often debilitated by the fear of something happening to these treasures or worried that if I release an inch of them I will somehow miss out on something. Time is such a tricky thing, it can heal but it can also fill you with regret if it goes by too fast. I love the verse that says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day, 2 Peter 3:8”.

Eternity is hard to grasp, isn’t it? What seems so permanent here is so temporal to God. Living in the fullness of the Freedom in Christ only becomes a reality when we are willing to lay down the control, the fear and the distrust…and honestly don’t we have enough to worry about without carrying around all of that?

 Matthew 6:19-21 says, 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 For each of us this represents different things. For some of you it is wealth or materialistic things (been there), for others it may be relationships and lifestyles, for many of us it is our children. A friend’s sister was just told that her daughter’s cancer has returned after being in remission for three years and the doctors have told them to be prepared to let her go. I can’t even type that without being covered with chills and tears in my eyes. Don’t think for a minute that their treasure is not that precious child.

There are many more things that I could list here that we harbor up in our hearts. All of them need to be entrusted to Jesus, it’s unfortunate because it is hard but we can be thankful for it because there is freedom in that.

If you had a window into the crevasses of your heart what would you find there? Aren’t you tired of trying to hold onto the slippery grip of life? Where your treasure is there your heart will be too…where is yours?

 

His grace is sufficient

I have spent the last year or so compiling notes on a personal study on Freedom.  It has been life changing for me because this not only has been my struggle, but still is my struggle to some degree. The last few weeks I have been really dissecting the difference between Fear VS. Faith. The interesting part, and what has really blown my mind, is the simplicity of what God says about it, freedom that is. F R E E D O M.

This morning I watched one of Beth Moore's DVD lessons on Esther and before the sun fully came up I had a revelation (it was really hard for me to not capitalize that and put spaces in it like I did freedom, but I'm trying to take my enthusiasm down a notch, you're welcome). Here is what Beth said.  

I'm phrasing, "God's grace is given according to our needs not according to our fears, NOT for our vain imaginations." Please tell me that some of you had to stop and read that again. In other words (my words not Beth's), when I am struggling with a stronghold of fear and for the life of me cannot figure out why God is not delivering me from it I have to stop and ask this question. "Lord is this me and my amped up flesh seeking imagination or are you giving me discernment and warning me of something?" I seriously could end my research on freedom right here.

Here is my experience. Since this topic hits home for me I can almost always relate when someone is fearful over something. I can literally walk into a situation and in my mind lay out the top two worst possible scenarios that could happen, anybody else? But here is what God revealed to me today through Beth. As I sat in my chair thinking about her words I felt God press these words into my spirit, "I have delivered you from this thing, but you are failing to believe it, and to receive it, and to stand in the truth of it and to TRUST me." Can you just breathe a huge sigh of relief with me?!

The things we dream up or work ourselves up over are legitimate feelings, but listen to this one...they are not necessarily a legitimate threat or concern. They can be a threat alright, right from the enemies mouth but for God's children it has no power.

In 2 Corinthians 7-10, Paul says this about The Thorn in the Flesh,

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. ⁸ Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. ⁹ And He said to me,  “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

Let me say that I do not always believe that when I am dealing with something in the area of fear that it is always from the enemy. I believe that God equips us with a healthy dose of concern and worry mixed with common sense. Really, I'm not wanting to so much call it worry, more spiritual discernment or a God given awareness. Life is hard and this world is crazy, we would be naive to not be aware.

Maybe for you it is the thought of something happening to your children or your spouse, or loved ones. If you have experienced anything like my family has where for the past 3 years we have buried a family member a year, than you understand the constant worry of what is next...who is next. Or maybe the fear is over yourself, you may have health issues that constantly haunt you as to what the future will hold or just the constant worry of the big "C" word Cancer.

