One of my devotional readings this morning was about the transfiguration. It was this passage that caught my mind's attention: "While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [ composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and have always been] delighted. Listen to Him! When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were seized with alarm and struck with fear" Matthew 17:5-6 (AMP).
Think about this... during the transfiguration, Jesus is lifted up, shines with an incredible and unearthly light and then, the voice of God speaks out over Him. Whoa. I can really understand why the disciples there to hear it would immediately fall on the ground. And the word "fear" here, as with elsewhere in the Bible, is really used in a way to connote awe and respect. They fell face down in awe.
There was certainly a time in my life (a long one) during which I would not have been able to really relate to this in my heart at all, but I am so grateful to be able to say that in the last couple years, the Lord has worked in my heart with His power, and that I certainly have times now - with some consistency - in which the only response my heart can seem to muster is the urge to fall flat on my face and just be humble before the Lord. These days, I am so often overwhelmed with how good He is, and how amazingly He acts in our lives - in my life. It's incredible.
What I also want to mention though today is that I have very deliberately gotten down on my knees, and yes, on my face (literally!) many times when my heart was not overcome by a desire to fall in reverence. I went through a very difficult season a couple years ago in which I just started getting myself flat on the ground, face down, in an intentional show of reverence. It wasn't a moment of desperate plea, nor was it a moment of "I can't help but fall down and praise you, Lord." Instead, it was, "I don't feel it, but I know You are good; I know You deserve me down flat on my face in reverence and awe, Lord." And I'd do it. Not every day, not even every week probably, but I did it, and I did it regularly.
My point is this: I know not everyone is crazy about the idea of "fake it till you make it", but I can say that my own life has been incredibly impacted by the idea of "acting as if." If I don't feel awe and reverence, but I have a desire to do so, I'd get on my face and act as if I did have that desire. Not in an artificial way, and not without great clarity in my prayers about what my purpose was. I wouldn't pretend to feel something I did, but I'd act how I would have acted if I did feel that particular feeling, and then I'd do it again and again, saying, "This is to show you that I revere You, Lord" or something to that effect. The exact words - and really, words at all - were the least important part. The point was action. I've learned that action is an incredible producer. So, I have learned to act as if I did feel/want/believe/trust something or some way. And I've found that if my intention is true and my action came through, more often than not, I began to find my heart opening up to that feeling. And, as I've shared, I have times in my life - and somewhat regularly - when, truly, my heart just wants to lay flat down on the ground and revere Him and His glory!
Friends, I'm not sure exactly what the "point" is of this post today. I don't love the idea of getting on my computer and telling people how to be or do or anything. I can only share what my experience has been, and I do feel that I was led today to share this way. So, take from it what You will, and I will trust that His leading me to write it will also produce whatever His intention is in it being written. An act of obedience. He is certainly worth to be obeyed. Thanks for being on the journey with me!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
On our Behalf
In reading Psalm 97 this morning, I was struck by this verse: "Light is sown for the righteous, And gladness for the upright in heart" Psalms 97:11 (NKJV). What I noticed about it (and this is just the kind of thing I notice!) is the way the sentence is structured, and what that teaches us.
First, looking at what is actually being said... Light is sown in our lives, and gladness too! Sounds pretty good, right? I'm imagining God looking about and around at the landscape of my life, and carefully digging open little pockets here and there. I'm imagining His precious finger circling into the dirt to create a tiny perfect pocket for the seeds He's sowing - seeds of light! Imagine how the seeds sown by the Maker Himself must respond in His hand!
And gladness for the upright in heart... In my imagination (and, really, this is all just imaginary literalism - it helps me sometimes really appreciate the Word), the seeds of gladness are sort of like Mexican jumping beans; all wiggly and unable to be contained.
So, more so than just the concepts, what actually caught my heart was the phrasing: these things are sown for us. They're sown on our behalf, and not by us. The Lord, in His abundant mercy and graciousness is the sower. He pulls out His hoe, and his trowel and burrows the holes; He plants the seeds, and you can bet that the Gardener of light and gladness also sends rain and sunshine to nourish His plantings.
