Thankfulness

Let us thank God heartily as often as we pray that we have His Spirit in us to teach us to pray. Thanksgiving will draw our hearts out to God and keep us engaged with Him; it will take our attention from ourselves and give the Spirit room in our hearts. ~Andrew Murray

Strong in Spirit and Steadfast in Character

Esther

Deuteronomy 5:16 - Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Currently, I am using Beth Moore's study guide to work through the book of Esther.  

One of the verses that stood out to me tonight was Esther 2:20

Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.

This verse stood out to me for a couple of reasons.

Esther was Queen 

Esther was fully grown 

Mordecai had essentially been Esther's father

Esther did not have to continue obeying the commands of Mordecai

But, she did.  

Esther continued on obeying the man who God had made her spiritual head.  Respecting his wishes.  Later on in Esther we will see how her obedience to the man who had essentially been her father would allow her to be used by God in an unbelievable way.

Following someone else's instructions is never easy.  After all, we are all self-centered human beings who tend to believe, "Its my way or the highway".  Nevertheless, Esther persevered and demonstrated a strength in spirit and a steadfastness in character.

I love the following quotes from Beth Moore.

Oh, the favor that can come our way in a workplace or elsewhere through our simple willingness to follow instructions.  Impatient and self-promoting people don't win favor this way; those who respect authority who aren't insulted by instruction, who practice the art of truly listening, and who follow through by doing what they're asked win it.

Only a person strong in character and steadfast in spirit can follow someone else's instructions for long.

With a godly spirit of humility, strength, and dignity, Esther, Queen of Persia, continued to respect her "father".  What an example.

Personally, this is a powerful testimony to me of the need to respect the wishes of those God has placed over me as my leaders.  I am blessed enough to have parents who are both my earthly and spiritual "heads".  Though it is not always easy to respect the wishes of my parents or seek their advice on different issues, God makes it clear that respecting those He has put over us, whether it be husbands, fathers, mothers, bosses, or any other type of authority is vital.

Romans 13:1-2

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.  For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.  Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.

Colossians 3:12

Put on therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering....

As Christians, we ought to ask for a heart of lowliness, meekness, and humility, that we would have the strength and steadfastness to learn from and respect, and obey those whom He has placed over us, as leaders and protectors.  

We ought to be grateful for Jesus...the ultimate example of one who demonstrated unbelievable obedience to His Father....obedience that would lead to an excruciating and terrible death on the cross...that, through the resurrection, He could overcome death and save us from our selfish, sinful, rebellious ways.

Are You Doing God's Will or Your Own? - Paul Washer

Prayer...its the end of self.

Eric Ludy - The Gospel

Who am I? I am His CHILD! Who am I? I am HIS PRECIOUS AND REDEEMED CHILD! My Jesus took my punishment so that I may live in the light of His GRACE, rather than the pit of guilt and despair. Truly these truths are life-changing. How can it not be? Once I was a rebel, now I am HIS chosen! Use me Jesus! I am yours!

Outstreched Hands

Take from me, O Lord, that self-pity which love of myself so readily produces, and from the frustration of not succeeding in the world as I would naturally desire, for these have no regard for your glory.

Rather, create in me a sorrow that is conformable to your own. Let my pains rather express the happy condition of my conversion and salvation. Let me no longer wish for health or life, but to spend it and end it for you, with you, and in you. I pray neither for health nor sickness, life nor death. Rather I pray that you will dispose of my health, my sickness, my life, and my death as for your glory, for my salvation, for the usefulness to your church and your saints, among whom I hope to e numbered.

You alone know what is expedient for me. You are the Sovereign Master. Do whatever pleases you. Give me or take away from me. Conform my will to yours, and grant that with humble and perfect submission, and in holy confidence, I may dispose myself utterly to you. May I receive the orders of your everlasting, provident care. May I equally adore whatever proceeds from you. ~Blaise Pascal

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength. Yes, in the way of Your judgments, O Lord, we have waited for you; the desire of our soul is for Your name and for the remembrance of You. With my soul I have desired You in the night, yes by my spirit within me I will seek You early; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." ~Isaiah 26:3-9

Strength to Strength

When the questions flood my soul.

When your ways are higher than my ways.

Will I still trust?
Will I still hope?
Will I still remember that you have a purpose? That I am not alone?

Growing up I dreamed about this time of my life. In my childhood dreams I was here, but I was not alone. I was a wife, a mother.

This journey He has chosen for me is different than what I had wanted.

I ask, "Is this truly good?"

A hand is extended to me. A strong, rough hand. A nail pierced hand.

A voice is asking, "Are you going to trust me? Are you going to take my hand and let me show you the beauty in this wilderness? Are you going to choose to see the beauty in this wilderness?"

"Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?"
Isaiah 43:18

Avoiding His eyes, I slip my hand in His. He draws me into His arms and I am overwhelmed with the scent of His sweetness. Gently He places his hand under my chin and draws my chin up, forcing my eyes to meet His own. All of the sudden I feel vulnerable. His eyes pierce through my heart and shoot through my soul. Every part of my being is before Him. I am known. Really known.

"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins." ~Isaiah 43:25

Knowing my thoughts, He whispers, "You, my precious daughter. You whom I called from the far ends of the earth, whom I have loved with an everlasting love. You, for whom I endured the cross, you are forgiven. You are mine."

"Since you were precious and honored, and I have loved you; therefore, I will give men for you and people for your life. Fear not for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east and gather you from the west...bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth--everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory." ~Isaiah 43:4-7

Quietly He leads me on through the desert. In a dry and weary land my parched soul begins to feel quenched. My rumbling soul is quieted by His goodness.

"For he satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness." ~Psalm 107:9

I blink once, then twice, hardly able to believe my eyes. A stream! Green grass. I run forward, then stop and look back at him. Nodding his head, he smiles.

"...Because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare my praise." Isaiah 43:20-21

I'm still in the wilderness, but I'm not alone. My precious Savior has provided me with a place of rest, peace, and joy in the wilderness.

Looking back, the journey has been hard. Looking forward, the journey won't be easy.

But, the One I love so deeply never did promise an easy journey.

"The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." ~Romans 8:16-17

Instead, He promised strength for today and great hope for tomorrow.

"Blessed is the man whose strength is in you, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion." ~Psalm 84:5-7

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."

Ecclisiastes 3:1

Lately I have been considering this season of life God has called me to. I wish I could say that I never doubt the perfection of His Will, but I have. I praise God that Jesus always perfectly trusted the perfection of The Father’s Will and that Christ’s perfection covers me. Through His grace I pray that I would not be distracted from the perfection of His Will; that I would instead always remember His goodness and promises. For every season, no matter how trying or sweet, is appointed by Him for a purpose.

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We pray for blessings

We pray for peace

Comfort for family, protection while we sleep

We pray for healing, for prosperity

We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need

Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom

Your voice to hear

And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love

As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea

And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us

When darkness seems to win

We know the pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops

What if Your healing comes through tears

And what if a thousand sleepless nights

Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments

Or the achings of this life

Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this lifeThe rain, the storms, the hardest nights

Are Your mercies in disguise

~ "Blessings" by Laura Story