Where I find my Strength and Comfort

My heart has been SO heavy and broken this year, yet God continues to give me immeasurable peace and strength when I’m feeling my lowest. As I embrace each trial, or try and find the lesson in hard time, God promises to take care of not only my physical needs, like safety, security and shelter, but more importantly- my spiritual needs. Which He has. And continues to do, in all His Glory.

Our salvation and our strong tower has to be Christ or we build up our lives in vain. We build a foundation like sand, that will never hold or support us. God demands that we seek His will and His kingdom before our own comfort and security. If we expect to know His plans for us and see our prayers answered, there are specific steps we are asked to take, walking in faith, in order to receive those spiritual gifts.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Mathew 6:33

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

“And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Is there anything in your life that you’re not giving to God? Anything that you still rely on your own strength and wisdom to deal with or push through?  What is it that you don’t have peace about or feel anxious about today?

“The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be set securely on high.” Proverbs 29:25

As Christians we are called to a greater purpose and the greatest commandment is this: To “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mathew 22:37-40)

Does that mean that we shut our eyes and close our ears to the cries of those in need? What about our spouse, who stresses us out, or that family member is always in crisis? Of course not. We are called to love, serve and bear one another’s burdens in love. But it’s SO clear, that the only way we are capable of achieving this is if we seek God first and foremost. Our own hearts must be surrendered to the Lord, before we can ever make a true impact on those in need around us. Even those sleeping next to us night, our children and our closest friends.

Paul, Jesus’ disciple said, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:1-3

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.^” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

As believers in Christ, we are encouraged to remember where our strength comes from. We are called to walk carefully and to never “commend or exhort ourselves”. Quite the opposite actually, we are called to surrender. Surrender our own plans, surrender the idea of our own strength and hand over all the worries and concerns that we try and deal with on our own.

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”  But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4: 13- 16

“But he who glories, let him glory in the Lord. For not he who commends himself is approved, but whom the Lord commends.” 1 Corinthians 10:8

I’ve been challenged this year, more than any other, to look at my own heart and see how weak I am, how insufficient my efforts are to love and serve those around me. And this is what I have returned to over and over again to restore my soul. The word of God.

So, of course, I feel convicted to share these words of comfort, direction and wisdom with those of you who may be struggling to know where to start… if you are struggling with unforgiveness, loneliness, fear or a rebellious heart that keeps you from spending time in the word: I share this with you as a gentle reminder of God’s fierce love and jealous spirit for you. He wants you all to himself, because he created you for his glory. And despite what goes on from day to day, his plans will forever remain unclear and battles will never be won without first seeking the Lord and His kingdom. God Bless.

“Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22

“The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be set securely on high.” Psalm 23:3