The Process Before the Promise

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The Process Before the Promise LYSA TERKEURST

November 1, 2018

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 (ESV) Are there any deep disappointments in your life that seem to be lingering on and on? Do you feel like you’ve prayed the same prayers over and over, with little to no change? I understand how hard that is. Over the last few years, I’ve walked through some of the most heartbreaking seasons in my family, marriage and health. And although the circumstances of your life may be different, you probably have middle-of-the-night moments wrestling through your own tears. You, too, have memories that still hurt. Realities that make you swallow back tears. Sufferings that seem forever long. And you’re disappointed that today you aren’t living the promises of God you’ve begged to come to pass. In your most private moments, you want to scream words you don’t use around your Bible friends at the unfairness of it all. But then there are more hopeful moments … when you want to turn up the praise music, lift up honest prayers, and declare God is good even when the situation doesn’t seem good. That’s what it is like to be so very human — hurting but still hoping. And that is where we find David in Psalm 40. In the first 10 verses, David praises God for delivering him, but then in verses 11-17, he’s crying out for God to deliver him again. David is hurting but still hoping. Hoping doesn’t mean we ignore reality. No, hoping means we acknowledge reality in the very same breath that we acknowledge God’s sovereignty. Our hope can’t be tied to whether or not a circumstance or another person changes. Our hope must be tied to the unchanging promises of God. We hope for the good we know God will ultimately bring from our situation, whether the good turns out to match our desires or not. And sometimes that takes a while. The process often requires us to be persevering. Patient. Maybe even long suffering. Honestly, I know that can feel a little overwhelming. I want the promised blessing of Psalm 40:4: “Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust” (ESV). I forget that this kind of trusting in God is often forged in the crucible of long suffering. God isn’t picking on me. God is picking me to personally live out one of His promises. It’s a high honor. But it doesn’t always feel that way. I’ve got to walk through the low places of the process before I’m perfectly equipped to live the promise. We read about some of the low places of the process in verses 1-3 of Psalm 40: “I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.” (ESV) The idea of waiting patiently in verse 1 is incredibly important in this psalm. The Hebrew word indicates the waiting is ongoing, and it holds a sense of eager expectancy and hope. So while I want the solid rock on which to stand, first I have to wait patiently for the Lord to lift me out of the slime and mud and set my feet. That word set in the original Hebrew is qum, which means to “arise or take a stand.” God has to take me through the process of getting unstuck from what’s been holding me captive before I can take a stand. I also want that new song promised here. Did you notice, though, what comes before the psalm’s promise of a new song? It’s the many cries to the Lord for help. The most powerful praise songs are often guttural cries of pain that got turned into beautiful melodies. I know this is hard. But let me be the one to lean in and whisper, “God is working things out. He’s not far away. He is right here with us. We need to cling to this hope. Believe this hope. Live out this hope. Right here and right now. Even if our prayers aren’t answered in the way and the timing we want. Even when this process feels messy. We will trust that God is good.” Keep crying out to Him, friend. Keep hoping in Him. And know that God will take every cry you’ve uttered and arrange those sounds into a glorious song. Lord God, we know You often work in ways we don’t understand. Help us feel close to You in the middle of the process You’re taking us through. Help us trust You are at work, even when You seem silent and far off. Help us believe You are good in every way — every day. Thank You for Your loving and watchful care of us, Your children. We’re thankful today and always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY Psalm 116:1-2, “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” (NIV)

Beautifully Rooted in.....-A Poem

Beautifully Rooted in Grace

Who I am in Christ? How would
 you describe a woman in Christ?
I would start with the two words....
Beautifully Rooted. Yet a lot of
adjectives could go at the end of
that.

Beautifully Rooted in Hope.
Hope that things will turn out
right. So much hope that she
believes she already has it. When
she has that hope rooted in her,
she should be able to Love.

Beautifully Rooted in Love.
Caring for people when they
need cared for. Having the
patience to deal with the hardest
people. Not holding any records
of wrongs. All of that will lead
her to Grace.