Lord, that I may look around my life today and see with Your eyes! That I may see trees of light and the hedges of gladness that You have planted and tended for my benefit. Lord, You do the work! You plant the seeds and You are the Gardener. Thank You, Father, for tending to me. Thank You that I do not have to go in search of the seed; You are right here, and planting away. May this day bring honor and glory to Your name, Lord...and may it make You smile! Thank You, thank You, thank YOU, Lord! I love Your Holy Name!!!
First, looking at what is actually being said... Light is sown in our lives, and gladness too! Sounds pretty good, right? I'm imagining God looking about and around at the landscape of my life, and carefully digging open little pockets here and there. I'm imagining His precious finger circling into the dirt to create a tiny perfect pocket for the seeds He's sowing - seeds of light! Imagine how the seeds sown by the Maker Himself must respond in His hand!
And gladness for the upright in heart... In my imagination (and, really, this is all just imaginary literalism - it helps me sometimes really appreciate the Word), the seeds of gladness are sort of like Mexican jumping beans; all wiggly and unable to be contained.
So, more so than just the concepts, what actually caught my heart was the phrasing: these things are sown for us. They're sown on our behalf, and not by us. The Lord, in His abundant mercy and graciousness is the sower. He pulls out His hoe, and his trowel and burrows the holes; He plants the seeds, and you can bet that the Gardener of light and gladness also sends rain and sunshine to nourish His plantings.
Lord, that I may look around my life today and see with Your eyes! That I may see trees of light and the hedges of gladness that You have planted and tended for my benefit. Lord, You do the work! You plant the seeds and You are the Gardener. Thank You, Father, for tending to me. Thank You that I do not have to go in search of the seed; You are right here, and planting away. May this day bring honor and glory to Your name, Lord...and may it make You smile! Thank You, thank You, thank YOU, Lord! I love Your Holy Name!!!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Not of the World
As I met up with the Lord this morning, I was struck by a very simple verse in one of my favorite chapters in the Bible: "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours" John 17:9 (NKJV). Here, Jesus is praying. The opportunity to have such intimate access to the prayers of Jesus, the conversations between our Savior and His Abba, our Abba, is a moving and precious gift.
What struck me this morning is that, as Jesus prays, He clearly makes a distinction between the world and those of us who belong to Him. He even goes on to say quite plainly, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" John 17:16 (NKJV).
This thought brings me hope!
Now that we are in Christ, ransomed and redeemed, we are no longer of the world. We're not just people living normal worldly lives with a little side bonus of Jesus-y goodness on the side. We are completely and wholly changed in our inmost beings. We cease to be what we knew, what we were and what, in many ways, defined our very essence, and we take on and take hold of the essence of the Spirit that embodies what we were intended to be on this earth.
I am not of the world! This is a shout of victory for me. When I go through my day today, I will be tempted (no doubt) to feel frustrated, burdened or even irritated by the daily matters of a normal day. There will be hustling and bustling people at work, all convinced of the urgency of matters that, I assure you, are quite daily and very much so "of the world." I have certainly fallen prey to adopting this same sense of false urgency myself. Don't get me wrong; it is important to do my job well. In fact, as a Christian in the workplace, it is perhaps one of my greatest opportunities for testimony. What grace that someone might look upon me, associate me with my King, and also recognize a commitment to working with excellence, humility and devotion.
At the same time, I am not of the world. I am simply an inhabitant, temporarily. It's like a really, really unfortunate vacation. I'm just a visitor here, and this is not my home. So however tempted I may be to allow myself to live as if the urgent worldly matter of my moment is all there is, it simply is not even the tip of the iceberg.
I'm not sure what good this word may do in application in your life today, but I am certain that the perspective shift is one that I can use. This, for me, is a reminder that never is over-done.
Thank You, Lord, for reminding me that I am Yours...here to do Your will, but only stopping by in this place. Thank You for the home You have prepared for me; may I bring honor and glory to Your name today, as I sojourn through this earthly day! Amen.
What struck me this morning is that, as Jesus prays, He clearly makes a distinction between the world and those of us who belong to Him. He even goes on to say quite plainly, "They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world" John 17:16 (NKJV).
This thought brings me hope!
