Find Faith, Hope, and Encouragement for Your Walk with God

I love the way God brings people into your life just when you need it. They often don’t even realize they are the messengers of much needed words. I received one of these notes today. “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalms 18:28, NIV). Not only was it the perfect verse, it was a much needed devotional. It reminded me that although things may not yet look different, that light is about to break forth. It was a reminder that things will come in God’s time and that favor will then come through much more than I ever imagined. My dear friend doesn’t send me daily devotionals-we do check ins every now and then. What are the odds that this exact devotional would have come to her today and that she would think to send it to me? Godwink.

I have mentioned that I have been working on intentional prayer. Although I have shared in previous blogs that I am in the midst of a season of abundance, I am, like many of us, in the midst of spiritual battles as well. I don’t think that, as believers, we are ever free from a constant pull to move away from God. The enemy does not want us to draw nearer to God, instead he wants to pepper us with lies and doubts so that we turn away from God and dwell in darkness. Some days are easier than others. Yesterday was not one of my easy days. I recognized an anger below the surface that I could not trace its origins. I felt, well, off. So as I went to bed last night, I ended the day in intentional prayer that my anger be removed and that I would have the scales removed from my eyes and my ears opened to God’s truth and nothing else. Then, I woke up this morning in intentional prayer again. The first affirmation today was a shared memory via text associated with a verse, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:17, NIV). Then, I heard a song that reminding me to not be afraid and that “This is for my Glory”-I need to “choose to listen and believe.”

It’s not everyday that you have the opportunity to celebrate a life well lived on the same day that you get to celebrate the joining of two lives and a new beginning. This weekend I had the chance to do just that-what a blessing. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (Romans 12:10, NIV) is the verse that resonated with me on both occasions. The devotion and dedication to a life well lived was evident in the morning’s service. A hero, a warrior, father, grandfather, brother, husband, and friend. As I sat there listening to the service he had planned for the last three years, each verse seemed fitting, each memory shared illustrating his humble leadership and sincere care for others above self. A man with high standards but well respected. His impact on those of us that remain was evident by the heartfelt words that expressed the deep sense of loss and grief while remaining joyful and grateful for the time we shared while he was on this earth.