Recently I have been having a difficult time keeping my focus where it needs to be. The most frustrating part has been in worship services, because that is one of my favorite times of the week, to worship corporately. During the service I prayed for the Lord to remove all distractions and help me to enter into His presence. A couple nights ago I was in a prayer service and the Lord said, if you haven't been in My presence in private, how can you do so in public? That was my cue to leave and be with Him alone. It has been difficult to get away to that secret place with Him recently because of the load of homework and responsibilities. Honestly though, it should never matter how much I have to do because He always must be my priority. If I go without sleep for a certain period of time I will not be able to operate. If I go without time with Him, the very One who gives me reason to breathe and live, Who gives me the strength and wisdom for each day, will not be my focus. He will be unable to operate in my life because I am not allowing Him what He is due. I am the one who suffers greatly for that.
This morning He spoke to me that if my focus was not on Him during my day, it would not be on Him during the corporate worship and prayer times. What I do throughout my day, I bring into the time of worship and prayer.
It's time to re-organize priorities.
I don't make time for my Father, I make time for everything else to fit around Him.
"My soul yearns for You in the night; in the morning my spirit longs for You."
Isaiah 26:9
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Peace that Passes Understanding
There are cliche phrases or certain scriptures that you have heard over and over growing up. It may have been in a song you learned in Sunday School or Nursery. Maybe it was in youth group a phrase the Pastor always said, but the meaning of it never really sunk in.
There was a song that I sung in Sunday School about "there's a peace that passing understanding, down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart." I can remember a specific Sunday we sang it with actions and everything. I loved it. I sang as loud as my little voice could go with all the joy in my heart rising up. Until later in my life though, did I really, truly, understand a peace that passes understanding.
We will walk through trials and struggles that life brings, and yet somehow, His peace will be there. I remember one time in particularly in which I had to make a decision; a big decision. In the natural it didn't look like a good idea and I was wanting to stay in my comfort zone. I cried out to God for wisdom to know what to do. I have found over and over that He will often lead by His peace. In that moment of crying out to Him, a peace that surpassed all understanding came over me. Somehow I could feel His presence so tangible, if I hadn't known better, I would have thought I could reach out and grab it. It was like I was wearing it like a garment. Understand, it is often not this tangible when I am led by the peace of God, but like I said, this was a big decision that I had to have confirmation on because of the confusion going on all around me.
In moments where confusion surrounds; the ache in your heart is louder than any other voice; your tears blind you to be able to see correctly; your heart is racing because you are stressed from all the pressures of work, stress or just life...beloved there is peace. A peace that passes all understanding, and it can only come from the Father.
Today I had one of those days of feeling overwhelmed. My chest hurt because of being so exhausted and overwhelmed. I was thinking about all that needed to be done and trying to make the most of every minute. It was an incredibly gorgeous day out today. One of those days that is perfect for a walk with the Lord. After reading for several hours, I decided I needed to get away and just be in His presence. I put my book down, despite my mind saying that I needed to keep working and reading. I went outside trying to put my mind to rest and just focus on Him.
As I walked I asked Him what was on His heart, what He had to say or share with me. All I heard was "Rest Bethany. Just rest." So I slowed my pace, walked through the prayer gardens and was quiet. The pressure in my chest left, and the sweetness of His presence came. I saw the campus in a new light. It was so beautiful and I became overwhelmed with gratitude to have the privilege and opportunity to study at such an amazing university. Memories of the last four years washed over my mind and I sat in awe of Him...so grateful. Grateful for my professors, my friends, my studies, saga - yes, saga. Everything. Being in His presence causes new and fresh perspective.
Get away with Him beloved. Let His peace that passes understanding wash over you.
Receive new and fresh perspective.
Rest your heart.
Psalm 33
There was a song that I sung in Sunday School about "there's a peace that passing understanding, down in my heart, down in my heart, down in my heart." I can remember a specific Sunday we sang it with actions and everything. I loved it. I sang as loud as my little voice could go with all the joy in my heart rising up. Until later in my life though, did I really, truly, understand a peace that passes understanding.
We will walk through trials and struggles that life brings, and yet somehow, His peace will be there. I remember one time in particularly in which I had to make a decision; a big decision. In the natural it didn't look like a good idea and I was wanting to stay in my comfort zone. I cried out to God for wisdom to know what to do. I have found over and over that He will often lead by His peace. In that moment of crying out to Him, a peace that surpassed all understanding came over me. Somehow I could feel His presence so tangible, if I hadn't known better, I would have thought I could reach out and grab it. It was like I was wearing it like a garment. Understand, it is often not this tangible when I am led by the peace of God, but like I said, this was a big decision that I had to have confirmation on because of the confusion going on all around me.
In moments where confusion surrounds; the ache in your heart is louder than any other voice; your tears blind you to be able to see correctly; your heart is racing because you are stressed from all the pressures of work, stress or just life...beloved there is peace. A peace that passes all understanding, and it can only come from the Father.