Beautifully Rooted in Grace means
to do things to other people that
they don't deserve. Free to be who
you are in Christ. The chains are
gone. We should give it as much as
we get it. Giving a lot of chances to
the people we care about. When you
have Grace, you should have the
Fear of God in you.

Beautifully Rooted in the Fear
of God. Wanting to do what is
right and knowing that difference.
Trusting God with the outcome of
your life when it isn't at all what
you planned it out to be. Knowing,
only though, you have purpose and
a reason to live your life that way.

Beautifully Rooted in Christ. That
is that purpose and reason for your
life. You should be so beautifully
rooted in Christ that people see
these things plus more. Just to name
a few more are: gentleness, faithfulness,
 joy, peace, self-control, and so on.
Like orchard trees in a field. Each of them
have roots and their roots are dug down
deep into the source.  Their source is
the dirt but our source is God.


Written By: Tiffney Wilson


Written On: October 21st, 2018

3 Ways to Press Through Unanswered Prayers

Press Through Unanswered Prayer LYSA TERKEURST

October 18, 2018

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Genesis 50:20 (NIV) I opened the anonymous letter, and my heart sank. It was from another mom who wanted to make sure I had a list of all the ways one of my daughters was falling short. There in black and white, she listed my daughter’s mistakes, shortcomings and frailties. And then just to make sure I took her nameless letter seriously, she informed me she’d be sending a copy to my pastor. My initial reaction was to figure out who sent this so I could assure her we were working diligently to help our daughter course-correct. But as I reread the letter, I discerned it wasn’t sent from a place of love for my family nor a heart that wanted to help. From the language she used and the fact that there wasn’t a way to contact her, it was obvious she didn’t send it because she wanted the best for my daughter. I sat on the edge of my bed and cried. It’s so hard to have someone attack you in an area that’s already rubbed raw with hardship. Her letter was like a bullet straight to my heart. However, it was also a wake-up call to get more intentional in praying for my daughter. I thought about her struggles a lot. I talked about her struggles. I worried about her struggles. But thinking about, talking about and worrying about something is not the same as praying about it. I clung to the truth in our key verse, Genesis 50:20, and determined to turn this letter that felt like a bullet into a blessing by using it as a catalyst to ramp up my prayer life. Through my tears, I cried out to the Lord: “I will not sacrifice Your grace for my child on the altar of people’s opinions. Of course I want my daughter to walk the straight and narrow path of great choices. But I trust You, Lord, to write her testimony. My main goal for her is not behavior modification but total heart-transformation. I want her to want You, Lord, and Your best for her life. Give me the courage to not just pray about my daughter, but to pray her all the way through this.” Praying her through the ups and downs wasn’t easy. There were days I wondered if God even heard my prayers. It’s tough to pray someone all the way through a messy, hard, complicated situation and not see answers. Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you’re there now. Can I speak hope into your heart with three ways to press through unanswered prayers? 1. Know with confidence God hears your prayers. First John 5:14 reminds us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (NIV). 2. Trust that prayer makes a difference, even when you don’t see the difference. It may take a while for you to see God answer your prayers. But don’t miss an “in the meantime answer” you can receive right away. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us of the immediate answer to every prayer: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (NIV, emphasis added). Did you catch it? It’s the peace of God that will guard your heart and mind in the process while you’re waiting for God to reveal His answer to your request. When you pray, you can trust you’re doing your part, and God will certainly do His part. 3. Tell fear it has no place in this conversation. These prayers are your gateway to feel an assurance you don’t see yet. But fear will beg you to focus on the problem more than God’s promises. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (NIV). It’s been a few years since I got that hard letter which prompted more frequent prayers for my daughter. But I still remember the day I visited her at college and could hardly believe my eyes. She had become a completely different girl. At one point, I asked her, “What finally made following Jesus wholeheartedly click for you?” She said, “Mom, I’ve made friends who love Jesus. I saw a joy in them that I wanted. So, I started doing what they do even when I didn’t want to. At first I thought getting up to do devotions was unrealistic, prayer meetings were boring and listening to praise music, excessive. But as I kept doing these things, the Lord started changing my thought patterns. And when I started thinking about life from the standpoint of truth, I had so much more joy.” She then paused and said words I’ve longed to hear and prayed to hear for so long: “Mom, I’ve just completely fallen in love with Jesus.” I can hardly type those words without crying. I pray this infuses your heart with hope to keep praying. I pray you believe God can take things others intended to harm you or those you love, and use them for good to accomplish His purposes … because He can! Dear Lord, only You can turn what was meant for evil into good. Thank You in advance for all You’re going to do in my life. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY Psalm 116:1-2, "I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live." (NIV)

