only to be Yours

“Only when self moves out of the way can His spectacular glory come cascading through your life. When Jesus is in His rightful place, all insecurity will fade away and His lasting loveliness will become the mark of your life.”
― Leslie Ludy, The Lost Art of True Beauty

 

enjoying God anew

I am loving Ruth Myers' book "31 Days of Praise: Enjoying God Anew". It seems that when I open up the book and read the prayer of praise that is for that day, it always applies to how I am feeling or what I am going through. Each and every day of praise uses the perfect words to help you express just how grateful and thankful you are for what God has done and who He is.

This is the one I read today. It pretty much pulled the thoughts and feelings straight from my heart and put them into words.

     "I choose to thank You for my weaknesses, my infirmities, my inadequacies (physical, mental, emotional, relational)......for the ways I fall short of what people view as ideal...for my feelings of helplessness and inferiority, and even my pain and distresses. What a comfort it is to know that You understand the feeling of my weaknesses!....and that in Your infinite wisdom You have allowed these in my life so that they may contribute to Your high purposes for me. 
     Thank You that many a time my weaknesses cut through my pride and help me walk humbly with You...and then, as You've promised, You give me more grace- You help and bless and strengthen me. Thank You for all the ways I'm inadequate for they prod me to trust in You and not in myself....and I'm grateful that my adequacy comes form You, the all-sufficient God who is enough!
     Thank You that I can trust You to remove or change any of my weaknesses and handicaps and shortcomings the moment they are no longer needed for Your glory, and for my good, and for the good of other people....and that in the meantime, Your grace is sufficient for me, for Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. Amen."

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10

it is well

When peace like a river attendeth my ways.

When sorrows like sea billows roll.

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Please read the story of Horatio Spafford, the man who wrote this wonderful hymn.

You will never listen to the song the same way again.

worn

Do you sometimes feel like you can't take anymore? That you can't handle anything else? That if life throws one more thing at you, you will totally collapse? That nothing seems to be working out and every single thing is going wrong? That nothing is going right and the world seems to be falling apart? That you aren't sure you can handle another day because you are so worn? Did you say yes to any of these questions? Yeah. Me too.

There are times in our lives when everything seems to change and take a wrong turn. One thing after another just piles on top of each other until we feel like, if one more thing happens, we are going to collapse. Health problems, tough classes, family issues, big decisions, strained friendships, various challenges, difficult situations, etc......and no one to listen. No one seems to care about what you are going through except yourself. Everyone seems to be caught up in their own life, problems, situations and relationships. Why would they listen to you? Sometimes it can get to the point where you say "what's the use?" and you stop expressing your feelings all together after all......no one really cares.
People are fickle and friends will let you down, but after all, they are only human.

 So is there no hope? Is there no one who cares? No one who is willing to listen? False. There is One who will never let you down. Who will never give up on you. Who will never forsake and abandon you. Who cares and knows about what you are going through. Who will always be by your side. Who listens to you at any hours of the day and any hours of the night. Anytime you need to talk to Him, He is there to listen.

So yes, things may be tough right now. OK not tough........absolutely unbearable. Maybe you are dealing with a great loss, disappointment, temptation, doubt, worry, anxiety, stress, fear, discouragement, and perhaps so much more. People don't seem to care, your friends have abandoned you, it seems like you have no one left. There is only one thing to do. The one thing that you should have done from the very beginning. Take it to God. The Creator. The Heavenly Father. The Light of the World. The Prince of Peace. The Redeemer. Take it to the almighty, holy, all powerful, good, loving God who made all things, knows all things, and is in control of all things. What could be better? He wants to know you. Wants to hear from you, His child. He knows what you can handle and would never give you anything that you couldn't get through. We should never feel alone. We never are alone. God is with us always, and for that we should praise Him.

"When you praise God in the face of all your trials and tribulations, you open up the channels through which God's peace, love, and encouragement flow to you. That is the hidden power of praise."
The Prayer that Changes Everything by Stormie Omartian

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him."
Psalm 28:7

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation' but be of good cheer, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."
John 16:33

Song list:
Steady My Heart by Kari Jobe
Worn by Tenth Avenue North
There is a Peace by Sojourn
Never Once by Matt Redman