Learning to Wait and Psalm 27.

I remember when I was in high school, I would retreat to my bedroom and read my bible. I would find so much encouragement and strength just through reading God's word. I would come away with such closeness b/c his word was spoken and speaking directly to my heart. I struggled with a few things as a teenager that I could not really discuss with my parents. What is obvious now, is that I struggled with belonging and feeling valuable and being loved.

I should interject here a little history of my teen years. First off there were four of us kids. All within 5 yrs. I was a middle child with two older sisters and one younger brother. I had some previous learning problems yet was a good student and behaved well also. My oldest sister and brother both had problems in which took my mom's time and attention. I was pretty much aware of this and instead of leaning on her I leaned on God and a youth teacher who was like the "mom" of our youth group. I was not a popular person at school. I never had a boyfriend at school. I struggled with belonging and feeling valuable and being loved. Only slightly aware that I was more than valuable to God. I learned through youth group and camp that purity was important and a daily devotional was necessary to live a christian life. Communicating with the Lord was my most cherished moments as a teen. I have to confess here that my family was dysfunctional and many unnecessary things took place. Fights between my parents were a normal occurrence. I would often retreat to my bedroom and pray and read my bible in hopes to alleviate the arguing. One time I can recall singing praise songs in my room on my knees at my bed and my mom bursting into my room telling me, "stop that". I knew what I was doing at that point was not only right but bringing glory to God. It was not at all my desire to make my mom made but to find peace in the midst of a storm. In those years God was my peace.

Throughout my teen years I knew that my strength lied with my relationship with God / Jesus. I would find strength, hope and peace in reading my Bible, praying and praising Jesus. I knew whatever problem or struggle I had I could trust and rely on HIM.

Of all things now I recall those moments and a verse that I remember reading that uplifted me so much was found in Psalm 27 : 14 NAS version
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong, and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27 : 14 NKJ version
Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

I always found it interesting that the "Wait on the Lord" part was repeated. Maybe b/c there in lies the secret of everything we desire or are anxious for. If we truly wait on the Lord w/ out being anxious or nagging in prayer but truly wait on God, all things will come to be.

I find myself at the threshold of this verse having to somewhat relearn what I so easily learned so many years ago. Wait on the Lord; take courage, He will strengthen your heart Yes wait on Me!

I know how loving our Heavenly Father is and can be. In the midst of uncertain times we can find confidence in his word. Not plagued with fears and doubts but faith and hope in what or rather who holds our future. Why is it though, if we already know this, that at times in our lives this remains a struggle?

God never says we are entitled to know what he has in store for us. Rather he said he will never leave us nor forsake us. I am glad not to know all the details b/c his presence is more than enough to foreshadow joy and hope. I still need to remind myself that a Daily Devotional and even a Praise Time are important. Even with the busy life of a mother, there should always be time for Jesus.

Are you making time to commune with God/ Jesus? It only takes a few minutes to lay your concerns before him in prayer. Then pick up your BIBLE and allow his spirit to feed into you the strength, hope, peace and joy that can only be found in walking daily with Jesus your LORD.

Peace That Passes All Understanding!

Lately I have been trying to really focus on God and allow him to be my peace and strength and to rest in his peace. So many things in this world cause us to not be at peace or have peace in our daily lives. Quite the opposite. We have fears or worries about tomorrow or about our daily struggles that peace is NO where to be found. Sad to say that the phrase, "Rest in Peace or RIP" on grave stones is not even close to the peace that we can have in Jesus. Death is a rest but sadly it is not at all peaceful. The only way to have peace is to have Jesus.

I have been really blessed of late b/c I really feel I have received just what I have asked God for, his peace. Knowing what true peace is brings so much comfort and joy. One verse lately that has been a source of great encouragement has been Isaiah 26: 3-4

3. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

4. Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

I am so thankful to be in His perfect peace b/c I have chosen to keep my mind on Him and b/c I have also decided to Trust in Him (God).

I often ask the Lord to be my strength b/c at times I feel so weak and unable to have the strength physically or motivation to accomplish what I know I need to do. I know that by calling out to the Lord for His strength I can do what ever is asked of me. I feel so confident in God's strength as my assistance in achieving the purpose he has designed me for. It is so wonderful to know that HIS strength is everlasting. God is not a wimp. His strength is continual. He does not grow weary or loose his endurance. I am so thankful for that b/c I do tire and become exhausted through the course of a long day. God is always alert and rearing to go.

I have to add this little story b/c it fits so well. This past Sunday during worship service we began singing some familiar songs which the children knew and started to sing along to. Well we changed to a song somewhat familiar for the children called, "God is Exalted". Well Ezra my 7 yr began to sing, his words were not quite right. He was singing a slightly different version, "God is Exhausted". I was quick to correct his mis-wording and he easily changed his words. I am so glad that our God is not exhausted. ( I have to say that when he first said his slightly different version I kind of chuckled cuz he was so cute. Such an easy mistake to make.) Ezra is learning and one great thing is he loves to sing to the Lord and praise him with singing. Now you gotta love that!

One other thought based on this story in Acts 16 : 16-36

16. Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.
17. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, "These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.''
18. And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.'' And he came out that very hour.
19. But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20. And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, "These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city;
21. "and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.''
22. Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.
23. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.
24. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
26. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed.
27. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.
28. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.''
29. Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.
30. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?''
31. So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.''
32. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.
33. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.
34. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.
35. And when it was day, the magistrates sent the officers, saying, "Let those men go.''
36. So the keeper of the prison reported these words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent to let you go. Now therefore depart, and go in peace.''

What I love about this scripture and story is that Paul and Silas had to have the kind of peace that passes all understanding. To sing praises and worship God while being chained up and having bloody backs from their beatings they received had to be God's strength with in them. I find this story to be so uplifting no matter what situation or struggle I am in. I am so encouraged and challenged b/c I know what Paul and Silas face is far more greater then what I face. If they could praise and worship God in song in prison what more can I do in my situation.

What is even better then that is that through their imprisonment they were able to witness to the jailer and his whole family. How amazing. Immediately after the jailer brought them to his house he fed them and cleaned their wounds. Even in the midst of our hardships God can give us peace and healing comfort.

I hope you find this encouraging. Know that all God wants us to do outside of believing and confessing our sin and living righteous lives, is to wholly trust in him and rest in His peace. My hope is that you either know that peace or find that peace soon. Know that I am praying for all who read this. The only peace worth having is the peace from God that passes all understanding.