There are times where God gives me discernment over something specific and believe me I know it when it comes from him. But then there are other times where my mind runs crazy, I can't sleep or focus and hang here with me I have even cried over the visions that enemy has flashed before me. Listen, Satan doesn't even have to carry the whole scenario through with me, I am perfectly capable of grabbing onto it and just giving way to it, can anyone else relate? That my friend is what Beth was talking about in here lesson over fear. In those moments where I am consumed by the "threat" of something that is so farfetched or so unnecessary I have to stand up and STOP it dead in its tracks. Because God says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

His grace will cover our needs, and our faith and trust that we put in Jesus will cover our vain imaginations. The second part takes practice, and defiantly something that takes utilizing and getting use to.

Last year I went through a time of horrific nightmares. I mean to the point that I went to my Pastor and two women who are mentors to me for prayer. Those dreams were absolutely some of my worst fears come true, and looked even worse than I could have imagined.

A couple of months ago I was talking to a friend about them and she asked me this question, "If the enemy cannot be in you, for once you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then how can you explain having these dreams?" In other words how could they be from the enemy?

I took me a few days to answer her because honestly I hadn't looked at it like that. So I took the question to God and this is what I sent her.

As weird as this sounds I think the dreams were from God. I know that sounds a little strange but in every single dream I was victorious by the power I have in the Holy Spirit that dwells within me no matter the situation.

I also believe that God allowed me to have these dreams to forewarn me on how I need not to get stagnate or complacent in my walk with Him. I believe he was showing me how important it is to be guarded and prepared at all times. Plus, I think God wanted me to see that dealing with the enemy is a part of life. Although it seems terrifying and something that I wish at times was not so evident and felt so real, that ultimately the devil has no power or authority over my life.

Maybe for me this is my thorn in my flesh. Who knows, but at times it sure feels like it. All I know is that whatever it is when I feel the presence of fear crawling up over me like a thick winding vine I need to hit my knees first. Before the first vivid scene that my vain imagination is ready to project, before my heart drops into the pit of my stomach and certainly before I allow it to go so far that I feel God has abandon me in delivering me from it. We have to stop making up and receiving these lies from our flesh and from the enemy. Period.

I've often asked God why I deal with fear to the extent that I do. I even went to counseling over this very thing, even my counselor told me that I knew what to do about it, it was just whether or not I would be willing to trust God over it.

Paul's thorn was impart to keep him humble, couldn't that be true for all of us.

I believe that one of the major reasons for my thorn is the constant reminder to trust Him. To somehow be willing to lay down the control and to give into the willingness to be taught. To keep me humble and focused on Him, to teach me to be equipped and yet to fully rely on Him.   

 

I wish I could hear your thoughts on this one. So many different situations and real life tragedies. So much brokenness and yet the willingness of a Sovereign God to cover you with his grace. His grace is sufficient for you my friend, he promises to cover your needs.

 

Be blessed

 

What If

What if... What if God is so he says he is and Jesus is the risen King, what if everything the Bible says is really true, what if you can't do it all on your own and turns out you really do need a Savior...what if? 

For those of you who know me or have ever read a post on this blog before know my stance on this but I wonder about yours. What if today you happened upon this blog and it was written just for you, what if God wants to show you that the "What Ifs" that are swirling around in your mind right now are an invitation from him to search and see for yourself...what if?

There are at least 200 questions I could list off the top of my head that I ask myself often. Questions full of doubt and uncertainty, and then I switch gears and have the questions that fill me with hope and wonder. What if God isn't who he says he is...but what if he is?

I am doing a Bible study that recently challenged us to look at conditional faith, for example: I will be a Christian as long as XY&Z do not happen or I will follow Jesus as long as things go as planned or if Jesus really loved me he would have never let ___________happen. It was such an eye opener. I have looked a "conditional love" before but never applied that to "conditional faith", oh how this has changed some things for me.