Living like a Chosen Woman

Living Like a Chosen Woman HEATHER HOLLEMAN

October 17, 2018

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” John 15:16 (NIV) Some days I live as if I’m still waiting for someone to choose me for something that will change my life and heal the ache in me to feel special and significant. I feel overlooked and rejected in large ways, like when other women receive promotions or awards, or in small ways, like when friends socialize without me. Why do I still long to feel chosen by certain people? And why am I still waiting to feel chosen for some special calling that would make life more meaningful? I asked God these questions as I walked around my snowy Pennsylvania neighborhood. My heart felt as cold and barren as the landscape around me. Even after finding a husband, having a career, and enjoying a relationship with Jesus for decades, I still lived like a rejected woman in so many ways. I often felt ignored and overlooked. I often felt confused about my calling. I often felt empty, like I was missing the abundant life God promises us. Could Jesus heal this pain in me? The words of Jesus flooded my soul as I remembered John 15:16. He says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last — and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” As a college writing instructor and lover of vivid verbs, I couldn’t stop thinking of those two actions of Jesus: He chose and appointed. First, He chose us. This personal chosen status means we enjoy the most intimate, privileged and joyful relationship with the One our hearts have been longing for all this time. This union with Jesus became possible because He rescued us from sin by dying for us. The infinite price Jesus paid made me realize how precious I am to Him, and He became even more marvelous to me as I pictured Him reaching down His hand to choose me. I understood that no other kind of “chosen” could satisfy the need we have for Jesus — no prize, relationship, promotion or new circumstance. After all, the Bible tells us all things were made by Jesus and for Him. (Colossians 1:16) We’re made for Jesus. That’s why we exist. When we live as women chosen for Christ, we live in the security and clarity of who we truly are. Secondly, Jesus appointed us to go and bear fruit. What is this fruit our lives will bear? We know this with certainty: Jesus calls us to follow Him, and He will send us out to fish for people. (Matthew 4:19) Chosen women understand their calling; they are Christ’s ambassadors to those who do not yet know Jesus. (2 Corinthians 5:20) What higher calling can we imagine for ourselves than participating in the greatest thing happening in the world today — that people are coming to know Jesus? The snow fell around me, and for once, I stopped thinking of all the ways I’d been rejected. I stopped wondering about what would make my life matter. Instead, I knew I was chosen. And chosen women live appointed lives. As I walked past the homes of neighbors who haven’t yet met Jesus, I thanked God for sending me out to fish for people who needed to know about this God who chooses us. Lord, whenever I feel rejected, help me realize You chose me. Thank You for the price You paid to bring me to You. Help me understand the great purpose You have given me today to help others know Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY 1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (NIV)

