Belief / Faith

Saturday January 12, 2019 (3:45 a.m.)

(5:55 a.m.)

Let’s try this again. Good morning God. Thank You for the rain outside.

And now I smile. Breathe deeply. Rest. Ponder. And trust. Mm, yes. I trust You Father. Thank You.

I honestly couldn’t understand the singing I was doing earlier. ♪The Octopus’ Garden♪ wasn’t what I wanted to bring to You. It just wouldn’t leave.

As I sit here with coffee in hand, bibles and hymnals on my lap, again I thank You. Thank You that I get to learn more about Belief/Faith (Illustrated Bible Handbook).

In The Garden (John 20:20)

this day

Friday, January 11, 2019 (5:50 a.m.)

Holy God,

Good morning. It’s early. Sleep was interrupted. Often. Guide me this morning. This day.

Yes. This day which You have made. The one in which I will rejoice and be glad (Psalm 118:24). Mm. Yes.

With that Truth comes a smile. A sense of well being. Thank You Father.

Deep breath. Big smile. Grateful heart. Yes Father, this day.

Thank You that I get to turn to so many different versions of Psalm 118:24. All at one time.

You never cease to amaze me Father. I look to You. Thinking we’ll go together in one direction. Next thing I know, “Whoosh!” we’re some place else entirely.

Rejoicing and being glad. Celebrating. Being happy. Festive. Joyful. Full of joy. 

“This is the very day of the Lord that brings gladness and joy, filling our hearts with glee” (The Passion Translation). Glee? Delight. Pleasure. Mirth. Merriment. Amusement. Excitement. Gaiety. Theses are not words that usually describe me.

Looking further into Your Word, I find this one important word difference in Lexham English Bible. Other versions refer to the day, LEB says, “This is the day Yahweh has worked; let us rejoice and be glad in Him.” Hm… Not just the day ~ YOU!

Yes Father. I long to rejoice and be glad in You! Celebrating, being happy in You.

I love You Father. I long to be the woman You would have me be. Do all You must. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(253 words ~ 8:09a.m.)

coming back to my senses

Thursday, January 10, 2019 (6:10 a.m.)

Holy God,

Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

I got to have more sleep. More thoughts. More singing. And then, more smiles.

While awakening, I felt as though I was truly coming back to my senses. Speak with me please as to what this actually means.

Oh most dear and holy God, as I sit here breathing in deeply I am so very aware of the peace I experience while reading Your Word. Thank You Father.

I confess to You Lord, there were days that I had honestly lost heart. My confidence was sorely shaken. I fell back to trying to do things in my own strength and power. Thank You for never letting go of me.

In all the twisting and turning I've experienced in my struggle with circumstances, You never wavered. You don’t change. It’s only when I call on the precious, sacred name of Jesus that I am saved. It’s never my strength, but Yours. Thank You Father.

Your Word gives me hope. Truth. Strength. Yes. I can be strong in Your holy name. Oh thank You!

With all the verses [1 Chronicles 16:11, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 112:7, John 15:11…] competing to be most prominently remembered right now, it is Paul’s letter to the believers at Colosse that I turn. “Colossians is a letter about the greatness of Christ” (The Life Recovery Bible THE BIG PICTURE).

Most dear and holy God, how I thank you! The more I read the more excited I become. The purpose of Paul’s letter? “To show us that Christ is the only real source of power in our life.” Amen!

Here again comes the lightness of Spirit that never ceases to delight and feed my soul. Most holy Father God again I thank and praise You.

I am preparing to launch headlong into this day. Please go before, behind, beside, beneath and above me. Completely encompassing me with Your power and strength.

It has taken me almost two entire weeks to come back to my senses, realizing that it is in You and You alone that I have my strength. “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to Him. Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the Truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done” (Colossians 2:6-7).

Oh, yes. Oh yes. Oh yes! Work with me exactly as You know is best. In, by, through and for me. I love You. I long to serve You. And I ask You to do all You must in making this possible. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.

(469 words ~ 7:54 a.m.)

hope and joy in the Lord

Thursday, January 10, 2019 (1:35 a.m.)

Holy, Holy God,

Thank You. You’ve had me singing to You for over an hour. ♪Holy, Holy, Holy♪ among other things. Like ♪Stormy Weather♪. That one had me wondering. Thank You for an easy resolution to the mystery.

A rather funny female Christian comedienne sang it during a routine I watched yesterday. Thank You Father for the opportunity to laugh. Out loud. Clear, bubbling laughter. It’s been awhile.

