Friday, February 24, 2012

40 days in the wilderness - Day 3

I love when I have an A-ha moment everyday! And I love when that moment has nothing to do with me in any way! I love when I can truly rest in KNOWING that God's got it handled and then....wait for it.....HE SHOWS ME!!

When I began this journey (3 short days ago) I asked the Lord to give me something to hang on to each day to make my journey easier. Now, that doesn't mean it will be easy! I don't expect easy....this is a test, a trial, a discipline, a SACRIFICE. If I flew through this challenge it would not nearly have the impact at the end as it would if there was some struggle involved. Easier....not EASY. Bearable, not unbearable.

Of course, in my humanness, I want to tell God what I think that "thing" to hold onto should look like. "Lord, I prefer a scripture passage that I could write on a brightly colored index card (you KNOW, I LOVE color) and keep it in full view all day. Okay? Thanks, Lord". But I don't find those A-ha moments in MY instructions. "Dianna, allow God to work in your life and HE will lovingly give to you the joys of your heart"......that REALLY makes sense. So I vowed to allow God to lead me...whatever that looks like, even if it's not MY usual routine.

So....on day one my devotional took me to Psalm 121

"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip--"

Pretty cool, huh? What a great verse to get me started. He will NOT let my foot slip!

Day two I found myself in Hebrews 12

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time; but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it".

......but this day it wasn't my devotional that took me there but instead my Women of Joy study on The Tabernacle.

And today, day three....I was "somewhat" lead to 1 John 5

"This is for the confidence we have in approaching God that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him."

Now I say "somewhat" because, in the prior two days, as soon as I read the verse I said "Thank you God!" and of course, I'm always amazed at his leading. Why? I don't know. It's just such a mystery how I can ask and it is given. So the above passage was wonderful and as I've been doing, I wrote it on an index card (today bright green) and it sits in full view where I can read it when I'm feeling weak!

But the Lord just works in ways we can't fathom. I have a wonderful sister in Christ who is one of my daycare moms. She came in this morning, handed her tuition check to me for the week and on it she had written a scripture. She said she hoped it would help me on my no-sugar journey! Really??? Really God??? Three days, three ways. This is the passage she gave me from 1 Cor 10

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it"

Ummm.....seriously, what can I say. I cannot make these things up. Today God chose a sister in Christ to deliver my strength for today! Just for today!

I could easily search scripture for all the verses that contain the words, peace, help, strength, perseverance, temptation.....and I could hold onto those verses and yes, they would help me. But, how sweet it is, to allow God to do the leading and give me what I need, just for today? Knowing that God picked that verse, special for me, to supply my need just for today is just beautiful.

I am so blessed.

Have a God day.

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