This isn't normal for me and it should've frustrated the daylights out of me, but it didn't. There was some good stuff being processed that I didn't want to shut down.
Conversations of the day, in addition to my evening devotion, were swirling around in my head.. I knew a blog post was being created and I almost got out of bed to start writing. Almost. I also knew my brain was fuzzy... It was late.
(Well, 10 pm is late for me!)
So I lay there, struggling to pray in a 'straight line.' It wasn't happening. Instead, I prayed one disjointed sentence after another, all because of the 'swirl factor.' I'm sure by now God is used to this from me, since it happens fairly often. I'm glad He knows how to make sense of it all.
Speaking of God... Interesting how He works.
That evening devotion I had read came from a Twitter friend who sends me devotions from the book, 'Jesus Calling,' which I love. This one struck me at my core... Really got me where I live...which is usually in bed or on the couch!
You may smile...
I am.
I want to share that brief, yet powerful devotion with you..
Do you see it?
Weak But Mighty!
Are you as struck by the shear truth of this the way I still am? I hope so. You see, we know that the meaning of life is to know God, and I do. Consequently, the purpose of life is to bring Him glory and... apparently I still do, even though I am not physically able to do any of the things I used to do. You see I struggle with this. It's very difficult to believe such a thing when you aren't up and active, doing 'church things,' volunteering or involved in helping your community.
The thing I had been wrestling with off and on, has finally been laid to rest in my heart and mind.
"Quiet trust makes a powerful statement in spiritual realms."
Quiet trust...quiet trust. I have that. (I hope you do too)
But I had only been thinking about the earthly realm and not the spiritual realm. What does she mean by the spiritual realm? I believe she's referring to other believers here on earth, yes. They have the Holy Spirit living in them, as guaranteed by God for all believers. But she's also talking about that unseen world which is all around us according to Scripture. Your quiet faith, and mine, is bearing witness to angels and demons alike. Think of it. Our salvation, our faith in Jesus, is being marveled at by those in the spiritual realms, which we do not see!
The apostle Peter said it this way, "It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen." (1 Peter 1:12)
Imagine!
For more reading about the spiritual realm, try these amazing books!
Fiction based in Scripture, "This Present Darkness," by Frank Peretti:
http://www.amazon.com/This-Present-Darkness-Frank-Peretti/dp/1581345283/ref=sr_1_2?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456764784&sr=1-2&keywords=this+present+darkness+trilogy
I couldn't put it down!
Non-Fiction, "Unseen Realities: Heaven, Hell, Angels and Demons" (Dr. Sproul does a great job explaining the unseen world using Scripture, although he doesn't write much about demons) by R. C. Sproul.
http://www.amazon.com/Unseen-Realities-Heaven-Angels-Demons/dp/1845506820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456765296&sr=1-1&keywords=unseen+realities+heaven+hell+angels+and+demons+by+r.c.+sproul
I wonder. Do the angels hold their collective breath when someone hears the Gospel to see how they will respond to the call of Jesus? Do they cry and drop to their knees in worship when terrible tragedy strikes a child of God who tearfully continues to cling to the LORD in faith, hope and trust?
We already know they rejoice when one sinner repents and trusts Jesus as Savior and LORD. (Luke 15:10)
In the last line of the above devotion, the author, Sarah Young, goes on to paraphrase 2 Corinthians the 12th chapter, "My strength and power show themselves most effective in weakness."
Boom! There it is. The reason I named this blog "Weak But Mighty!"
I just never thought of thanking God for the reason I'm required to 'be still.'
Funny, I know and meditate on that Scripture a lot, "Be still and know that I am God," but never related to it in a new and different way, applying it to my own situation, which is physical disability.
It is already making a difference in the way I pray!
The irony..
(Insert smiley face)
My hope is that we both, you and I, never feel as if we have to do more, if we aren't able to, or if we aren't led by God to do more!
You probably aren't physically challenged, like I am. You may be up to your eyeballs in work, kids, laundry and cooking, though. I get it. I was there once too.