I’ve had smiles, yes. But this was different. This was deep. Real. Unabashed. Thanks Dad.

Thank You for the joy that comes from turning to You. And with that joy, hope. Mm. What is better than hope and joy in the Lord? Thank You Father. Oh, yes. Thank You.

Thank You for breakthroughs in conversations. Thank You for the reminder yesterday that “Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world” (Ephesians 6:12).

And what could I do then? Call upon the name of Jesus. Mm, yes. “And anyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved” (Joel 10:32a, Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13, 1 Corinthians 1:2).

Thank You. Yes. Thank You Father. Thank You that You speak to me in so many ways. Through songs. Flashes of Scripture. Hope. And joy.

Thank You Jesus, that You are Truth (John 14:6). Thank You that Your Word is Truth (2 Timothy 3:16). Thank You that I get to trust and rest in You. And Your Truth.

Thank You. Praise You. I love You. Amen.

(285 words ~ 2:45 a.m.)

Again I say...

Wednesday, January 9, 2019 (6:11 a.m.)

Most Holy God,

Again I say, “Thank You.” Huge smile! Yes. Thank You.

♪Rejoice, rejoice and again I say, “Rejoice!”♪ I recognized the phrase as soon as I tapped it. I just didn’t know from where. Philippians 4:4.

Thank You Father. Thank You for the ways we get to come to You. Exactly as are.

I’ve been playing with the Serenity Prayer these past several days. Realizing that some circumstances are not to my liking and wondering which can be changed. Holy God, thank You for never leaving us alone in the messes that we make.

We can always call out to You. Come back to You. Thank You.

Take this morning for example. Always knowing that I like starting my day with Your Word, for the very first time I read the back of the book jacket on The Life Recovery Bible.

Names I recognize as being strong spiritual leaders use very descriptive words. “The Bible is the greatest sourcebook for healing life’s hurts. The Life Recovery Bible can release the power of healing truth in your life” [Rick Warren, Saddleback].

Archibald D. Hart, PhD. of Fuller Graduate School of Psychology said, “This is not just a Bible for those who are suffering from particular emotional problems. It is a Bible for the common and ordinary person who is endeavoring to live a more spiritual life.”

And to this I say, “Amen!” Yes. Oh please Father God, I long to live the life to which You have called me! One where I truly rejoice in You always!

“Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time, Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace, Taking, as Jesus did, This sinful world as it is, Not as I would have it, Trusting that You will make all things right, If I surrender to Your will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life, And supremely happy with You forever in the next” (Reinhold Niebuhr).

Yes Father. Your Word is where I turn. Knowing, believing, trusting that You, Your Truth and Your promises do not change. Thank You God.

Thank You for the sheer “joys that are found through relationship with the Lord” (Philippians Chapter 4. Joy in the Lord A Plea for Perspective; 4:2-9. Illustrated Bible Handbook). Your Word is “full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires, It exposes us for what we really are” (Hebrews 4:12).

Thank You Father. Praise You. I have been experiencing this very thing with You these past two weeks. Absolutely knowing and agreeing with Your voice that was ‘moving deep within me, penetrating to the level of my inmost thoughts and attitudes’ (Illustrated Bible Handbook, The Living Word; [Hebrews] 4:12,13.

Holiest God, this time with You right now just keeps getting better! Back to The Life Recovery Bible. Comment in Hebrews “4:12-13 During hard times our faith tends to dwindle; we may grow angry and harden our heart to the truth about ourself. The antidote to this problem is the living Word of God, which has power to penetrate even the deepest denial…”

We cannot manipulate You or Your Word to our liking. Your Truth will win out! Thank You God.

This comment continues describing me to a T. “This is good news for those of us struggling to overcome a dysfunctional lifestyle and having a tendency to distort reality. God knows everything about us, even the things we try to hide from ourself. We can count on Him, through His Word, to expose the problems and needs we will face in recovery.”

You did this! You exposed the hurts and slights and misconceptions that had built up in my denial. Thank You Father.

Yes. Yes. Yes! Thank You that just as I followed one thought to Philippians 4:4, I get to be this excited about the accompanying comment.

“4:4-9 True happiness can be found in every situation of life when we recognize that God is at work and always in control. Because Christ is with us and His return is certain, we can act calmly in pain and difficulty. Peace and joy come when we focus on those things that provide lasting value to our life. The more we commit ourself to knowing God’s will through prayer and study of His Word, the better prepared we are to help ourself and others in the process of recovery.”

