To be honest, I struggled with what to write for today’s post. It was a bit of a hassle threading my thoughts, and after several attempts, I gave up. However, through the course of the day I kept saying, what do you want me to write Lord? Okay Holy Spirit help me sift through all these thoughts. NOTHING! Not one thing!
And so I panicked.
I panicked because not once have I ever considered not posting. Last night, I did.
But God is faithful. At 5:34 am this morning, I heard these words, in me you have peace. I didn’t automatically know the verse (I need to do better with memorizing scripture π€¦π½ββοΈ), but I roused myself out of sleep long enough to grab my phone and write it in my notes.
I chewed on these words as I got ready for work, which by the way is from John 16:33, and decided that I really have nothing to add.
Weeeeell, maybe one thing…ππ½ββοΈ
The lock down has stretched for longer than we anticipated, and as much as there is a lot of talk, things are still up in the air. It’s unsettling not knowing, and the idea of this type of continued existence even for another second, quite frankly makes me want to pull my strands out. But I won’t, because I have invested quite a bit of time and money loving on these strands, and we – my hair and I, are still on a journey. So maybe I’ll break a plate, knowing full well that I am not too old for my mother to put me on time out.
But isn’t that just what we need? A time out from our time out? Does that make sense?
Yes we have been social distancing, spending more time alone (or with family), isolated from our routine distractions. But what have we been filling our days with?
Noah’s ark comes to mind. The ark was a physical manifestation of God’s favor and mercy, but also of His heart. Noah was kept safe as the world crumbled around him. Why? He habitually walked with God, which I believe means that his every waking moment was in fellowship with God, |Gen 6:9|. I imagine that folks laughed at Noah while he was building the ark, but by all accounts, Noah never lost focus. It was in fellowship with God that he was given specific instructions on how to ride the waves of the flood.
Jesus is saying to you, I am that ark, and a much better one at that because I am not man-made. He is saying, hey imma be real with you, it’s going to get real crazy. Sickness and death will happen. Trials and tribulations are guaranteed. There will be talk of war, nations will crumble. There will be scarcity and maybe even a recession. Struggles will persist in the world. But here I am, your perfect peace. I have overcome the world (my conquest is accomplished, my victory abiding). The peace that you seek is right here, in me.
While praying for an end to this rubbish of a thing, I am also praying for a deeper connection with God during this time out, because I truly believe that like in the days of Noah, He is ready to dish out instructions specific to you and your situation, on how to sow good seeds, and flourish, now and post COVID.
Dear Lord, it’s been a crazy couple of months. It’s been 2 months that has felt like 2 decades. I feel tired, but I am not pressed, because the greater one lives in me. My hope is in Jesus, and I stand on that rock, fully aware of the power that is in His name, even as I pray for the world. I am asking Lord for your mercy. I am asking Father, for the sake of your righteous ones, heal our land, and let it flourish again. You said Lord that I will see your goodness in the land of the living. I am declaring that your goodness is seen in the hospitals, in homes, in the streets, in offices, in communities, in nations, and in the world. Let your goodness be seen in me, and in your church. Let there be a revival Lord, an unbounded yearning for you. That even when we do not understand, we trust you. You formed us for relationship Lord, and I am praying that in this season, and beyond, every heart experiences the peace that comes with abiding in, and walking with you. In Jesus name I pray, amen.
Happy monyaaaaay!
xoxo
Mel. β€οΈ
Picture: @pinterest
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