Psalm 91:1-2 ESV
Joshua 1:9 ESV
Thoughts on Scripture and Life
In our busy world one of the greatest needs we often have is to still the sound in our own head.
While there are several ways to do that, one of the quickest and most efficient ways is to take time to rest in God.
Please understand I don’t believe that means lying down and resting.
There are numerous ways you can accomplish a resting state with God.
When my children were small my house was a wild place. The first three children were born in 3 years. They were stair-steps. They were very active. They were loud.
I miscarried my fourth baby and the doctor suggested that I give my body a rest. Part of the reason for that was three old fashioned C-Section surgeries required time to heal.
My fourth child was born 7 years after my first. When my youngest was crawling and running I had an 8 year old, a 6 and a half year old, a 5 year old and a one year old.
My time of rest was not during the say. It came every night when all four children had been bathed and put to bed.
I would sit on the back porch under the stars, rest, and talk to God.
It was glorious!
One of my sons recently told me that his best time with God comes when he is fishing.
Other people are able to make a great connection with God when they are walking or running.
The different ways of resting in God’s love are all unique to your own personality and passions. That’s because God wired us all uniquely. We are all made in the image of God.
Psalm 91:1-2 tells us, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Once we experience God as our refuge we will have a desire to spend more time with God. The key to letting God be your fortress lies in separating yourself from the noise of life.
I’m not against television, but I’ve been told by people who watch a lot of television that they have never experienced a deeper connection by resting with God. I know I am not able to hear God when the television is blaring. I’m not able to let my mind rest when the television is on. Even if a God program is on, I struggle to have a deeper connection with God.
The same was true when my children were playing inside. Our house was never quiet. I didn’t mind the noise, but that’s why when I put the kids to bed at night and I stepped outside to sit under the stars, I found peace with God. I was able to be refueled. At night under the stars I would memorize and ponder scripture as well.
Scripture is powerful and putting it in your brain is an all-powerful tool for life. During my twenties that I memorized about 90% of scripture that I carry with me today.
One of the verses I memorized was Joshua 1:9.
I hadn’t thought about that scripture for a while, but this week I was sent a very special jar. It contains 100 Bible Verses and the paper that came with the jar said you can select a verse once a day, or once a week and you can do something special with the verses. I decided I would hold the scripture in my heart for as long as God would have me hold it.
Joshua 1:9 says, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
As I rest with Joshua 1:9 and hold it in my heart, I hear God reminding me He has given this verse to me before. God commanded. God commands. God will command.
God is telling me to be strong and courageous.
God tells me not to be frightened.
God tells me not to be dismayed. The Hebrew word for dismayed is te-hat. In its full form it’s chathath. It’s a verb. It requires or provides action. In the Hebrew it can mean shattered, dismayed, broken, scared, or terrified.
It is a strong word. It can mean God is saying do not be shattered to the point of being broken. I sense God is saying more than being frightened because that same word was used just prior. I think God is building on our confidence here.
The last sentence tells us that God is and will be always with me wherever I go. God is tell you…I WILL be with you.
I’ve not had an easy week. I lost my prayer partner of more than 25 years. She had a stroke. She was 18 months older than me. She was one of the most gracious women I’ve known in my life. She had a wonderful laugh and she always had a great saying to share.
She wrote beautiful prayers that brought me to tears. She wrote songs and she could sing like an Angel.
I loved…I love her dearly.
She was such a gift to me.
I know she sits in the arms of Jesus today. I don’t think she has regrets it but her youngest grandchild is only two years old. He didn’t have the opportunity to know her like I did. Having said that, I know she prayed for her grandchildren. I know she asked God to pursue them all the days of their lives with His great love. I know God will answer her prayer in mighty ways.
I continue to pray for her family.
My life changed when I lost her, but I will never forget how she loved me.
God tells me today, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)
God tells me to be strong to forge ahead without her.
God tells me to be courageous and not to be frightened.
God tells ME in time He will heal my broken heart.
God tells me even though I cannot call my dear friend, He will be with me wherever I go.
I also know without any doubt that I will see her again.
I look forward to the day when we will be reunited…in heaven.
Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Rest in God
Have courage. Know that whatever you face, God goes with you.
In God, Deborah
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