Today I had one of those days of feeling overwhelmed. My chest hurt because of being so exhausted and overwhelmed. I was thinking about all that needed to be done and trying to make the most of every minute. It was an incredibly gorgeous day out today. One of those days that is perfect for a walk with the Lord. After reading for several hours, I decided I needed to get away and just be in His presence. I put my book down, despite my mind saying that I needed to keep working and reading. I went outside trying to put my mind to rest and just focus on Him.
As I walked I asked Him what was on His heart, what He had to say or share with me. All I heard was "Rest Bethany. Just rest." So I slowed my pace, walked through the prayer gardens and was quiet. The pressure in my chest left, and the sweetness of His presence came. I saw the campus in a new light. It was so beautiful and I became overwhelmed with gratitude to have the privilege and opportunity to study at such an amazing university. Memories of the last four years washed over my mind and I sat in awe of Him...so grateful. Grateful for my professors, my friends, my studies, saga - yes, saga. Everything. Being in His presence causes new and fresh perspective.
Get away with Him beloved. Let His peace that passes understanding wash over you.
Receive new and fresh perspective.
Rest your heart.
Psalm 33
Friday, February 4, 2011
When Hope is Deferred
You know those times when you are in a season of waiting...I sometimes feel like that is just life. The changing of seasons changes what exactly one is in anticipation of. Those seasons of waiting can be difficult, especially when hope is deferred, sometimes over and over.
Maybe God has promised something to you in the quiet of your heart, in that secret place when it was just you and Him. Those precious moments...your heart is stirred and you feel the quiet whisper of the One Who's love for you could never be deterred. He's so close, there is almost a sweetness to the very air around you. His tender love penetrates your heart once again as you wait on what He has to say in that moment. The words He speaks cause everything in your day today, yesterday and tomorrows melt into the background. Who would have thought the very Creator Who shaped every living being, painting the beauty that hems the earth together, would have shaped your very being and marked the steps out for your life so intricately...not only that but He longs to meet with you in the quiet place. He tells you to ask Him of "great and unsearchable things that you do not know." And when He shares those things - because He is faithful to His Word...then comes a season of waiting, for the dreams and visions of tomorrow that He has whispered into your heart. They are sure to come - but they are for a time and a season. As you wait, hope of walking in that dream can be deferred, because He is waiting to unfold it at - just - the right - time. So what do you do when impatience comes? When your heart aches? Maybe tears? Maybe frustration? Because as humans - we all know it can be difficult to wait when something so amazing has been spoken of, but we don't know when it is for.
Here are scriptures that bring me comfort...
Psalms 27:13-14 (NLT)
"Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
Psalms 32:14
"But I am trusting you, O Lord. saying, 'You are my God! My future is in Your hands.'"
During seasons of waiting - learn to trust Him through surrender. Draw close, seek to know Him more and what He is teaching you in this time. Worship Him. You will see His goodness in your life.
Next to these scriptures in my Bible I have written, "Anything that isn't worth waiting for, isn't worthy having."
He has your best in mind.
Trust.
Surrender.
Maybe God has promised something to you in the quiet of your heart, in that secret place when it was just you and Him. Those precious moments...your heart is stirred and you feel the quiet whisper of the One Who's love for you could never be deterred. He's so close, there is almost a sweetness to the very air around you. His tender love penetrates your heart once again as you wait on what He has to say in that moment. The words He speaks cause everything in your day today, yesterday and tomorrows melt into the background. Who would have thought the very Creator Who shaped every living being, painting the beauty that hems the earth together, would have shaped your very being and marked the steps out for your life so intricately...not only that but He longs to meet with you in the quiet place. He tells you to ask Him of "great and unsearchable things that you do not know." And when He shares those things - because He is faithful to His Word...then comes a season of waiting, for the dreams and visions of tomorrow that He has whispered into your heart. They are sure to come - but they are for a time and a season. As you wait, hope of walking in that dream can be deferred, because He is waiting to unfold it at - just - the right - time. So what do you do when impatience comes? When your heart aches? Maybe tears? Maybe frustration? Because as humans - we all know it can be difficult to wait when something so amazing has been spoken of, but we don't know when it is for.
Here are scriptures that bring me comfort...
Psalms 27:13-14 (NLT)
"Yet I am confident I will see the Lord's goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."
Psalms 32:14
"But I am trusting you, O Lord. saying, 'You are my God! My future is in Your hands.'"
During seasons of waiting - learn to trust Him through surrender. Draw close, seek to know Him more and what He is teaching you in this time. Worship Him. You will see His goodness in your life.
Next to these scriptures in my Bible I have written, "Anything that isn't worth waiting for, isn't worthy having."
He has your best in mind.
Trust.
Surrender.
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