Before we move further let me ask you something, Are you saved? I'm smiling sitting here typing this thinking about how many of you are answering YES! Praise God and hang in here with me, what about those of you who aren't sure or flat out said no? My question to both of you is, Why? Why is it so important to you that you are saved, and why is it not important to those of you who aren't? Something for us to really ponder on, isn't it? Maybe this would be a good time for us to take a few minutes before reading further and give this question our full attention.

Why am I saved? Because God saved me. You may wonder how I felt about this question when it was asked to me 10 years ago. I'll be honest, it just wasn't that important to me. I mean being a good person and wanting to go to heaven vs. hell seemed to strike a cord within me but the effort that it required seemed to water down the reality of the value that being a Christian held. Funny how I seem to choose the hard way to learn everything.

What if you read this today and it doesn't change a single thing about the way you feel. Maybe you agree with this new age society that we are ultimately our own god and that our destiny is our own. Or maybe you are analytical and think it's more practical to take on the scientific views on creation and evolution. Or perhaps you turn on the news and take one good look at this world and think, "Why would I ever serve a God that would allow all of this to happen"? Are believers really foolish and naive or is there something intriguing there that you just can't put your finger on. 

Would go with me here for a second a let me suggest something? What if you have been influenced and lied to by your one true enemy and mislead into a sea of doubt and watered down importance over Jesus. And then what if I could promise you that not just eventually but certainly it will take you under, completely under...what if?

If God really is who he says he is then we can be certain that when we breathe our last breath here on this earth we will meet our Maker, our Judge (James 4:12). Let me just suggest that this would not be the time that you would want your "What Ifs" to be "Oh no's" because then my friend, it is too late. 

I want so badly for you to know His love the way I do. I could write pages and pages full of the life that was breathed into me. I could share such intricate stories of my walk with Him to you, and I do in part, but what I want you to think about is what that would look like for you. Yes, I know at first that seems odd but it is not, odd would be living without it, actually odd would not even accurately describe what it would be like to live without it, desolation may come close. 

You see for so long I wasn't sure that God really was who he said he was, actually I didn't really even know who it was that he was claiming to be. Then one day I faced a fork in the road, crossroads that would change my future, the future of my decreasing tomorrow and in that moment I met Him. Standing there with the weight of my future and the heaviness of my past, I felt so alone, so empty...then there Jesus was.

So do you believe me or do you think that I was just lucky or that good to have chosen the right path?

Here's the deal, We have to have faith without conditions. We then have to stand firm in our faith and then do the hardest thing that I personally have ever been faced with, at all costs, we have to believe it. 

Trust me, there are times that I still have doubt and I always thank God for that because buried in the depth of that doubt lies the answer and the balm to my wounds. For me my "What Ifs" are turned to "I believe", why you ask...because I do. I can tell you that there are still many things in life that I face uncertainty over, but to ask me whether or not I believe in God & if I know Jesus will never be one of them. This personal relationship isn't some made up, make believe, put all you eggs in one basket and hope for the best kind of story. It is surrendering you heart and your life to the one who created you, it's about learning to love with the love that Christ has given you and it is about living free. 

What would our churches, our communities and our Nation look like if we got off of the fence and were just honest with God over our doubts and fears? What if our doubt of who He is and wondering if He is real was given over to believing that He is. And not just believing it but seeking Him to find out. Wouldn't we see a generation rising up to take its place for the good and not evil? Wouldn't we love one another in a way that every life has meaning and wouldn't we take seriously the part we are to play here and embrace our calling with a whole new vision? What if my friend...what if...

I pray that those of you who read these words will seek Jesus today in a way like never before. There is just nothing more important. I am tempted to wait to post this to edit it and add some Scripture, but I feel too much of an urgency that someone out there needs to read this.

I promise you that your life will never be the same if you commit it to Jesus. I know a few of you want to run after hearing that but it's the truth. There are so many things that change within you, for instance I will never look at the trees and nature the same, nor will I ever be able to see the hurting without a part of my heart hurting with them. My eyes have been opened to new things, my spirit recognizes the importance of grace and love, even during those times when my flesh feels differently.