Thank You Father! We are coming out on the other side of darkness. Your Truth has led us back to Your Light. I absolutely get to experience Your joy. Hopefulness. Thank You Father. And again I say, “Thank You!”

Use me exactly as You know is best. I love You. I thank and praise You as I genuinely rejoice, am glad and filled with Your joy. Hallelujah Jesus! Thank You. I love You. Amen.

(832 words ~ 8:08 a.m.)

Constant!

Tuesday, January 8, 2019 (7:28 a.m.)

Blessed God,

How I thank You. Because You are good, constant… I have hope. Mm, yes. Hope. Thank You God.

You blow me away Father! I stay in my head. Attempting to think my way into or out of whatever mood currently surrounds me. As soon as I open myself up to praise and thanks Your peace takes over my heart. My soul. My mind. And even my strength.

Thank You that there is no issue, imagined or real, that I can’t bring to You and find it addressed in Your Word. Your love, Your constancy buoys me every single time.

Turning first to Malachi 3:6, I read of Your Call to Repentance. The Life Recovery Bible describes the purpose of this letter was “to confront the people about getting back on track after they had relapsed into old patterns of sin.”

I tell You Father, You just never cease speaking to my heart! Thank You.

Next I find myself reading in Numbers (23:19). Even the Hebrew name for this book causes me to smile. “In the Wilderness.” How often do I feel absolutely bewildered? Taking the 17th century origin of that word I find myself relating: “from be- ‘thoroughly’ + wilder ‘lead or go astray’.”

I do that. I end up thoroughly led or gone astray time after time after time.

But You? Constant! And every time I turn back to You, You listen. Willing to guide and direct. Lead and encourage. Never failing nor forsaking (Hebrews 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6, 8).

Your Word is Truth. Your promises true. Empower me in learning, knowing, trusting, believing and standing firm on them.

I love You Father. I need You. I want You. And I thank You. So very much. Use me as You know is best. I love You. Thank You. Amen.

(311 words ~ 9:17 a.m.)

the Voice of Truth

Monday, January 7, 2019 (6:22 a.m.)

Blessed, Holy God,

Thank You for sleep. Thank You for rest. Thank You for warmth. Thank You for Truth. YOUR Truth.

Thank You Father that Your Truth doesn’t change. Yes. This morning I confess to having gotten trapped in a prison of my own making. I keep finding things to be annoyed about.

I know Your Word is filled with Truth. I read it. Agree with it. And then leave Your Truth on its pages.

Forgive me I pray.

(6:45 a.m.)

Oh most dear and Holy God, how I thank You for never changing. Thank You that I can choose to fumble around in darkness or I can choose to come to You.

Again I confess to fumbling. Stumbling. Struggling. Fighting. Actually tilting at windmills. Exhausting myself in grudge holding.

Every single time I come back to Your Word I am calmed. I find hope. I believe. And trust. It’s when I move away from Your Voice of Truth that the inner turmoil all begins again.

Thank You Father. A quote from 'what Christians want to know' tells us, “Knowing what the Bible says about truth and hiding God’s Word in our hearts helps us to know when we are listening to the Voice of Truth.”

I have not been! I have allowed myself to fall far back into the “I deserve” category. A place that comes to us directly from satan!

Here I stop to ask You once again most dear and Holy God, guide and direct me in Your Truth. Training me. Teaching me. Guarding my heart, my soul, my mind, my strength. I love You so very much.

I long to live this day pleasing You. Hearing, trusting, believing, recognizing and obeying Your Voice of Truth!

Preparing to leave here I ask that I take Your Word with me. Isaiah 40:8, “The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the Word of our God stands forever.”

Psalm 119:160, “All Your words are true; all Your just laws will stand forever.” Yes!

The Life Recovery Bible comment for 119:153-160 tells us, “As we entrust our life to God, He restores us to wholeness. We can be sure that He will stand with us and protect us… count on Him to encourage us when the recovery process becomes difficult or painful.”

This is where I confess to practically thumbing my nose at You. Every single time I close myself off to circumstances by maintaining, “I don’t care.” Forgive me I pray.

“As we seek out God’s will in His Word, we will discover the joyful Truth. He is willing and able to restore us to wholeness!” Oh yes, please Dearest Dad. Joyful Truth. Wholeness. Your will. Your way.

I love You. Use me please, exactly as You wish. Empower me in truly following Your impeccable Voice of Truth. Thank You Father. Amen.

(488 words ~ 7:32 a.m.)