Evidence of Jesus

Let those who fear you come to me for evidence of your wise guidance. And let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my heart and head held high.

Psalms 119: 79,80

The Psalms continues to amaze and comfort me every day. As I've been making my way through the chapters and circling promises from God I especially liked this one. This is one I had underlined years ago, but as I read it again it seemed new to me. As I've been praying about these words the last few days the Spirit has continued to affirm how much God answers this in my life every day!

"Let those who fear you come to me for evidence of your wise guidance." 

The evidence of God's wise guidance in my life is something I pray for all the time, and I believe His work and transformation changes me and shows others who He is. It is His amazing power that has changed my life and continues to bring me to new places of change and transformation.

I have felt for awhile now that the Spirit is prompting me to tell more of my story. I've been mulling it over and over in my head, not really knowing how to get started. There's a part of me that feels afraid, too. My past experience tells me that when I share portions of my story, people, even family pull away physically or emotionally. Or, I am asked to leave, or called names, or things just change. So, God and I go back and forth in trusting that He will work out all these details. I just need to listen to Him and obey. After all, the evidence of His wise guidance in my life throughout all the foolishness of my sin, is astounding!

It brings me to the last part of the verse, "let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high."

Isn't it more about what He has done, not what I've done? His incredible story, His amazing miracles, and enduring love for all of us? 

Oh sweet Jesus, let me be evidence of this! 

Say That Again!

My Path Ahead

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalms 119:105

My shoulder has been in pain, and it's not getting better.  I've tried a  few things. Prayer of course, and I will continue to pray. I also tried denial, thinking that maybe it would just get better on it's own, but, that didn't work either. So then I went to a physical therapist. He gave me several exercises, and did massage therapy, ultrasound, and stretched my neck. But, still my shoulder persisted. So, I then tried the chiropractor. He moved all kinds of bones back into place, pushed on trigger points, and worked more on my neck. It actually helped, to a point. I continued my visits in hopes that I would gain full mobility of my arm, my right arm. But, this last week, the chiropractor said the dreaded word--DOCTOR!

He pulled out a surgeons business card and handed it over to me and strongly suggested I give the doctor a call.  My path is changing.

It is true that I am resistant to such a path, but God, once again is shining a light in that direction for me to follow. I called the doctors office, and he is very busy. I couldn't get an appointment until the 21st of April.  So I have plenty of time to pray about this and claim God's healing power.

Further along in Psalms 119, in the Message, it says this:

Don't disappoint all my grand hopes. Stick with me and I'll be all right; I'll give total allegiance to your definitions of life.

verse 116, 117

I do have many grand hopes about the path ahead. God has promised that His Word is a lamp to my feet, so I will continue to soak in His Word and follow the light that shines on my path---even when it leads to the doctors office, and possibly surgery. He has promised to never leave me or forsake me, He will stick to me like super glue, and I will be all right. In return, my life will be defined by Him. That is the healing power of Jesus that shines on my path! 

Say That Again!

Overcoming Enemies

Lord, have mercy on me.

See how my enemies torment me.

Snatch me back from the 

jaws of death.

Save me so I can praise you 

publicly at Jerusalem's gates, 

so I can rejoice that you 

have rescued me.

Psalms 9:13

I've been studying in my Bible about enemies. God has made it very clear that He WILL rescue me from my enemies. I've been thinking about the word enemy, and I've been asking God to show me my internal enemies.

What are the enemies that torment me? Maybe without even realizing it's happening? 
The enemy of judgments, rejection, loss of hope, being overwhelmed, lies, being negative, isolation, fear, hate, despair, and the list goes on...We all have something that we need to be rescued from.
I've been rescued so many times already. God continues to go into battle over and over for me and each time I learn something new. His mercy and His grace are about my heart and my soul.
It reminds me of the verse in Ephesians 6:12

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

Sounds pretty negative to me, despairing, fearful, overwhelming, and something I most definitely need to be rescued from!

I lay down in sleep, yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me. I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side:
Arise, O Lord!
Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked! Victory comes from you, O Lord, May you bless your people.
Psalms 3:5-8

Whatever enemy you may be facing today, God wants to rescue you.  Call to Him, "Slap all my enemies in the face!"  and He will come for you. 
Say That Again, O God!