A friend posted a chorus of one of my favorite songs and I went to my phone and played it at least 3 times after I read the chorus. You see I am sitting here in the hospital waiting for my grandmother to get out of surgery. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't let my fear get the best of me, after all it was just this time last year that we lost my Papa. But after I listened to the words I'm about type I felt the peace of His love and wisdom all around me.

Already all I need, Christy Nockels 

Asking where You are, Lord,

Wondering where you've been 

Is like standing in a hurricane, trying to find the wind

And hoping for Your mercy to meet me where I am

Is forgetting that Your thoughts for me outnumber the sand

You filled the sun with morning light

You bud the moon to lead the night

You clothe the Lillie's bright and beautiful

You're already all I need

Already everything that I could hope for

you're already all I need

You've already set me free 

already making me more like You

You're already all I need

Jesus

Already all I need

Walking through this life without your freedom in my heart

Is like holding on to shackles that You have torn apart

So remind me of Your promises and all that You have done

In this world I will have trouble

But you have overcome

And every gift that I receive You determine just for me

But nothing I desire compares to You...

How I pray that you seek Him, I'm almost jealous because I want to hear your stories. 

Will Jesus meet you right where you are today? Will He change your life and build your core so full of love and faith that life as you knew it will never be the same? Yes He will, and once you know him you would lay it all down on the line just to know Him more.

He loves you so much, seek Him...

The powerful Word of God

Psalm 25

 To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
² O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.

As New Testament believers we are called to love our enemies and hate our one true enemy, the devil and his principalities of darkness. To me this gives the Psalm a whole new meaning for us in looking at our enemy.

^{Psalm 25:3-5} Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

⁴ Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
⁵ Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

Anyone else out of sheer desperation and exhaustion feel like they are waiting upon the LORD all of your days?

Isaiah 40:28-30, Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.
²⁹ He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
³⁰ Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
³¹ But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

Amen

^{Psalm 25:6-7} Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses,
For they are from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

We are never at a higher risk for the enemy to use guilt on us as we are when we are burdened by our burdens…if the sin has been repented of and you have asked for forgiveness and turned from it than you have been set free from it.

1 John 1:8-10,⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

^{Psalm 25:8-11} Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
⁹ The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
¹⁰ All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
¹¹ For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

Here David is not only reflecting back on his own sinfulness but he is expressing his desire for God to teach him. Listen, we need to be willing to be teachable.

Proverbs 1:7 says, the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

^{Psalm 25:12-15} Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
¹³ He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
¹⁴ The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Anyone else been trapped in the net?

I want to share with you something personally because I believe that many of you will relate to this. I am in a season, a very long season of dealing with something.

This isn’t really something new that I am dealing with, quite honestly I am pretty accustom to dealing with this specific thing but this time I know it is different. In fact it fell so heavy upon me this time that I made the decision to seek counseling over it.

At me 2^nd session with my counselor I poured out my heart over this and I said, “You know if I just had a name for this I feel like I could conquer it.” We talked about spiritual warfare for a bit and then she said what you are dealing with here is much more than just an annoyance or circumstance, you are dealing with an AFFLICATION.

As weird as this sounds I was pumped for I finally had a name for it.

¹⁶ Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am desolate and afflicted.

The NIV versions says, “Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

About a week after I had my big epiphany over my Affliction I sat down early one morning to watch Beth Moore on Lifetoday. As I grabbed for my coffee I heard her say that today’s lesson was over Trouble vs. Affliction.

I’m sure my mouth hit the floor. I knew that it was no mistake for me to be watching that morning. God knew I needed a word on it and he gave me one.

Beth had us open our Bibles to Psalm 25 and by memory she read it to us. When she got to vs. 16 where it says, Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted, I choked up.

How many of us have experienced the loneliness of our Affliction? Because here’s the deal. We are either going through an affliction, coming out of one and headed into one. I know that may sound negative and disappointing but this is what I believe to be truth.

