So, remembering from last night, the comment that in faith and trust, in that trusting place, fully trusting you Lord in all things, is the joy. So, where there is no joy or joy lacking is the place to increase trust. It feels a bit wacky because my starting place is I need to do to get. I need to change, be a better (fill in the blank, my list starts with wife, mom, teacher). I need.
So what if my eyes see…
I am beautiful
I am radiant
All I am is in me
All I need is I Am in me
All my hopes, dreams, desires are in I Am.
What if…
I am beautiful
I am radiant
I am loved
I am adored
I am cherished
I am valued
I am perfectly made by the master Creator
I am protected
I am nurtured (definition: cared for and encouraged. Growth and act or process of promoting development to help to succeed.)
I am.
So, Lord, where there is anxiety, doubt, worry, questions, despair, discouragement…
God (G) – More trust. Trust me. I am your good Daddy. All your cares are mine. I care more than you do. For all the people, places, things. I Am cares deeply. Rest easy knowing I Am cares. I know, I hear, I see, I Am, the place of absolute authority over all things, and I Am is trustworthy, worthy of all your trust. Never, not ever, will I leave you or forsake you. Always in All ways, I will be the place to secure your trust, always. Trust more.
Beth (B) – Lord, I choose/decide today to see you in all and say Yes Daddy. I trust you and even when my eyes see circumstances that squish around and don’t match you and your beautiful way, I still will say Yes, I trust you because actually, you have shown me again and again that you make messy, squishy, swirling circumstances beautiful, and that is going to be enough for me. I am limited. I am not creator God. I am not God. I see things and make judgments and doubt. Instead, I choose to see the very things that look messy, and I am choosing trust. I want to see you in all. I want to have Holy Spirit wisdom. And yet even when I don’t know, understand, see, I am choosing to believe, trust and rest.
This is joy. Joy knowing every time Daddy has it covered. Joy knowing always Daddy has a solution. Joy knowing every time Daddy knows. Joy knowing Daddy loves me. Joy. The peace that surpasses understanding.
Bundles? What bundles do I have Lord that I want to leave at the cross? Any I am forgetting Lord?
The dawn is beginning. From the dark, I start to see the rose tint on the clouds. I don’t know what shifted but I feel the fog is loosed. I am coming into the dawn. I am seeing the new. I am feeling the hope of a new day. I am sensing the shift. I am feeling the weight is lifted.
So much feeling. You want me to be steady in you Lord. Not by my feelings, the shifting sands. You want me with you, tucked in, protected, nourished, loved, adored, cared for, coveted. So, Lord, in my place with you, I see calm, steady. I want to stay. I want to be. I want.
Trust. I want the overwhelming knowing that no matter what, I trust. I trust you in all areas, with all people, in every relationship, in every situation, for everything, with all of my dreams, desires, hopes, prayers. I trust. Whenever, in every place, I trust. I trust because you tell me you are trustworthy, and I choose to believe you. Even when it hurts, I trust you. Even when it’s hard, I trust you. Hurt and hard are wrapped up in my expectations and my ideas and my focus on me. Trust is my choice to look at you and know fondly, safely, completely, you have me covered. I want peace that surpasses understanding. I want joy overflowing. I want trust. I want to trust you in all things and choose to know in every fiber that you are good, supremely, overwhelmingly good and you love me, beyond what I can think or imagine.
Ephesians 3:18-20 (TPT) Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences – the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding – this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.
That’s my heart’s desire, your fullness, filled up. That is my heart’s desire. More Lord, and all the fruit. Is it really as easy as laying everything down and receiving joy, peace, energy?
Galatians 5:22 (TPT) But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (TPT) And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming.
So what Lord? My shift from crumbs to rock. Your grace to move me when I was stuck. Your love to lift me out of the pit. Lord help me stay with you.
Excerpt from Truth In Hard Places