Now that we are in Christ, ransomed and redeemed, we are no longer of the world. We're not just people living normal worldly lives with a little side bonus of Jesus-y goodness on the side. We are completely and wholly changed in our inmost beings. We cease to be what we knew, what we were and what, in many ways, defined our very essence, and we take on and take hold of the essence of the Spirit that embodies what we were intended to be on this earth.
I am not of the world! This is a shout of victory for me. When I go through my day today, I will be tempted (no doubt) to feel frustrated, burdened or even irritated by the daily matters of a normal day. There will be hustling and bustling people at work, all convinced of the urgency of matters that, I assure you, are quite daily and very much so "of the world." I have certainly fallen prey to adopting this same sense of false urgency myself. Don't get me wrong; it is important to do my job well. In fact, as a Christian in the workplace, it is perhaps one of my greatest opportunities for testimony. What grace that someone might look upon me, associate me with my King, and also recognize a commitment to working with excellence, humility and devotion.
At the same time, I am not of the world. I am simply an inhabitant, temporarily. It's like a really, really unfortunate vacation. I'm just a visitor here, and this is not my home. So however tempted I may be to allow myself to live as if the urgent worldly matter of my moment is all there is, it simply is not even the tip of the iceberg.
I'm not sure what good this word may do in application in your life today, but I am certain that the perspective shift is one that I can use. This, for me, is a reminder that never is over-done.
Thank You, Lord, for reminding me that I am Yours...here to do Your will, but only stopping by in this place. Thank You for the home You have prepared for me; may I bring honor and glory to Your name today, as I sojourn through this earthly day! Amen.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Power to Demolish Strongholds
Oh my friends, it is a wonderfully humbling gift that I have felt led to share with you in these little eSnippets of my own journey. If you've been reading much of this blog at all, you will know that unbelief is a sin with which my heart of hearts struggles, and is a frequent focus of my own prayer and efforts these days.
In a Bible study I am doing, a passage of scripture has come to new light and holds new meaning and power for me. The passage is 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Some (or all) of this passage may be very familiar to you. This morning, as I re-read these verses, the middle verse spoke to me in a clear and loud voice: "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds" 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV). Praise the Lord!!!
When I sometimes reflect on the strongholds and battlegrounds of my life, I admit that I sometimes feel discouraged and uncertain of what outcomes may await. They sometimes seem like such big obstacles, such overwhelming foes... hence, I suppose, the term "stronghold." This verse, though, is perfectly and plainly clear. The weapons with which we fight, with which I fight are bigger and badder and more powerful by far than the weaponry of the world, and by that token, the weaponry of the enemy. THEY HAVE THE POWER TO DEMOLISH STRONGHOLDS. The word translated here as "demolish" translates most literally to "pulling down." And doesn't that seem to fit?
The strongholds and inner-fortresses within me have been built up slowly over years and years of distance from the Lord, fortified by the enemy's lies - which also form the foundation. These strongholds can be pulled down. The word also implies extinction or, in other words, permanence. My heart this morning soars to be reminded by the Holy word of the One that the walls I sometimes feel I'm scrambling to scale can be torn down into nothingness, and stay that way! His power is something beyond comprehension, friends. Join me in believing Him for it today!!!
In a Bible study I am doing, a passage of scripture has come to new light and holds new meaning and power for me. The passage is 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. Some (or all) of this passage may be very familiar to you. This morning, as I re-read these verses, the middle verse spoke to me in a clear and loud voice: "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds" 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV). Praise the Lord!!!
When I sometimes reflect on the strongholds and battlegrounds of my life, I admit that I sometimes feel discouraged and uncertain of what outcomes may await. They sometimes seem like such big obstacles, such overwhelming foes... hence, I suppose, the term "stronghold." This verse, though, is perfectly and plainly clear. The weapons with which we fight, with which I fight are bigger and badder and more powerful by far than the weaponry of the world, and by that token, the weaponry of the enemy. THEY HAVE THE POWER TO DEMOLISH STRONGHOLDS. The word translated here as "demolish" translates most literally to "pulling down." And doesn't that seem to fit?