Open Heart and Open Mind

           The title is a saying that I have been thinking about since the Women's conference. I didn't get it at the conference or even right after it but now I am starting to get it. I am starting to get how that looks at this moment in my life. It is an unusual way but it totally makes sense with what I am going through right now. Here is what it means to me right now:
           It means: Be open to other ideas, people, and/or situations. I didn't realize how closed minded I was before the conference. I don't even know how I got to be closed minded. It had to happen over years and years. I wanted one thing and only one thing. That went on for years. I would act like I was up for anything and try to be open but really I wasn't. It kept me in bondage for a long time. Since I gave those things up at the foot of the cross, I've been wanting to be open minded and heart more. I've seen why I was that way and that was because I was trying to stop all of that. I wouldn't do things and that would make my life more misable. More anxious.
           I would just sit around and wait for years. When you do that, nothing happens, It is so much better to be open. It is funny because being closed minded is one: the devil's work and two: a work that is done slowly and long like a death. I can't even pick when I really started to become that way but I did. I have some ideas but not sure just one time. It is a trick that the devil likes to use most on me. It could be really hard spiritual warfare because like with me, the devil used something close to my heart or so I thought until my eyes and heart were opened. Once they were opened, I could see all the times and mistakes I had made and signs that I just didn't want to see because I was so desperate for something more. I thought I found that "more" but now that my mind and heart has opened I know that I haven't yet.
           I had to have friends help be with having those things open and keeping them open. I still have to remind myself that some of the thoughts I think or things I do are not keeping anything open. The devil is trying to block me from what God has in store for me. It is those negative thoughts that come when we are really sleepy. Or those tears that we just cry and feel so weak because we have no idea why we are crying. It is in those moments that we are so scared to death that we think about giving up and not taking that chance for something better. It is in those times where we need God the most. How can God get to use if we have a closed mind and heart?
           That is a good question to ask yourself. He can't even though He wants to. We need to be willing to let Him in and when things are closed, He can't get in at all. We might "see" Him but are we really letting Him in to where He could change our lives? Are we letting Him answer that prayer the way He knows is best? Are we asking other people about that situation that we know we should take to God in the first place? Are we worrying when we know deep down that God is in control of everything? Are we trying to take that control away?
           It is so hard to really explain it when you don't want to get too personal on a public blog/place. You still care enough about the situation to not do that and I do so I won't. The best way I can explain it is it just feels a lot more peaceful and free. That is having an open mind and heart. You just feel like God really took that burden off of you and away from you as well. I would say easy but you have those moments of warfare that you have to fight through if you really want to change you or the situation itself.
          The women's conference helped me see that we don't have any control over any stages or any things in our lives. Every strong women I saw up in front of that conference or the ones sitting right beside me, I knew were strong and didn't go a day without talking to God because some days and most days that is the only way they could get through the things going on in their lives. That conference showed me that as a women of God never once should you stop praying for your husband, children, future, and so on. No matter your age or the stage of life you are in. That is why I am, always been, and always will be a women of prayer/prayer warrior. I have never took prayer lightly, well I can't say never, but very seldom do I ever take prayer lightly.
         Prayer is what keeps me sane and I'm not kidding about that either. Prayer is the most important thing in my life and it will continue to be. What about you?

