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| Where does A Steadfast Heart come from? |
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In my personal quiet time today, I was reading Psalm 108 which prompted these thoughts, which I would like to share with you.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have either personally experienced or been closely connected to people who have experienced the following things: the death of a parent, being diagnosed with cancer, experiencing marital problems flowing from abuse and drugs, attempted suicide, being arrested for felony theft, underage drinking and driving, extramarital sex, pornography, unwed pregnancy, verbal attacks, acusations of wrongdoing, selfish actions, bad decisions, gossip, slander, and many more.
Over the last couple of weeks, I have either personally experienced or been closely connected to people who experienced the following things: a friend giving up their time to be there when someone was hurting, the tears of forgiveness, the daily provision of needs, the joy of being unexpectedly blessed by God, a group of believers helping one of their own with scrapers, paint brushes, and compound miter saws, the joyful giving of money to forward God's kingdom, the brotherhood of sharing insights from a daily quiet time, a quiet and tender moment of togetherness with my spouse, shared joy with a child over an achievement, the beauty of God's creation in sunrises, sunsets and landscapes, a group of believers helping unbelievers in our community with hedge trimmers and chain saws, a moment of close connection with God, the excitement of discovery when someone finds an insight from scripture all by themselves, and many more
Such is the stuff of life. The bad, the evil, and the frustrating, mixed unevenly with the good, the awesome, and the everyday. How do we survive it? How do we thrive in it? We do it by walking with God each step of the way.
Somehow in the midst of this bewildering array of ups and downs, God is there. And he wants us to share it all with him, to open our hearts to him. He can absorb our anger, comfort our pain, release our bitterness, join in our joy, restore our strength, guide our feet, provide peace, challenge priorities, confront our sins, and transform us into people who are like him.
He can. So why do we only want to look to Him for eternal salvation? We miss so much when we don't go to him with the stuff of daily life. We miss so much when we don't notice the ways he supports and provides for us. We miss so much when we don't immerse ourselves in his word. We miss so much when we don't get to know him as He really is.
But when we do . . . over time . . . God builds in us an unshakable confidence in him. In Psalm 108, David says, "My heart, O God, is steadfast;" I think it is this steadfast heart that helps us to withstand the trials. We can look back at our history with Him and think, "If God has saved me before, he can and will save me again." And this helps us to be patient and faithful in the struggle.
So I encourage you to build the habit of a daily time with God. A time spent reading His word and sharing your life and praying for insight and wisdom and strength and courage and more from HIM. He will meet you there and your heart will be strengthened! |
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| To add a comment to "Where does A Steadfast Heart come from?" |
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| July 22, 2007 |
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Great post! Seems like your taking a liking to the online community, MyChurch.org. I'd love to interview you sometime to get your thoughts of MyChurch.org, New Life & technology for Church 2.0 - the blog. Thanks for the post, it was a blessing. |
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| July 23, 2007 |
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| I know that I would not be where I am without God. I would not have made it through the trials I have faced without Him there. I love it when I slow down and pay attention to the little things that happen daily. I know that they are God's doing. It's such a wonderful feeling knowing that God is here with me every step I take. I can't imagine not living with faith in God. Life would be so much harder. Thanks for the blog, Steve. |
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