another mess

Wednesday, October 30, 2013 (6:10 a.m.)

Good morning Blessed Father,

I made another mess the other day. An extremely goopy, “I don't even know what this is” kind of mess. I was tired. I had done too much. Pushed too hard. And then that. What even was it?

The glory here is... I didn't panic. I looked at it. Felt it. Even smelled it. And still had no idea. So I did something I rarely do. I left it alone and went to sleep.

Blessed Father God, how I thank You for the work You are doing to allow me that decision. The phrase, “When you don't know what to do don't do anything” came to mind. Followed immediately by the counter phrase, “When you don't know what to do, PRAY!” So I did.

Somewhere through the night I was reminded of a cleaning bar in the garage I might still have (thank You that I did). Try that. I did. And then hand washed the item. Thank You Father, it worked! There is nary a trace.

What I am most excited about is not the stain removal, though that IS a plus. I'm truly rejoicing in the lack of panic. YOU provided that calm in me.

It truly IS You at work here among us. The other night when the snide comment went south, we could very easily have gone even deeper into old patterns. Even though there was an air of civility, You wanted Truth and didn't let me fully rest until I gave it to You.

Thank You Father. Thank You that while things in this world don't always go as we would have them, YOU never change! You are our Standard. We get to come before You with the most mundane affairs. Beseeching, “Tell me what to do, O Lord, and make it plain because...” (Psalm 27:11).

You are HERE for us to call our hearts out to! The Life Recovery Bible comment for verses 11-14 reminds us that when temptations press in around us “we need more than ever to learn how God wants us to act in the midst of such troubles. He wants to become the stabilizing factor in our life. Apart from Him we have no power against the things that once put us in bondage. We must determine, one day at a time, to follow God, patiently and confidently waiting for Him to protect and lead us.”

It reads so simply. Yeah. Just do this. Of course. And then I take a look back up to the verses and another sense of calm settles in all around me.

Verses 13-14, “I am expecting the Lord to rescue me again, so that once again I will see His goodness to me here in the land of the living. Don't be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and He will come and save you! Be brave, stouthearted, and courageous. Yes, wait and He will help You.”

Blessed Father, just when I thought there was no more to add, there's this from the Illustrated Bible Handbook. “Psalm 27. A prayer of confidence in God, on whose person David's whole being is concentrated.”

Mm. Yes. Father. That IS how I want to live my life! With my whole being concentrated on You. Thank You for another mess in which to practice turning to and trusting You. Thank You Father.

Use me well this day I pray. Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(578 words ~ 7:42 a.m.)