Life of War

           Life of war is a real thing. That is what I am finding out in this moment of my life. This past week has been so, not really hard, but exhausting and just emotional for me. I am still struggling from what I gave up in my life a few weeks ago. Still trying not to go back to the before ways, but to tell you the truth it is hard. I don't want to go back and that is why my life is a war right now. That is why I haven't really wrote anything very personal for a week or so because I have just been taking everything to God. That is where it needs to go in the first place.
            It all started a week ago today and it is now off and on with me. I never had to fight so hard for something that I believed in until this past weekend. I was actual feeling the tug in both ways. They were both tugging at my heart. One saying that you don't want to move on because you won't get anything better while God was telling me you need to and have to. Trust me! Those tugs were just so strong that I almost couldn't breathe. It really shook me up. I never felt that feeling before but I knew something had to change. There is nothing where I am at now in my personal life for me. Everyone else that I know have moved on. Why haven't I? After that night, I felt like my life has just been at war and that is why I am writing this now.
           I am ready to move on and open up new doors for myself. I am ready to go on the adventures that I haven't yet because of being held back. I have given up and let go of some things this week that I never thought I would. My eyes have been open to things that they should have been open to before now. I get two daily verses one from a friend and one from a new app. I am using myself and those seem to be what I need right at that moment and they even go together somehow, which is strange. God knows that if I hold onto what I was any longer, I was going to break. It just got to that point that I am and was done.
            I am slowly giving up on anything that had to do with that fight the other night. It will be a day by day process but after believing it for 8 years, do you really think it would be fast? I would it would be fast and I wish it would just end but I will continue to learn through it all no matter what happens. God is showing me that I can trust Him in everything. He will lead me to the best for me because He knows it. It is a life a war because I felt little wars having to do with my career but now God is showing me what a war is like with friendships/relationships. He is showing me what really matters when it comes down to those two things.
            Do I want a friend that won't pay attention to me at all or do I want a friend where we can both share things equally? I am sick of working for the attention that I do not get at all. Not only will it happen in career and friendships but it will have in marriages, families, with money, and so on. We do really live a life of war and that war is against the devil. I see it now when people say that being a believer in God is not easy at all. The devil will try anything to get you to stay down in the dumps and for me he had me there until recently. He had me believing all those lies, crying my heart out, yelling at the top of my lungs, and so forth. For the people that know me, I know that doesn't sound like me at all.
            Yet, that is what I have been fighting like for the past month or more. I am just pretty good at hiding it when I am out in public. I can't tell you how many times I have cried this past week just because I have no idea what is going to happen. Giving up control is not the easiest thing for me to do. I mean living by myself for 8+ years. What do you expect? I had a lot of temptations this week where I wanted to go back to the old and where I wanted to think those thoughts but I fought through them. I love the verse I got today. It was: James 1:14. It says:

             "Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drags us away."

I can tell you, right now, that is what I have been fighting with. I told friends that I was up for something and then here is all this temptation coming at me this week but I fought it hard. I know that the temptation comes from what I want and not what God wants. It makes total sense with this verse.
            It does drag us away from the One who really Loves us. We get so caught up in what we think is right for us that we don't see what God has for us and I don't want that. I know the difference now in freedom and temptation and that devil doesn't like that at all so he is going to try harder. Temptation is all those bad thoughts about us or doing the things we know are wrong but yet doing them anyways. It is me crying after doing the things I know I wasn't suppose to do. It is me not feeling at peace with what I did.
            Yet, freedom is the total opposite. It is being at peace with what you did and knowing it is right and okay. It is the joyful and happy feeling that you get without the crying or I guess it could be with crying, depending on how sleepy you are. It is when you see the good in things and in yourself. I will say this. Looking back, I now know that I have been at war in my life since I moved to AR if not then, then a little afterwards and it wasn't fun. I know that war has been hitting me harder the past 3 years. If that makes sense. I am ready to be serious but yet have fun. I am ready to see things for what they truly are.
              Being Christian means we are living a Life of War but in the end it will be worth it all. In the end, we get to have enteral life in a place more beautiful then where we are now.
         

