For the Surpassing Worth of Knowing Christ
Sometimes, we get so caught up in thinking about things – trying to rationalize why things happen, trying to pinpoint all the good things God is doing when life is complicated – when we really just need to lower our eyes, rest our heart.
Have you calmed and quieted your soul?
In this bleak midwinter, a take a moment to stop thinking…and to rest in the God who thinks of you.
My little sister taught me what childlike faith is when I discovered that, for all the times we’d driven across states, countries even, she thought my Dad was just getting us there without directions. She wasn’t worried about the details of a map or destination. She just new “[Dad] has gotten us everywhere we’ve needed to be.” And she trusted him to keep doing that.
This is the faith God asks of us. And it is the faith Jesus displayed for us.
The ugly truth of garden snails is the ugly truth of the human heart too: both are full of a parasite that kills them and anyone who encounters them.
The lovely grace about garden snails is that they can be cleansed from their parasites! But it requires a tedious work that involves their death.
This is the difficult, beautiful glory of God. It is full of grace and truth.
The God of the Israelites’ wilderness is the same God of the Israelites’ parted sea. The God of David’s valley of the shadow of doubt is the same God of Calvary’s hill. He does not change that I might better see Him. My faith is strengthened that I might better seek Him. And in seeking Him I see Him.
Therefore, my soul cannot help but tell of the treasure in the lowly places. For He is working there.
And I don’t want to miss it.
From my experiences, the strongest Christian communities put a lot of emphasis on prayer; there are prayer gatherings, prayer lists, prayer lessons, etc. We learn how to care for others by bringing them to our Father in Heaven and seeking His guidance in hard situations in life.
But how often do we pray for ourselves?
For today’s post, I want to share with you the ways God has been teaching me to pray for myself. I hope you’ll join me in praying for your heart and life as well.
As a missionary I have come to realize that as seasons change, my heart grows weary. Why? Simple. I’m human…and humans don’t like uncertainties. We don’t like stepping out of our comfort zones or initiating something without knowing what the outcome will be. We’re scared. That’s the long and short of it. We’re scared that… Continue reading Breathe, Little One: As Seasons Change, God Stays the Same
Wouldn’t life be simpler if we didn’t worry? As a missionary kid I’ve never known a lot of stable ground. The future almost always looks uncertain and tomorrow, well…we’ll get there when we get there. In a way, it’s a blessing because it reminds me to live in the moment. But we all know that the unknown is hard.
Today’s testimony challenge discusses grief, depression, anxiety, and God’s grace and love which are strong enough to heal our hurting hearts. If you’d like to find out more about Eileen check out her blog: eileen-rife.blogspot.com
Looking forward can be scary. Especially for teenagers. There are ups and downs and turn-arounds and so many missing pieces to the puzzle that just keeps growing. But God already knows the plans He has for each and every one of us. If the road looks twisted—like a maze you’ll never find your way through—just close your eyes and take the hand that’s always there to lead you.