Were you able to enjoy a harvest meal of love, patience and joy yesterday? I hope you found a bounty of good things in your garden and we able to feast well.
I have to be honest and tell you that I had a few struggles in the peace and patience categories. Life threw me a few curve balls and I missed with my swing.
No, I’m not going to get into a baseball analogy but I think you know what I mean. I thought things were going along well, I was being loving the way the Lord wanted me to when something unexpected happened and I reacted from my emotions and not from my spirit. I had to be patient and regain my peace. It took a while…a long while.
Then this morning I read these words:
“I am surrounded by trouble, but you protect me against my angry enemies. With your own powerful arm you keep me safe. 8 You, Lord, will always treat me with kindness. Your love never fails. You have made us what we are. Don’t give up on us now!” Psalm 138:7-8 CEV
I needed that reminder. His love never fails and He always treats me with kindness. One translation of this verse says “He perfects that which concerns me”. Thank you Lord.
Our Father knows when we are concerned about things and He goes to work perfecting them. Maybe not the way we would but His ways are perfect and He treats us with kindness.
(I just took a deep breath and exhaled.) Can you feel the comfort in those words – you ALWAYS treat me with kindness! (Another deep breath). Peace, sweet peace, from the Father.
But my reading didn’t stop there. I continued on to Psalm 139. It was amazing how the Lord kept talking to me.
“You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. 2 You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts.
3 You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. 4 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, 5 and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side. 6 I can’t understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.
7 Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight? 8 If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there. If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there. 9 Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean. 10 Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me. 11 Or suppose I said, “I’ll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over.” 12 But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
13 You are the one who put me together inside my mother’s body, 14 and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me. Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt.
15 Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, 16 but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed.
Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do.
17 Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine. 18 I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. And when I awake, I will find you nearby.” Psalm 139:1-18 CEV
“Everything you do is marvelous!” Everything…everything God does is marvelous! He was there yesterday when I became impatient and lost my peace. He was there, speaking to my heart. He was there with His powerful arm to protect and guide.
He was there!
And He’ll be here today too!! His love never fails! Amen.