The front of the card from my Aunt Audrey!
In this rushed and busy time
of year many of us fall into a frenzy of busyness. In the well-meaning pursuit of spreading joy
we exhaust ourselves to the point that we do not personally enjoy the blessings
around us. We can become so overwhelmed we
overlook the gifts of family, friendship, and the spirit of goodness that is
meant to beckon our hearts into that divine place of gratefulness and
appreciation during this blessed time of year.
I am one such person. With all
the activities of the season keeping me busy I did not truly find the time to remember
the reason for the season. Of course I
had good intentions and with a heart full of hope I truly tried but the material realm in which we live is
so material-driven that my spirit simply held on for the ride.
Two
days after Christmas I found myself home from the holidays with the lull of the
after-party soothing my mind. In this
blessed silence the Lord chose to speak to me in the most profound way because
He knew that in the stillness I would hear Him and, frankly, He had something to say! I write these things down and share them because it’s my heart’s hope
that you see how God speaks to us and to also show you that when He speaks with such
kindness, using a particular emphasis, we should be amazed. It’s easy to overlook God’s voice or simply
call certain things coincidence- but I’ve learned that God works within irony
and that truly nothing is coincidental or ironic. Here is the blessing I want
to share:
December 27th, waking before my family I took our dog, Jimbo, for a morning walk. The day was starting off quietly for many reasons; one being that the Texas wind wasn’t blowing, though it usually is.
With my cup of coffee I walked behind Jimbo as he explored. We came up to the creek that had recently
been full of rushing rain water and yet this morning the water was oddly
still. Immediately I thought of the
scripture that says The Lord "leads me
beside still waters”. I felt this remembrance ushered some holiness into my day and with reverence acknowledged that I was walking beside still waters. My heart was grateful that God
was near. I truly appreciated His momentary presence, thanked Him and moved along.
Back
at home I began going through the mail, particularly the Christmas Cards that I had
received while we were gone for the holidays and I opened the most beautiful
card from my sweet Aunt Audrey. It
simply read “Be still, and know that I am
God.” (Psalm 46:10) Interestingly, it displayed a stunning picture of a snow-ladened creek sitting among the woods with its water as still as the day I was experiencing! It was a poignant reminder to me, yet again, of God’s presence. I truly felt awed by the parallel message and I told myself I’d keep that card forever, in honor of my aunt, and then
opened my daily devotional entitled Jesus Calling to do my daily reading. The date, of course, was December
27th so I begin reading that page.
The second sentence of that devotional says, “Take time to be still in My Presence so that I can strengthen you.”
HERE
is where we all need to pause in stillness for a moment. God spoke and He spoke and He spoke using the word Still or Stillness! It is undeniable that my day was starting off full of irony-but, like I already stated; nothing in this world is truly ironic and God works within irony! I knew that God was speaking and I knew that, spiritually, I needed to be still
and pray over this amazing experience! So
in awed stillness I went to the Lord in prayer and quoted the 23rd Psalm
knowing that within this passage and prayer I'd find more of what God was trying to tell me:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not
want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He
leads me beside still waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of
death,
I
will fear no evil,
For you are with me;
Your rod and your staff,
They comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
All the days of my life,
And
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
FOREVER.”
Psalm 23
This scripture means many
things to many people. It is a
well-known scripture that has comforted humanity for centuries. After I prayed and acknowledged God’s gift of
mercy through this profound scripture and through three encounters with the simple directive to be still, I went and opened my Bible to Psalm 23 and several applicable
truths God wanted me to meditate on leaped off the page. Here they are:
·
He restores my soul- due to my sinfulness I needed a reminder of this in a profound way.
·
I will fear no evil – I needed to be
reminded fear is NOT from God
·
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever – I needed to be reminded that I am forever HIS-no matter what! God knew I needed this powerful reminder of what my future holds.
On this December 27th God
targeted my spiritual being in a profound way. God called out to me three times to tell me
that He was near! As I walked by the creek He
reminded me that He is present in my life.
Through the Christmas card He reminded me to be still and acknowledge that He
is God- (He is large and in charge). Then, through my daily devotional, He talked to me and flat
told me to be still so that He can strengthen me. He knew I was in a weakened state and needed a reminder that through
faith I will be sustained and that He will strengthen me so that I can get
through any struggle and any pain, shame, disappointment or sorrow that comes my way. In the wake of a new year I
just wanted to inspire you with the best New Year's Resolution EVER: that you can "OVERCOME" as well!
Wishing you the Happiest of New Years! May you remember to seek God’s voice within the ironic and may you see Christ’s work in the coincidental. May the Lord’s merciful love fill your heart and home, today and always!
Wishing you the Happiest of New Years! May you remember to seek God’s voice within the ironic and may you see Christ’s work in the coincidental. May the Lord’s merciful love fill your heart and home, today and always!
RvH
Song Recommendation:
Still
By: Hillsong
