I really just had to laugh this morning when I read the Scripture assigned to the devotion I was reading. It pretty much addressed my current situation in such a vivid way that I really could only laugh. Oh, Father. You know. . . :)
So, there have been a TON of changes in my life lately including the change of a job and, of course, the pending marriage. Add to that the fact that we're looking for a new place to live, and I'm pretty much on a totally different path than I was even at the start of the year.
I'll be completely honest. It's been HARD to trust God through this. Not with the marriage. I'm sure I'm with the Mighty Man of my dreams. Not with the living situation. Duh. I'm sure I'm supposed to share a roof with my hubby. Not with the job situation. I'm sure I followed the Lord's guiding. But the trust has come in provision more than anything. Now that I'm an independent writer and editor, I no longer have a steady paycheck. It's a little bit different than what I've been used to in the past.
Okay, a lot different.
Okay, drastically different.
Okay, like, it's killin' me.
Not that I'm starving to death. Not that I don't have work. Praise God! He's blessed me with plenty to keep me busy. But the absence of a steady paycheck and benefits has really rocked my boat, and I've found it to be the latest hot-button stressor in my life. (There's always something the enemy uses, and this one is it for me right now.)
We had a great meeting at church last night, and the topic came up about how easy it is for our mood to be based on our bottom line. Whether or not we have money determines our level of peace and joy. Oh, man. Talk about convicting. While that's entirely human, it is just that: entirely human.
Jesus told us over and over to seek Him and He would provide. The Word CLEARLY states that God is faithful and will meet all of our needs. So, why is it so difficult for me to trust that He will cover me in this area? I'm seeking Him. I'm doing the work He brings. I'm seeking out more. I believe I'm doing His will. What more do I need to do? Learn to trust in the process. I think that's the key.
This is why I laughed when I read the passage from the devo today. Check out Daniel 6:1-10:
Darius decided to appoint 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the realm, 2 and over them three administrators, including Daniel. These satraps would be accountable to them so that the king would not be defrauded. 3 Daniel distinguished himself above the administrators and satraps because he had an extraordinary spirit, so the king planned to set him over the whole realm. 4 The administrators and satraps, therefore, kept trying to find a charge against Daniel regarding the kingdom. But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. 5 Then these men said, “We will never find any charge against this Daniel unless we find something against him concerning the law of his God.”
6 So the administrators and satraps went together to the king and said to him, “May King Darius live forever. 7 All the administrators of the kingdom, the prefects, satraps, advisers, and governors have agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an edict that for 30 days, anyone who petitions any god or man except you, the king, will be thrown into the lions’ den. 8 Therefore, Your Majesty, establish the edict and sign the document so that, as a law of the Medes and Persians, it is irrevocable and cannot be changed.” 9 So King Darius signed the document.
10 When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.
Verse 10 was what got me. When Daniel learned this tragic news, he did JUST what he had done before. He went and prayed and THANKED God. What an awesome response!! :) You know, when we get challenging news, how often do we turn IMMEDIATELY to God and pray? Better yet, how often do we include thanks? Even better yet, how often do we do so in front of a window in the face of our enemies so that they can CLEARLY see that we aren't afraid of them and that we trust God and will seek Him no matter what?
I just laughed. Daniel wasn't shaken at all. He went straight to an open window and prayed and thanked God.
Today, I want Daniel's faith. Well, I want Jill's faith, but with extra strength from the Lord. I want to trust Him completely--to find His peace and joy regardless knowing that HE IS FAITHFUL.
If you're like me today, would you join me in praying and trusting and praising? Let's actually trust God. Let's actually really accept His peace and believe His Word when it says that He'll supply all of our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. A friend told me last week that there are more than 8,000 promises in the Bible. With a faithful and honest God, we can trust them all.
Love you all!
- Jill
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