If we simplify and stay with the basics though:
Meaning of life--to know God.
Purpose of life--to bring Him glory.
Quiet faith that is bearing witness...we will be just fine.
I love this passage:
"God saved you by grace when you believed. And you cannot take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:8
Note the last line. He planned good things for us to do long ago. It's His plan. Not mine. I will continue doing the 'work' of having quiet faith, knowing this is exactly where God has placed me at this time and that "He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion," as He promises! (Philippians 1:6)
Great news for all of us who follow Him!
Love, Joy and Peace, My Friends xx
Jesus said,
"Come to Me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
The thing I had been wrestling with off and on, has finally been laid to rest in my heart and mind.
"Quiet trust makes a powerful statement in spiritual realms."
Quiet trust...quiet trust. I have that. (I hope you do too)
But I had only been thinking about the earthly realm and not the spiritual realm. What does she mean by the spiritual realm? I believe she's referring to other believers here on earth, yes. They have the Holy Spirit living in them, as guaranteed by God for all believers. But she's also talking about that unseen world which is all around us according to Scripture. Your quiet faith, and mine, is bearing witness to angels and demons alike. Think of it. Our salvation, our faith in Jesus, is being marveled at by those in the spiritual realms, which we do not see!
The apostle Peter said it this way, "It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen." (1 Peter 1:12)
Imagine!
For more reading about the spiritual realm, try these amazing books!
Fiction based in Scripture, "This Present Darkness," by Frank Peretti:
http://www.amazon.com/This-Present-Darkness-Frank-Peretti/dp/1581345283/ref=sr_1_2?
s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456764784&sr=1-2&keywords=this+present+darkness+trilogy
I couldn't put it down!
Non-Fiction, "Unseen Realities: Heaven, Hell, Angels and Demons" (Dr. Sproul does a great job explaining the unseen world using Scripture, although he doesn't write much about demons) by R. C. Sproul.
http://www.amazon.com/Unseen-Realities-Heaven-Angels-Demons/dp/1845506820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456765296&sr=1-1&keywords=unseen+realities+heaven+hell+angels+and+demons+by+r.c.+sproul
I wonder. Do the angels hold their collective breath when someone hears the Gospel to see how they will respond to the call of Jesus? Do they cry and drop to their knees in worship when terrible tragedy strikes a child of God who tearfully continues to cling to the LORD in faith, hope and trust?
We already know they rejoice when one sinner repents and trusts Jesus as Savior and LORD. (Luke 15:10)
In the last line of the above devotion, the author, Sarah Young, goes on to paraphrase 2 Corinthians the 12th chapter, "My strength and power show themselves most effective in weakness."
Boom! There it is. The reason I named this blog "Weak But Mighty!"
I just never thought of thanking God for the reason I'm required to 'be still.'
Funny, I know and meditate on that Scripture a lot, "Be still and know that I am God," but never related to it in a new and different way, applying it to my own situation, which is physical disability.
It is already making a difference in the way I pray!
The irony..
(Insert smiley face)
My hope is that we both, you and I, never feel as if we have to do more, if we aren't able to, or if we aren't led by God to do more!
You probably aren't physically challenged, like I am. You may be up to your eyeballs in work, kids, laundry and cooking, though. I get it. I was there once too.
If we simplify and stay with the basics though:
Meaning of life--to know God.
Purpose of life--to bring Him glory.
Quiet faith that is bearing witness...we will be just fine.
I love this passage:
"God saved you by grace when you believed. And you cannot take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:8
Note the last line. He planned good things for us to do long ago. It's His plan. Not mine. I will continue doing the 'work' of having quiet faith, knowing this is exactly where God has placed me at this time and that "He who began a good work in me will bring it to completion," as He promises! (Philippians 1:6)
Great news for all of us who follow Him!
Love, Joy and Peace, My Friends xx
Jesus said,
"Come to Me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest."