Completely Trusting Our God of Completion

Completely Trusting Our God of Completion LYSA TERKEURST

October 11, 2018

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Zechariah 9:9 (ESV) Is there a desperate cry within your heart that you’re longing with every fiber of your being to see come to pass? I know what that’s like. In my own life, I’ve watched minutes turn into days and weeks into years, as I’ve tried to learn to make some sort of spiritual peace with seasons of waiting. On my good days I stand assured, “It’s just not God’s timing yet.” But on my less stellar days I crumble, afraid and hurt, “God, why? When?You know how much my heart is aching.” What is that hurt, that desire, that prayer you’ve brought to God countless times? If we turn back to the Old Testament in our Bibles, specifically the book of Zechariah, we find the Israelites in a place of crying out in desperation for the arrival of their great and glorious King and His Kingdom. While they have returned from Babylonian exile, discouragement has set in as they look at the state of their lives. Their enemies remain unpunished. The temple has yet to be fully rebuilt. And the partially rebuilt city of Jerusalem feels like a mere shadow of what God has promised it will one day be. (Zechariah 1:14-17) The words from the prophet Zechariah in our key verse are a declaration to the children of God that hope is on its way: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9). Hope that is reiterated in passage after passage of Scripture that refers to the coming King and His Kingdom — Isaiah 62:11; Jeremiah 30:9; Daniel 2:44-45; 7:27; Micah 4:1-8. The promise is sure. Their story isn’t over. Their King is on His way. But the salvation they are expecting? The ultimate deliverance they truly need? It won’t show up for another 500 years. A fact we see when we look ahead in our Bibles to the exact moment the Zechariah 9:9 prophecy is fulfilled. It’s a moment recorded in all four Gospels as Jesus enters Jerusalem on a colt during the last week of His life. (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:28-38; John 12:12-16) As Jesus rides down the Mount of Olives toward the Eastern Gate, the crowds rejoice and shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9) These shouts reveal both their desperation and their expectation. They long to be set free from Roman rule — expecting Jesus to become their king on earth and right the political injustices they face. But there’s a vast difference between the people’s expectations and Christ’s purpose. If He were merely a political king, the Messiah probably would have ridden a horse or stallion. However, when Jesus enters, He enters on a donkey! This significance is immense. Not only was Jesus riding on a donkey fulfilling prophecy, it also signaled Jesus had a different plan and purpose. He didn’t come to bring a temporary victory by becoming an earthly king through battle. He came to bring an everlasting victory by becoming the eternal King who died on a cross to save His people. What a powerful reminder that God’s ways are sometimes opposite of what we want and expect. We need to remember to consider what God’s purposes are and align our expectations and desires around His. Zechariah never saw the fruit of the prophecy. And Jesus’ own disciples didn’t see the significance of His triumphal entry until much later. Knowing this helps me when I start to struggle with the timing of circumstances in my own life. I often want to immediately see the good that God promises, but sometimes God’s good answer is “not yet.” There is a timing to everything. You may be living under a promise of God but not yet see the fruit of that promise. You might pray for something that hasn’t happened yet and even see no hope of it ever coming to pass. Though we may not understand, we must trust God’s timing is perfect. Our God is a God of completion. He makes promises and then He fulfills them. Even if we don’t see it in this life — He will complete what He has set out to complete. Father God, thank You for reminding me today that I can trust You in my wait. When my circumstances and my own weary heart beg me to believe You have forgotten me, help me remember You are still very much at work. Even in the silence. Even in the unknown. Even when I can’t see anything on the horizon. I want to trust You more and more each day — knowing that not only are all Your ways perfect, but Your timing is perfect too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY Psalm 18:30, “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” (NIV)

Afraid to Turn the Next Corner

Afraid to Turn the Next Corner

LYSA TERKEURST

October 9, 2018

 

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV)

You know how some people love the thrill of being surprised?

They love surprise parties. They would love to show up at work today and learn they are being whisked away from their desk for a surprise vacation in just a few hours. They would even love to have one of those makeover shows show up at their house with a film crew and learn they're getting a whole new wardrobe.

Surprises feel thrilling to them. Like how some people feel when a roller coaster ride they thought was over suddenly takes off again and starts doing upside-down loops. They throw their hands in the air and embrace the thrill of the unknown.

They call that fun.

I don't.

I can usually manage my dislike of surprises in all the situations I mentioned.

My friends know not to throw me a surprise party. No one is looking to give me a surprise vacation or new wardrobe. And before getting on a roller coaster, I thoroughly check it out and know its patterned route.

But life is different.

Life twists and turns and throws loops into those places we think will be flat and smooth. Because that's what life does. Sometimes it just catches us off guard.

And at the end of the day, I guess that's why I don't like to be surprised. I can't stand to get caught off guard. It makes me feel exposed and afraid.

But slowly, I'm learning it's not all bad to be surprised.

That vulnerable place reminds us we have needs beyond what we can manage. Feeling a little exposed and afraid reminds us we need God. Desperately. Completely.

And in that gap between what we think we can manage on our own — and what we can't — is right where faith has the opportunity to grow deep roots. Roots that dig down into the hope and joy and peace only God can offer.