I can connect the 3 or 4 areas in my life that this Affliction is connected to or that it directly affects. So what happens is this, I am more aware of the things surrounding these areas, I am more faithful in my commitment to pray over these areas, but too I am more protective and sometimes that protection turns into idolism.  Do you understand what I’m saying?

In other words I am obsessed over these areas because of the distrust I have and the doubt I have in God over them. I not only deal with those things but I also cross up the boundary lines between where God and I stand. It shouldn’t be war lines, I need to get behind him.

Here is where the enemy gets me. I can feel that I am praying and laying these things down at the foot of the cross and seeking and discerning God but truly in my heart I am harboring doubt that I will be set free from bondage that I am in.

In those moments of doubt, which is really unbelief, the enemy suits up and takes his shot at me, whether it be a dream, a horrible thought or visual, an overwhelming fear or the common “what if”, when I allow the enemy to overtake my thoughts he recognizes those weak areas and he pounces on them. John 10:10 says, The thief (the devil) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Are there any of you that can relate? Anyone else deal with the mental spiritual battle with the enemy?

So my question for us is this, How do we stop this mental warfare?

Galatians 5:1 says, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

So the 1^st thing we are going to do is:

1.    Stand firm in the Freedom that we have through Christ and refuse to be enslaved by it.

Philippians 4:6-7 says,

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

2.    Get down on our knees in prayer and seek his counsel

Hebrews 4:12 says,

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

*Memorize Scripture & Speak it!

3. Silence the enemy with the POWERFUL Word of God

Listen, if you have not ever memorized Scripture this is your encouragement to do so. I have a 7 year old and a 4 year old who memorize Scripture way better than I do so if they can do it you and I can.

Here is why this is such a valuable asset and weapon for us especially in dealing with warfare. Instead of fueling the battle/fire with doubt and fear we fight back with the ALL powerful, FULLY alive and active Word of God. It looks like this:

When we feel the enemy attacking us here in our mind we need to enter into this battle armed. We need to STAND FIRM IN OUR FREEDOM IN CHRIST, SEEK GOD IMMEDIATELY AND SILENCE THE ENEMY WITH THE POWERFUL WORD OF GOD.

Because here’s the deal, Jesus has already won the battle, we are his, the victory is his and He crushes the enemy under our feet. The enemy just wants to try and make us believe that it is all a lie.

^{Psalm 25:17-18} The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!
¹⁸ Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.

^{Psalm 25:19-22} Consider my enemies, for they are many;
And they hate me with cruel hatred.
²⁰ Keep my soul, and deliver me;
Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
²¹ Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.

²² Redeem Israel, O God,
Out of all their troubles!

2 Tim 1:7, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Sometimes in our Affliction and trouble God brings out things that need to be dealt with. For me he has shown me some things that I need forgiveness over and some things that I need to forgive, he has shown me sin that needs to be dealt with and some healing that needs to take place before I am able to walk through it victoriously.

One thing that Beth had mentioned in her series on this that has really stuck with me is, God can either deliver from these Afflictions or God can take our very affliction and deliver us through them. Once I realized that and bent the knee to it, I asked him to keep me right where I am even though it is hard and uncomfortable and painful, until I can receive full redemption over it. Because when I walk through it this time, so help me, I will be fully REDEEMED!!!

Isaiah 43:1, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.

Turn to me LORD, for I am lonely and afflicted.

Psalm 34:7

The “angel of the LORD” encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

We are studying Psalms 34 this week and I keep reflecting back on that verse. I love it, I knew it but somehow reading those words today gave me chills. The “angel of the LORD” encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh yes he does.

I wonder what we would do differently if we truly believed that he is surrounding us at all times, that the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and His ears are open to their cry. That when the righteous cry out He hears them and delivers them out of all of their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart and he saves them. (taken from Psalm 34:15, 17-18).

Who out there can think of something that they are currently troubled by? What if I told you that there is happiness for those who trust in God through these times, and all other times.