The strongholds and inner-fortresses within me have been built up slowly over years and years of distance from the Lord, fortified by the enemy's lies - which also form the foundation. These strongholds can be pulled down. The word also implies extinction or, in other words, permanence. My heart this morning soars to be reminded by the Holy word of the One that the walls I sometimes feel I'm scrambling to scale can be torn down into nothingness, and stay that way! His power is something beyond comprehension, friends. Join me in believing Him for it today!!!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
For His Glory...
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor" Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV).
The first three verses of Isaiah 61 are verses familiar to me, and verses that hold special importance in my heart. I've read them many times, studied them and meditated on them. This morning, however, the Holy Spirit did what I love: He brought something anew to my eye in one of these familiar verses. In writing about the transformation that can occur in the hearts of God's people, the last part of the third verse reads, "...that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified" Isaiah 61:3 (ESV).
Now, what struck me here? The very last phrase, which is slightly different in the ESV than the other translations with which I am more familiar. "That He may be glorified." Ahh, what a wonderful reminder! And that may perhaps be because I am so familiar with this passage. It's a passage that has always spoken to me in encouragement about what it is that Jesus can and does do in the lives of His people; it's a passage that talks about what it is He can, desires and will do in my life (and in yours!).
This last phrase caught my heart this morning.... The Lord does these things and restores our brokenness because He loves us, and because we are His. But He also does these things for an even more important purpose: so that He may be glorified.
Even with all the healing and restoration I have seen in my life, even with all the incredible ways in which God has rescued me from the pit again and again, it is still easy for me to focus on and wonder and worry about the areas in which I still see bondage in my own life. It's a wonderful blessing to have a passage in Scripture to remind my heart that, yes, Jesus is about setting captives free, breaking the bondage of prisoners and binding my broken heart. Praise God and Thank You! What's more important is to remember that it's not about my agenda. The greater purpose, of which I am a willing servant (when I remember to think about it this way!) is to bring glory to the Glorious One!
Lord, whatever Your timeline, whatever Your vision, whatever Your plans, I submit myself to You. I believe You, Lord, for complete and total freedom from strongholds and areas of bondage in my life - no matter how big or small! I also pray in agreement with Your designs for when and how those chains will fall! I believe they are falling already, Lord. And I pray with all my heart that their final clanking to the ground might bring glory and honor and praise to Your name from every corner of the world! To You belongs all the glory! Help me to be a part of the realization of Your praiseworthy Name! I love You Lord! And I give You my life. Lord, I give You my day. I am Yours. Amen.
The first three verses of Isaiah 61 are verses familiar to me, and verses that hold special importance in my heart. I've read them many times, studied them and meditated on them. This morning, however, the Holy Spirit did what I love: He brought something anew to my eye in one of these familiar verses. In writing about the transformation that can occur in the hearts of God's people, the last part of the third verse reads, "...that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified" Isaiah 61:3 (ESV).
Now, what struck me here? The very last phrase, which is slightly different in the ESV than the other translations with which I am more familiar. "That He may be glorified." Ahh, what a wonderful reminder! And that may perhaps be because I am so familiar with this passage. It's a passage that has always spoken to me in encouragement about what it is that Jesus can and does do in the lives of His people; it's a passage that talks about what it is He can, desires and will do in my life (and in yours!).
This last phrase caught my heart this morning.... The Lord does these things and restores our brokenness because He loves us, and because we are His. But He also does these things for an even more important purpose: so that He may be glorified.
Even with all the healing and restoration I have seen in my life, even with all the incredible ways in which God has rescued me from the pit again and again, it is still easy for me to focus on and wonder and worry about the areas in which I still see bondage in my own life. It's a wonderful blessing to have a passage in Scripture to remind my heart that, yes, Jesus is about setting captives free, breaking the bondage of prisoners and binding my broken heart. Praise God and Thank You! What's more important is to remember that it's not about my agenda. The greater purpose, of which I am a willing servant (when I remember to think about it this way!) is to bring glory to the Glorious One!