My faith doesn't just need to grow big … it needs to grow deep. Yes, I need deep faith roots, like the believer in Jeremiah 17:7-8, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

And how do we get deep roots?

We grow deep spiritual roots the same way a tree grows deep physical roots. The roots of a tree will never go through the pain and effort of digging deeper until there isn’t enough water from the surface to satisfy it. There’s water to be found in the deeper places. But the gift of going through the hardship to get to the deeper water is that deeper roots can help the tree withstand thrashing winds from bigger storms when they come.

And they will come. A tree with shallow roots is in great danger of being knocked down and taken out.

We are much the same. Shallow seeking will produce shallow believing and leave us vulnerable to falling. But deep seeking will produce deep believing and equip us to stand firm, no matter what comes against us.

Deep roots keep us secure in God's love when fear comes.

Deep roots anchor us with the truth that God is in control when surprises blow like strong, unruly winds.

Deep roots hold us steady in God’s peace during the storm that didn't show up on the radar.

Deep roots find nourishment in God's grace when the surface gets awfully dry.

Deep roots allow for growth of faith in God not previously possible.

I'm learning to not be so afraid of what might be around the next corner. Even if it does catch me off guard. I close my eyes and whisper to the Lord … deeper still.

Dear Lord, deep faith roots are what I desperately need. Help me take steps each day that will deepen my roots — especially when I’m having to trust You in the midst of vulnerable places. When the unexpected happens … when the winds of change blow … when the fiercest storms try to uproot me … I want to be a woman found trusting in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

TRUTH FOR TODAY

Psalm 9:10, "Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you." (NIV)

 

REFLECT AND RESPOND

In what ways does knowing that God will sustain you in hard times comfort you?

What specific steps can you take this week that will plant you firmly near the Lord?

 © 2018 by Lysa TerKeurst.
  

Prayer About God's Love

     I will admit that I am crying as I am writing it out on here. This is also the first time I am saying it so it is a real prayer. I just thought it might be a good idea for it to be out there for other people to pray if they wanted to.  I might expand on it more later tonight but in my own personal way and you can do that too but here is just the basics for now.


       
           Dear Daddy,

                  After hearing and knowing what you have gone through for me, I can't think of one single reason why I would deserve something like that to be done for me. Well, I can think of one reason but to my human mind it isn't enough and doesn't make sense. That one reason is because you love me so MUCH! You loved me enough to die for me. You loved me enough to sit there meek and mild when you could have said something and stopped the whole thing. You could have told them to stop beating you with the whips. You didn't have to take those 40 hard hits. You had the power to stop everything but you didn't. I don't deserve all of that in my own eyes. I have sinned so many times and messed up a lot more. Just knowing that I caused all of that with my dumb mess ups makes me feel bad. Yet I don't do anything about it. Yet I can trust You for the simplest of things in my life or what may seem simple when you look at it from a point of being hit and spat upon. I never had it explained to me the way I did at church today and I felt so foolish after wards. Here I am worrying and complaining about things yet You never once complained or worried about what was going to happen during all that judgment. You were silent, meek, had wisdom when time, spoke when time, and mild. You didn't try to get out of it once because You loved me that much. To only think about all the times I have tried to get out of things too because they were too hard. This prayer can't even explain how I felt at church today or the sermon that was taught. I was silent then and tried to understand Your Love but I just couldn't. Why would someone be hurt that bad and made fun of that bad and then put upon a cross for people that dissed them at different times? That is the LOVE that you have for all Your People, The kind of Love that can never be explained. People, "your people", literally mocked and scorned you and you still loved them anyways. I would have said something to all those people but You didn't because you were the True Man. Your life and sufferings proved that. Every bad things was ours but yet You took the blame and died in our place. For that, I will forever and always Love You.


                                                                                                                     In Christ's Name,

                                                                                                                              Amen



          Here is the verses that we looked at today during the sermon at church: John 19:1-16. It is where I got some of the ideas for the prayer.