As we enter the last week of January (time flies, doesnโt it?), I want to encourage us with Godโs word:
โ๐๐จ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐. ๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ฒ. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ; ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ.โ ๐๐ฑ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐:๐๐
Moses said these comforting words to a people enslaved for many years. Some were old enough to remember the glory days, and others were born into slavery. It must have been difficult for them to imagine a life without shackles, and bodies not bruised by the whips of merciless Egyptians. Yet, they had to choose to believe.
๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐.
โ๐๐จ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ข๐โ is a clue that there will be many things along the way that will induce fear. In those moments call out to Jesus. It does not matter if itโs a whisper, a shout or scream. Just say his name, and He will immediately reach out to you (Matthew 14:31). He has all authority, and at His name every knee shall bow, (Phil. 2:10) including fear.
โ๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ซ๐ฆโ is a call to suspend logic. A trust fall if you will, except you do not fall because anyone who trusts in the Lord will not be disgraced (Rom.10:11). When we let go, and fall into Him, we give Him the permission (so to say) to throw His weight around on our behalf. In other words, His move is not short circuited by unbelief. It is always a good idea to ask our Father to help with our unbelief (Mark 9:24). He meets us where we are.
โ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐งโ is a promise. The output of our confident trust in Godโs power. In essence all things are possible to him who believes (Mark 9:23). God stands in the fire with us. He shuts the mouths of lions. He makes our enemies at peace with us. He sits in the boat with us, totally unfazed. We are delivered from pain points and struggles. The things that have been persistently difficult. Chains and addictions that have kept us bound. Insecurities that have blinded us to our worth, and so forth.
โ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ,โ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ข๐ต ๐๐ฆ ๐ช๐ด ๐๐ฐ๐ฅ. The later text is from Psalm 46:10. Who is God? Good question! I am still growing in my knowledge of Him. But from what I know thus far, largely extracted from His word, and my personal experience of Him, I could write a book. Thatโs our forever homework, to know who God is. We will never be experts on God. However, if we humble ourselves before Him, seek Him and dwell, He reveals more and more of Himself. His person (character) comes alive to us and grounds us in good soil. The fruit of which is stillness.
I should add that stillness is not an invitation to be idle. It is active rest. Like what we do between reps at the gym; 45 seconds of jump ropes, 10 seconds of rest. In that period of rest, there is still movement. A quick stretch or a sustained bounce so we donโt lose momentum and allow tiredness set in.
The movement is small yet measured and purposeful. Stillness could look like muttering His promises under our breaths. Saying a short prayer of thanksgiving. Placing our hand on our chest to feel our hearts beat. Observing the beauty of creation. Plugging into a worship set with our eyes closed. Extending a helping hand to another. Offering a smile. Turning off all screens and taking deep breaths, and the list goes on.
God isnโt about to lose His credibility because of our solvable problems. He is unchanging. The same God yesterday, today, and forever. He lives in eternity yet present in our every breath. He does the impossible every day.
To summarize, do not be afraid because the Lord is fighting for you. Be still because in Christ you win. Our year belongs to the Lord. Leave it in His hands.
Happy Monyaaaaaaay!
Xo, ๐๐๐.
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