Lord, whatever Your timeline, whatever Your vision, whatever Your plans, I submit myself to You. I believe You, Lord, for complete and total freedom from strongholds and areas of bondage in my life - no matter how big or small! I also pray in agreement with Your designs for when and how those chains will fall! I believe they are falling already, Lord. And I pray with all my heart that their final clanking to the ground might bring glory and honor and praise to Your name from every corner of the world! To You belongs all the glory! Help me to be a part of the realization of Your praiseworthy Name! I love You Lord! And I give You my life. Lord, I give You my day. I am Yours. Amen.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Mighty to Save
I have to admit it; although I would rather have any other answer as my truthful answer, the fact of the matter is that there are times in which I doubt God's ability and/or willingness to rescue me from that which wages war against me.
Rationally, consciously and intellectually, I absolutely believe that God has all power and that He wants the absolute best for me. And yet, when it comes to a dark moment in a quiet place, the lies of the enemy sow seeds of doubt in my heart.
Could this ever really be different? Could this particular stronghold ever really go away...I mean, completely? I'm just being honest here, friends. These are the secret wonderings of my heart in some of those moments.
And what am I to do with such a doubting heart? Well, His Word instructs me to take captive my thoughts for Christ. The same passage in 2 Corinthians 10 tells me that the weapons I have at my disposal, the weapons and power of the God most high, do have the power to demolish strongholds. Not just the power to hold them at bay, if I try really, really hard...the power to destroy them absolutely.
Sometimes, I think, my wandering heart also fights against the lies that say that God can rescue me, but that maybe He's just real busy right now, or perhaps I am just not on His radar in terms of rescue. This, too, is a lie.
The verse that jumped out to me this morning speaks directly against both of these lies; and His Word is the most powerful weapon I could have in my own hands: "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV).
Friends, you may have a steadier faith than I do; and I pray that you do! However, if not, let this verse soak into the fibers of your soul today. He is mighty to save. He takes great delight in me. He takes great delight in you. His love - His love - has not only the power, but the desires to quiet our hearts. He rejoices over us with singing. Wow. Can you imagine the Lord of Hosts rejoicing and singing...over us?
Lord, that I may do anything worthy of Your song! Help me, Lord, with my unbelief. You know my heart; You know the places of doubt and fear and hesitation. Help me. Eradicate the dark places where the enemy tries to plant his feet. Help my heart and soul and mind and entire being KNOW that You are mighty to save, that You take great delight in me, and that out of Your love for me, You quiet my heart. Lord, again, that I may bring Your heart a reason to sing! Thank You Lord; thank You!
Rationally, consciously and intellectually, I absolutely believe that God has all power and that He wants the absolute best for me. And yet, when it comes to a dark moment in a quiet place, the lies of the enemy sow seeds of doubt in my heart.
Could this ever really be different? Could this particular stronghold ever really go away...I mean, completely? I'm just being honest here, friends. These are the secret wonderings of my heart in some of those moments.
And what am I to do with such a doubting heart? Well, His Word instructs me to take captive my thoughts for Christ. The same passage in 2 Corinthians 10 tells me that the weapons I have at my disposal, the weapons and power of the God most high, do have the power to demolish strongholds. Not just the power to hold them at bay, if I try really, really hard...the power to destroy them absolutely.
Sometimes, I think, my wandering heart also fights against the lies that say that God can rescue me, but that maybe He's just real busy right now, or perhaps I am just not on His radar in terms of rescue. This, too, is a lie.
The verse that jumped out to me this morning speaks directly against both of these lies; and His Word is the most powerful weapon I could have in my own hands: "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV).
Friends, you may have a steadier faith than I do; and I pray that you do! However, if not, let this verse soak into the fibers of your soul today. He is mighty to save. He takes great delight in me. He takes great delight in you. His love - His love - has not only the power, but the desires to quiet our hearts. He rejoices over us with singing. Wow. Can you imagine the Lord of Hosts rejoicing and singing...over us?
Lord, that I may do anything worthy of Your song! Help me, Lord, with my unbelief. You know my heart; You know the places of doubt and fear and hesitation. Help me. Eradicate the dark places where the enemy tries to plant his feet. Help my heart and soul and mind and entire being KNOW that You are mighty to save, that You take great delight in me, and that out of Your love for me, You quiet my heart. Lord, again, that I may bring Your heart a reason to sing! Thank You Lord; thank You!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Restoration
I recently had the incredible privilege of going to work on a short term missions trip to India. I had gone expecting to be utterly depressed by what there was to see. And yes, there were many painful sights, and I did (and still do) shed tears of heartbreak over the many forms of injustice being lived out there. At the same time, I came out of that trip with a new and powerful reverence for the transformative and restorative power of our God. He IS the God of redemption, of restoration and of wholeness.