For me there is a “trouble” that reoccurs often in my life. It is a deep sensitive place within me and when it resurfaces I had better be prepared for an all-out war of my mind. I have to stand firm on the true Word of God or before I even know it I will be dealing with a strong nasty affliction in my life. Our mind is a battle field and if we aren’t willing to take ALL our thoughts captive to Christ we are running a high risk for failure and subjection to affliction.

I often record Beth Moore’s lessons on Life Today. I had already been dealing with this “trouble” that had resurfaced but knew this time that it had become much more than a trouble or inconvenience currently in my life. I sat down last Wednesday and turned on her show only to hear her speaking on trouble vs. affliction. It was one of those moments where you go…Did I somehow tell her this??? Of course we know that this is just how God works sometimes. I was dealing with an affliction and God knew I needed to hear a good word on it, and a good word I did receive.

It was one of those lessons that you grab your pen and paper and take note of every verse and application that is offered, a lesson that sticks with you and helps you along the process. I’ve sought Counseling over this affliction, which has been amazing, and tons and tons of prayer but sometimes God just gives you a word straight out of the mouth of someone who has received victory over it to give you the hope you need to stick it out.

As I mentioned before we are studying Psalm 34 in our Bible Study this week and I cannot tell you how often I have said out loud, “I will bless you LORD at all times, your praise shall continually be in my mouth”. For the “angel of the LORD” encamps me for I fear you and you deliver me! (Yes I changed it up a bit and added the exclamation mark but I think you get the picture).

I have to tell you that I am so overwhelmed by looking at this world. The sickness and tragedies within our community alone are too much to process. I usually make it through about 10 minutes of the news in the morning before it ruins my coffee and I grab the remote to turn on one of the kid’s shows. I don’t want to be ignorant with what is going on but I don’t want to be so consumed with it that I see no good, no love and no God.

I am thankful that today I am reminded that He encamps us who fears him and delivers us. He hears our cries and heals the broken hearted…what are we waiting for? What are some of us waiting for in our Spiritual walk with Him? What are we so bound up in that we can’t bend the knee and lay it all down to Him? If we were being honest with ourselves most of us would say that we aren’t doing a really great job of it on our own.

What idols have we placed above him? I am so guilty of this and have to monitor this one all the time. Where does the pride come from that makes us believe we don’t need him? Most of us have been there, some of us stayed there long enough to know that we will never turn back to it.  

Psalm 25 says,

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
² O my God, I trust in You;
Let me not be ashamed;
Let not my enemies triumph over me.
³ Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

⁴ Show me Your ways, O Lord;
Teach me Your paths.
⁵ Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day.

⁶ Remember, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your loving kindnesses,
For they are from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions;
According to Your mercy remember me,
For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.

⁸ Good and upright is the Lord;
Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.
⁹ The humble He guides in justice,
And the humble He teaches His way.
¹⁰ All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth,
To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
¹¹ For Your name’s sake, O Lord,
Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

¹² Who is the man that fears the Lord?
Him shall He^[a] teach in the way He^[b] chooses.
¹³ He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
And his descendants shall inherit the earth.
¹⁴ The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,
And He will show them His covenant.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
For He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

¹⁶ Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me,
For I am desolate and afflicted.
¹⁷ The troubles of my heart have enlarged;
Bring me out of my distresses!
¹⁸ Look on my affliction and my pain,
And forgive all my sins.
¹⁹ Consider my enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred.
²⁰ Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.
²¹ Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You.

²² Redeem Israel, O God,
Out of all their troubles!

This is the passage of Scripture that Beth used in her lesson on trouble vs. affliction. I put it on an index card and have kept it close by for the last 6 days. I pray that if any of this speaks to you that you will do the same.

There is but one way out of the trouble and the afflictions that we will face in this life, and make no mistake you will face them. You can go through this life depending upon yourself as your savior, or you can turn to Jesus and have the troubles of your heart redeemed. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13.