Restored by His Surrounding Presence
A dear friend of mine recently wrote me exclaiming about how much my family and I have been facing lately. Indeed it could seem as if one thing after another after another after still another have been showing up unexpected and uninvited in our lives for quite some time. Yet, just as God has promised, He has never left nor forsaken us. He has held us in the palm of His hand the entire time. As we have kept our focus on Him and intentionally chosen to see Him as good, no matter how situations seemed, He has surrounded us with His loving presence and gently led us to His green pastures beside the quiet streams where we lack for nothing. (Psalm 23)
Just to be clear, this doesn't mean we've been sitting around by a stream in the yard doing nothing. The busyness didn't go away; in fact it may have increased. The potential for stress didn't dissipate; it too increased. Not even the nasty attitudes of those around us went away; they were still there in all of their nastiness. What changed? Our focus. After learning about intentional deliberate decisions, we chose to focus on our Savior Shepherd instead of the bad, the hard, the difficult, and the sad. We believe He is leading us gently; He is. When we chose to believe in His goodness and the truth of His word we began to see what had been hidden when we were stressed and in negativity.
No matter what is going on in our lives we choose to have faith in the One True Living God and His faithfulness; it is a deliberate decision. Intentionally making up our minds that we refuse to believe what we see, how we feel, or what we hear if it is contrary to the Word of God keeps us in His perfect peace just as He said it would. (Isaiah 26:3) I can't explain it, but it's true. God's word is true. I don't know how God does what He does, but He does. If He said it, He will do it. Period. I have lived this. I have experienced it. God is true.
But that's not all that has been going on in our lives. While experiencing the overwhelming peace of God during these times, our love for and dependence upon His Word has also been increasing. The more we intentionally choose to believe His Word, the more we crave it as a vital necessity and need. This really is one of the most amazing things to experience. I pray everyone reading this experiences increasing hunger and thirst for God's Word too. Though I also pray you don't have to go through a season such as we have been in to do so!
I truly don't know how any of life's situations will turn out. One thing I do know is The Eternal One who never changes remains the same forever. He is who He says He is, He does what He says He will do, and His surrounding presence restores my soul. May you revel in His abundant grace and unending love for you in ever increasing measure!
Just to be clear, this doesn't mean we've been sitting around by a stream in the yard doing nothing. The busyness didn't go away; in fact it may have increased. The potential for stress didn't dissipate; it too increased. Not even the nasty attitudes of those around us went away; they were still there in all of their nastiness. What changed? Our focus. After learning about intentional deliberate decisions, we chose to focus on our Savior Shepherd instead of the bad, the hard, the difficult, and the sad. We believe He is leading us gently; He is. When we chose to believe in His goodness and the truth of His word we began to see what had been hidden when we were stressed and in negativity.
No matter what is going on in our lives we choose to have faith in the One True Living God and His faithfulness; it is a deliberate decision. Intentionally making up our minds that we refuse to believe what we see, how we feel, or what we hear if it is contrary to the Word of God keeps us in His perfect peace just as He said it would. (Isaiah 26:3) I can't explain it, but it's true. God's word is true. I don't know how God does what He does, but He does. If He said it, He will do it. Period. I have lived this. I have experienced it. God is true.
But that's not all that has been going on in our lives. While experiencing the overwhelming peace of God during these times, our love for and dependence upon His Word has also been increasing. The more we intentionally choose to believe His Word, the more we crave it as a vital necessity and need. This really is one of the most amazing things to experience. I pray everyone reading this experiences increasing hunger and thirst for God's Word too. Though I also pray you don't have to go through a season such as we have been in to do so!
I truly don't know how any of life's situations will turn out. One thing I do know is The Eternal One who never changes remains the same forever. He is who He says He is, He does what He says He will do, and His surrounding presence restores my soul. May you revel in His abundant grace and unending love for you in ever increasing measure!
Psalm 125
God's Surround Presence
The Passion Translation
1 Those who trust in the Lord are as unshakable, as unmovable, as Mighty Mount Zion!
2 Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord's wrap-around presence surrounds his people, protecting them now and forever.
3 The wicked will not always rule over the godly, provoking them to do what is evil.
4 God, let your goodness be given away to your good people, to all your godly lovers!
5 But those who turn away from truth, you will turn them away from you, to follow their crooked ways. You will give them just what they deserve. May Israel experience peace and prosperity!
Psalm 126
Restored
The Passion Translation
1 It was like a dream come true when you freed us from our bondage and brought us back to Zion!
2 We laughed and laughed, and overflowed with gladness! We were left shouting for joy and singing your praise. All the nations saw it and joined in, saying, "The Lord has done great miracles for them!"
3, Yes, he did mighty miracles and we are overjoyed!
4 Now, Lord, do it again! Restore us to our former glory! May streams of your refreshing flow over us until our dry hearts are drenched again.
5 Those who sow their tears as seeds will reap a harvest with joyful shouts of glee.
6 They may weep as they go out carrying their seed to sow, but they will return with joyful laughter and shouting with gladness as they bring back armloads of blessing and a harvest overflowing!