Psalm 30 contains several verses that extol the marvelous name of our marvelous Maker. I am debating, even as I write this, as to which verse to use this morning; there were several that called to my heart. However, for now, let's look at verses 11 & 12: "You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. Oh Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever" Psalm 30:11-12 (AMP). Amen!
Friends, my life hasn't looked a single thing like some of those whose suffering I witnessed in India. At the same time, my life has not been easy in many ways. I came out of adolescence a hurting, angry and self-destructive young woman. I spent years spinning my wheels in attempts to find some ground to stand on. I was miserable and utterly crushed by how lost I had become; what was worse was that I had no idea how to be found.
Thankfully, Jesus and Our Father were pursuing me, even in my darkest hours in the pit, and truly, truly, truly, I can say to you that He has turned my mourning into dancing for me. I didn't do it! He has taken off the drab and destroyed layers that were over me and put on me a cloak of joy and gladness. And why? One, it's because He loves me. But as this verse teaches, it's also so that I can praise Him and bring glory to His name. I am living proof of His power. I am a walking testimony of what can come from damaged, broken and wandering heartbreak.
My life today continually humbles me and has me on my knees in prayers of overwhelmed gratitude. There are gifts pouring into my soul that I had never, ever dreamed would be available to me. I am restored. I am His work, and He has brought the healing power of His love to me a million ways over.
I will sing His praises! I will give thanks...forever!
Friends, no matter what comes into our lives and no matter what grips the enemy may hold us in, we are HIS, and in the very exhalation of His breath, He is greater than all the tricks of the enemy bound together. Verse 2 of this same Psalm says, "O Lord my God, I cried to You and You have healed me." He has healed me, and He is still healing me in many ways. Our God is in the business of healing and restoration! May your heart be filled with every conviction of just that! And may your voice and mine join together in praises for the restoration He has carried into our hearts and lives - and that which is yet to come! He is a good God; praise Him!
Psalm 30 contains several verses that extol the marvelous name of our marvelous Maker. I am debating, even as I write this, as to which verse to use this morning; there were several that called to my heart. However, for now, let's look at verses 11 & 12: "You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. Oh Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever" Psalm 30:11-12 (AMP). Amen!
Friends, my life hasn't looked a single thing like some of those whose suffering I witnessed in India. At the same time, my life has not been easy in many ways. I came out of adolescence a hurting, angry and self-destructive young woman. I spent years spinning my wheels in attempts to find some ground to stand on. I was miserable and utterly crushed by how lost I had become; what was worse was that I had no idea how to be found.
Thankfully, Jesus and Our Father were pursuing me, even in my darkest hours in the pit, and truly, truly, truly, I can say to you that He has turned my mourning into dancing for me. I didn't do it! He has taken off the drab and destroyed layers that were over me and put on me a cloak of joy and gladness. And why? One, it's because He loves me. But as this verse teaches, it's also so that I can praise Him and bring glory to His name. I am living proof of His power. I am a walking testimony of what can come from damaged, broken and wandering heartbreak.
My life today continually humbles me and has me on my knees in prayers of overwhelmed gratitude. There are gifts pouring into my soul that I had never, ever dreamed would be available to me. I am restored. I am His work, and He has brought the healing power of His love to me a million ways over.
I will sing His praises! I will give thanks...forever!
Friends, no matter what comes into our lives and no matter what grips the enemy may hold us in, we are HIS, and in the very exhalation of His breath, He is greater than all the tricks of the enemy bound together. Verse 2 of this same Psalm says, "O Lord my God, I cried to You and You have healed me." He has healed me, and He is still healing me in many ways. Our God is in the business of healing and restoration! May your heart be filled with every conviction of just that! And may your voice and mine join together in praises for the restoration He has carried into our hearts and lives - and that which is yet to come! He is a good God; praise Him!
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