Reading 1 Peter 3:15, pulling it together in the morning here, "but in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. NIV
Just the first six words gripped me, drew me in, brought a spark in my gut, a flame was to come next. It's my spiritual food, a good thing.
"But in your hearts revere Christ."
Let me back up.
Heavy emotionally from yesterday "stuff", I was struggling getting out of bed. But I knew "to go to the throne before the phone (or really anything). I felt the tug, get up, trust me, the next thing you will be prompted to do will come. Just get up. Each thing made me come alive, I get to straighten my husbands clothes, i get to make my bed and I like the bedding and cozy pillow, i get to put on the radio (Karl and crew will help me), I get to pray to my Almighty Father in heaven for guidance and direction for the things weighing heavy on my MIND.
The key to the mind, I learned this a long time ago, "Paul's sanity was protected by His certainty." The things I know for sure from the Lord will jump start my day. I read a text from a beloved friend she sent yesterday (but I really needed it today) "Good morning Jesus! Knowing You are beside me is all I need to begin my day.
Reflection: Do I believe that is all I need?
As I write this the chick-a-dee that has been visiting me for about a month appears. When this happens to me it means, "pay attention!" Slow down, sit down, quiet down! Listen to me. What does God do to get your attention and Thank God he keeps trying and He never gives up on me. For me it is birds, deer, nature and songs (lots of songs), Christian radio. Friends I have been wanting to get to typing this message to boast about our Father in heaven. He so desperately is rescuing me from the demise of my thought life. The things that weigh me down.
I persevered through finding a lost item (long story, long process all in a 1/2 day) but right when it was found, the chick-a-dee appeared. To me it meant perseverance, joy, energy! Zoe-life! God gets my attention.
Friends, everything matters to God, but it is our choice on what to fix my mind on. I get caught on the negative, sometimes the smallest things. I know someone who got hit by a car he said, "The big injuries healed fast (hip, broken bones), it was my pinky finger that would not heal after months. It was all I could think about is that small finger. It distracted my joy everyday!"
Snap out of it, God is beckoning! Two women sitting at a diner counter were singing< WE GO TOGETHER, a song fun and meaningful to their long time friendship, I discovered. Then I shared I use songs to snap me out of things also, like recently singing, "QUE SERA, SERA", with my dad fretting over moving. Or the time I was driving, fretting and the license plate on the car in front of me, "ZIPPITY Do Dah"
WHATEVER WILL BE, WILL BE, the future is not ours to see! Just as God led the faith followers, many had to move and wait for God to reveal what's next.
As I stop and reflect my encounters with Jesus are plentiful, I must take the time to put those in the front of my mind rather than the heavy weigh down of the world.
A verse came to me recently,
"Watch out! Don't let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don't let that day catch you unaware, like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21: 34-36
So the accuser says to me you are like a yo-yo, you go up and down! I take it in, "Yah, I am not an example to others, which shows the power of Christ within me."
Friends, I came upon the 1 Peter verse and God cleared that up right away by saying, "You are not a yo-yo the devil can not accuse you of being like a yo-yo, I have my hand on you and I am guiding you."
His right hand is always guiding me. "even here your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:10 NIV
"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand, You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory." Psalm 73:23-28
Lord let me hold fast to the truth that you are a protector that you care and am holding my with your right hand. Thank you for rescuing my mind today. Amen
