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* | ~ The Word ~ “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” ~*~ Isaiah 26:3 NIV | * | ~ "Steadfast" ~ ...the meaning of: 1.fixed in direction; steadily directed: a steadfast gaze. 2.firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person: a steadfast friend. 3.unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc. 4.firmly established, as an institution or a state of affairs. 5.firmly fixed in place or position. | * |
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* | Lately, whenever something starts to trouble me and I realise faith needs to be tapped into, I sense God move in alongside of me, and as He lightly leans against my shoulder and places His cheek inches from mine, I sense His love for me as I never have before, and, in Spirit, I hear Him softly ask, "Do you trust Me...?" To which I have replied, "Yes, God, I trust You..." He then leans in a little closer, His face nearer to mine, and in His ever-so soft and tender voice asks, "Do you have faith...?" Breathing in His love - with which there is no condemnation whatsoever - I reply, "Yes, God, I have faith..." Then, with my eyes and heart on the love my heart is drinking in, and still holding on to the 'issue' I'd been concerned about prior to registering God was that near to me, He leans closer, and, into my ear, whispers, "Do you?" and instantly I am humbled when I realise, "No, I don't..." This prompting to look closer at my faith is not God's way of scolding me. As the Scriptures tell us, there is no condemnation in Christ. I feel no condemnation from this at all. Quite the opposite actually. I sense His love and in that love I know that He is bringing my attention to this matter not to condemn but to strengthen me; to set me free with faith. The image I get is of me sitting there with concern set before me, and, unaware of it, I've placed faith on top of me as though it's a weight to carry, but then God comes along and, with tender hand and heart, draws my attention to this, and, ever so carefully, He encourages me to let go of this "weight of faith" so He can not only lift my burdens from me, but place faith beneath my feet, for me to stand on, as a firm foundation - supporting me; lifting me up; stopping me from slipping... After I have realised, "No, I don't..." - and that a few times now - God has invited me to trust Him with the issue at hand, so I chose to trust Him; I chose to believe without doubt; I chose to turn away from the whining voice of doubt; I made a mental decision to trust, without taking in consideration what 'mood' was telling me... and, in doing so, the issue at hand was taken care of quite swiftly - as time, circumstance and life allowed. No doubt God's training me to trust Him in these smaller matters, with all my heart, in order to train me for bigger issues down the road, and He's doing so with such tenderness and love that hope and joy and LOVE rises up in me to support faith - as though these things can encourage faith to fight the good fight and win. He's inviting me to be stronger, to stand stronger and taller, to grow that seed of faith He planted in my heart, to go the extra mile with Him, as it were, and enjoy it! He is teaching me to trust Him in all areas of my life; to stay steadfast, no matter what. He is also showing me that, in doing so, in placing my faith in Him, in trusting Him, there is peace... There really is. :) | * |