Security

A picture of security is not one of holding tight-fisted and white-knuckled to the air, nor is it clutching for things that are just out of reach. Security, instead is contentment that comes from standing open-handed before the Living and faithful God, putting my trust and faith in Him.

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today...The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Exodus 14:13,14

Our posture before God is critical. In so many ways I've been standing before God with fists closed to what He wants to give, clutching tightly to things that have as much substance as the air. They are insubstantial because they aren't the only One who is substantial. The One who is the source of all substance. There's a song that has the lyrics, "He gives and takes away", and previous to now my posture before God was one of often refusing the things He has wanted give or trying to hold onto the things He has taken away.

Francesca Batistelli had a song I've listened to on my ipod many times and the lyrics ring true, "I'm letting go...to live what I believe." As a Christian, God calls us to trust Him whole-heartedly, to trust in His provision, guidance, timing...and in order to really do that, I must let go of trying to secure my own life.

Security....is contentment that comes from standing open-handed before the living and faithful God, putting my faith & trust in Him.

gazing into His eyes

I've been reading through old journal entries & I came upon this image that I had in prayer a couple years ago:

"Abba, thanks for being here with me in this place. Thanks for being present in a way I’ve never felt you before. There’s so much I could get distracted by, whether it be Christmas, my family, trying to make a decision...but if I look past all that, in the midst of all those distractions there is one thing that doesn’t move. You. I can imagine myself on the outside of an ice skating rink, all these people skating by who represent all these different things I could get distracted by...but when I look up & past all that, I lock eyes with your gaze, and I start to move towards you. All these things & people are skating past me as I move forward, but I’m unphased And as I draw closer, you reach out your hand to me & I reach out and take it. For a moment, I simply gaze into your eyes. You see me in a way no one else does. Then...we dance. Though I don’t know how to skate, you take the lead, and my footing is sure as we dance & twirl & move swiftly across the ice, my focus not being drawn from You. In You I know peace, joy, freedom, & confidence I know nowhere else."

trying to open a closed door

God has placed a lot of open doors in my life recently, and that has been good. Recently, however, I have encountered a closed door, and apparently I forgot what that means because I keep trying to open. I want to open it because in the past it has been an open door that has helped to secure my future, and I really want it to be there...but no matter how hard I try, it's not opening...and yet I keep trying. Isn't that the definition of insanity - to keep trying something expecting a different result? I keep expecting the door to open, but the truth is, I don't think it will. I think I need to give up & start focusing my energy where it might actually make a difference...

Lord, help me to heed your guidance, turning my eyes away from the obvious dead end that I have encountered, and in the process help my trust in you to grow. In Jesus' name, amen.

a white rock, a promise, and a new name

Today I went for a walk and I picked up a sparkly white rock. I was going for the walk because I just needed some time to be outside, to pray, to think... God is the master weaver and at different times of our life, He starts the work of weaving different sections together. He's been doing that in my life and it's been difficult to trust Him because I can't see the bigger tapestry...(good thing faith is an important part of this journey). As I was walking & praying about this very topic, I looked down at the rock and thought about Revelation 2:17 where it talks about how Jesus will give us a new name. I've always thought that name would have a meaning encompassing who we are to become, kind of like when Jesus renamed Simon to Peter. That name was prophetic to who he was going to become. As I thought about where I'm at in my journey with the Lord, how He's calling me out and into more of who He's created me to be...and the rock in my hand reminded of the promise that I have a new name. It gave me courage to remember that promise because all of what He's calling me to be is already there inside of me...and He's set up the circumstances which will help me to embrace it, walk in it...

And I had to smile later because when I tried to put those thoughts into a concise 'thought' for my Facebook status, I came up with the above title, but realized people might mistakenly believe I had gotten engaged. I smiled because of how it connects with the idea of being the bride of Christ...coincidence? I don't think so.

:)

Lord Jesus, thank you for your promise and your sacrifice that will allow me to one day stand before you as your pure and spotless bride.