But I've gotta say - His peace was/is just there. No toiling, no spinning, just the confidence that God is able to do all that He said He would. Such a liberating place to be, praise the Lord.
Now, believing and choosing for this to be more than a feeling, but a perspective that sticks with me, as I choose to rely on His strength. (Still learning this balance of simultaneously trusting yet pursuing ...going back to WALKING by faith, not simply SITTING by faith.) Because, I believe that we can still be moving without the toiling/spinning going on...there's a greater, underlying purpose that brings stability, calm and focus.
haha, I love how this is all stuff that God ALREADY told me before the year began: active and abide. THAT'S the balance of trusting while pursuing...omg, and that's how you bear the fruit! (May flowers!) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. (John 15:4)
=) God is so very good. so timely. so Holy.
I realize that we're barely a week into May, but it's still so neat how I could see the value of choosing to rest in Him and not freak out - His peace is quick to buffer our thought process! ah, God cares for us...He knows what's going on. He knows!
Ah! Sweet connection/fulfillment - I found myself a step closer in His arms, and resting in the quiet places of His heart! =) wow. Praise the Lord!
Then, today was quite productive (despite missing my favorite co-workers most of the day!). And I honestly believe that my stability this week is due largely in part to my prayer time...finally attended several corporate, intercessory prayer times this week - so rich and worth the hour every time! Gotta love that undivided, uninterrupted time with Him. Oh snappp - now THIS ties into something I came to at the end of intercession this evening! (thanks, God, You're so thorough..)
Job 22:28 (New American Standard Bible)
28"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you;
And light will shine on your ways.
At one point, God really convicted me of praying in a panic, frantically (not purposefully, just in 'freak out' mode). Something I'm learning/having clarified right now through Dutch Sheets' book, Intercessory Prayer, is that God's intercessory work is already done - our job is to release it (on earth as it is in heaven!). No need to toil and spin within our prayers, either...just be relaxed, seek His face, listen to His Spirit. Plus, I was reminded that by "decreeing" something, we're refusing to be double minded, we're committed to the plan...we decree and He agrees!mm, prayers make a DIFFERENCE!
AND, little sister and I reached Luke 18 today, and God just goes right there!
v1-And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
v7-And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?
I'm so thankful for how God gets in all up in my business and DRIVES a point home...because another friend shared how this passage was brought to his attention as well! ah, so grateful for how confirmation and encouragement is weaved throughout every single day...
ps - I made a new mix today! A compilation of new songs that have been introduced to me, and several that I already had. Not quite clear on what the theme for this mix is, other than intercession...because that's definitely where my inspiration came from. Glory! Prayerfully, it's inspired enough that it touches whoever (whomever? oh, grammar..) listens to it. hehe, let me know if you're interested, and I'll totally hook you up.
*Emerse Intercession*
-Holy (Matt Gilman)
-A Mighty Fortress (Christy Nockels)
-He is the Love (DC*B)
-The More I Seek You (Kari Jobe)
-Came to the Rescue (Hillsong United)
-Fling Wide (Misty Edwards)
-Awakening (Chris Tomlin)
-Till I See You (Hillsong United)
-Made for You (Matt Gilman)
-Psalm 145 (Shane & Shane)
-You are For Me (Kari Jobe)
-Rend (Misty Edwards)
-Healing is in Your Hands (Christy Nockels)
(ah! I just love looking at all of the titles!)
*I also recommend Misty Edward's Fling Wide album, if you don't already have it...an abundance of powerful songs!*
snippets of ones that especially spoke to me...
Arms Wide Open
If anybody’s looking for love in all the wrong places
If you’ve been searching for love, come to Me, come to Me
Take up your cross, deny yourself
Forget your father’s house and run, run with Me
You were made for abandonment, wholeheartedness
You were made for someone greater, someone bigger, so follow Me
And You’ll come alive when you learn to die
Blessed are the hungry, blessed are the thirsty
You said it, I believe it; I believe it, I believe it
Hunger is the escort into the deeper things of You
Deep is calling out to deep is calling out to deep
Yesterday’s depth is feeling really shallow
I’ve gotta go deeper, deeper, deeper still
And all Your waves and all Your billows crash over me
Pulling me deep, deep, deeper
From glory to glory, from strength to strength
From depth to depth, I want to fellowship with You
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