The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the works of Your hands.
I woke this morning to the gritting of my teeth. My jaws seemingly locked shut from the thoughts of "what ifs" running through my mind. I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Come spend some time with Me."- but the stress of my circumstances seemed to great to focus on spending time instead I needed an answer. I prayed vaguely and read a few passages in the Word, yet still was uncomfortable. Lord, how am I going to be able to do this? I questioned before listening. I stressed again and again.
"Come, spend some time with Me....take a shower, get
dressed and let's spend our time together.
Go out today and get your coffee. - But Father, (I so rudely interrupted) I have coffee right
here! - "No, go out, besides you
really don't like that coffee anyway."
Still gritting my teeth, entering my car - my tire light is shining bright to tell me
something is wrong. I make my way to the
coffee shop with my engine humming to the tune of needing an oil change.
I quickly remind myself of the principles of the Word: My
God shall supply all of my needs.....I started to vaguely pray for
others...praying in the Spirit. Yet still my jaws are tight with fear.
I walk into the coffee shop to three beautiful young ladies
behind the counter who are extremely stressed.
I order my free coffee and with the most polite mannerisms I've seen in young people they began to
serve me. "Yes ma'am. Thank you...Do you want to upgrade?" They were
so beautifully sincere.
Waiting for my coffee, I hear the stress in their voices of the concerns of college
life. "I may not even be able to go
to school next semester" - "I know, I'm failing two of my classes,
I'm just hoping I pass"...."Right, me too!" I don't know with my
schedule and having to work...." The conversation made my heart heavy.
My immediate thought was - girls it isn't that bad - don't
speak so negatively! So, I opened my mouth with the authority of God behind me:
"Girls, it will be o.k. - don't stress.
I have a daughter who will be 21 this year and is a senior...we've not
had to pay......"
I began to tell them my testimony and encourage them. Their
faces turned from stress to hope all of the while continuing to serve me.
Speaking sincerely and looking to help me. As I leave I began to pray:
Father in the matchless name of Jesus Christ, I call to the Your grace and
ask that you would bless those young women to be able to go to college as you
have done for my daughter! I declare You would pour out your wisdom upon them and
give them understanding to be able to finish and finish strong. Father, I declare that the resources are
there for them to be able to go to school.
This day, I declare and speak { Daniel }
over them - and because they have shown me kindness with sincerity - You
Lord God would show them Your favor. I declare that you would send your
ministering spirits to surround them such that stress does not overtake them
and they would find You in such a time as this! I continued as I pulled into
my parking space.
You see, I felt more blessed and at
peace about my own circumstances now that I've spent time with God. I would have missed the fact that I just had a free coffee in my hands with superior service behind it. I would have missed an opportunity to encourage someone else that which I have overcome! I know what He can do, yet they have not seen
the glory of the Lord? Now, is my situation/circumstance really that bad compared to never knowing God? Or is it just where I had my focus that magnified the problem more than magnifying the Master?
So I turned my face from my problems and focused on my God.
God is not a man that He should lie. He fully is capable of keeping His promises! Focus on Him today. Focus on His power more than your circumstances. Yes, absolutely it is easier said than done, but serve Him and it will put things right back into perspective. It's first things first! Focus on what He wants you to do- what you are called to do. It doesn't make your problems disappear, it puts them into perspective. He knows, He sees- yet spend some time with Him (whatever that may look like including witnessing to others') and watch how He will take care of you! First spend some time with Him and what He wants to do - first things first!
Surround yourself with others' who will keep you encouraged - remember some have not even seen the glory of the Lord! And for those who may be reading this, do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, you too shall be saved - the right to access to the Master for your circumstances and problems!
Will you pray this with me today -
Father, I may not know you now, but I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I ask You to come into my heart today to help me with those things that concern me. I believe that as I have opened my mouth and accepted You in to my life, I am now saved by Your grace through faith.
In Jesus name Amen.
Get connected to a body of believers' and allow God into every area of your life!
Isaiah 60:1
60 Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
3 The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
It's time to grow,
Dee-Dee Lee
