I have an addiction to this blank page, fresh brewed coffee, and the feel of fall sweeping in. It presses me on every side and makes me thankful. I cannot live one day without first telling the Lord that I need Him today. My heart is bursting with good things and of all of those good things, the greatest of these is love. His love helps me trust Him. I look back over so many selfish mistakes and ignorant choices that I have made. I have lost and I have fallen. I have hurt so badly I couldn't breathe or even put the pain into words, but not today.
Today, I am not blinded to the pain of others around me. The fall of men all around me that has brought fear and made us want to double over in grief for those who have lost loved ones with no real reason other than hate and confusion that has gripped the minds of those without my Savior.
Yes, we are sitting in the midst of darkness. But I am not in darkness. I am in the light.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7 NIV)
So, I want to share some light with you today!
I have found myself wandering blindly over the past couple of years...unhappy, discontent, and reaching and striving for something that was not good for me all because I did not trust the Lord. I would never admit to you that I did not trust Him. I was not even aware I had taken that mindset. The enemy prowls around... He doesn't come to your door and ask you if he can bring confusion. He doesn't have billboards with an eight-hundred number for you to call and have someone sell the idea to you. He does it without your realizing it until you are so deep in confusion you don't know which end is up and which end is down.
It starts out as a fear and that fear builds and causes you to rationalize the decision to do something that is not the Lord's ideal plan. It can be big or small, but the enemy just wants your mind off track so he can detour you and waste your time and resources ultimately causing burnout and failure.
I won't go into details, but I just want to share with you that our minds and hearts need to be guarded.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
(Romans 12:2 ESV)
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."
(Proverbs 4:23 ESV)
It is so easy to become disoriented and take a wrong turn. But every wrong turn I have made has come from a lack of trust in the Lord and ultimately FEAR.
But we have the greatest news and this is the news I celebrate this morning with my cup of coffee, cozy blanket, and all of the blessings He has given me...HIS MERCIES ARE NEW EVERY MORNING. Thank goodness!
"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.' The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord" (Lamentations 3:19-26)
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