Saturday, April 11, 2009

I need to learn better

As you grow up - you learn never to pray for patience - because the Lord never just gives it... He makes you learn it. He allows things to happen so that you must practice that for which you seek so desperately. Much like praying for patience I need to learn how to choose the Bible verses I decide to memorize. In my earlier blog I mentioned that this time I'm memorizing Eph 3:20-21 - I blogged about "Exceedingly Abundantly." I should have considered while writing the blog that there was a reason for the Lord's choosing of that verse.

The day after that blog my Monkey got into some trouble. What we as parents thought was just another pothole in the road turned quickly into a crevasse that seemed insurmountable. Of course, to God, it was just a teeny tiny divot - barely noticeable. During this time I tried to meditate on the verse - "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us..."

What exactly does this mean for us? We are currently going through this storm that feels like a hurricane - wind howling and swirling around us, cold driving rain pelting our skin like pin pricks, and poor visibility. It would be very easy to lose myself in the goings on around me, focusing on the circumstances, my feelings, the cause. Instead, a better use of my time is to meditate on God's Word, turning my focus toward Christ, knowing that He has our best interest at heart, and standing on the promises of "'I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord..." Jer. 29:11-12, or "Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will rescue you and you will glorify Me." Ps 50:15, or "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6-7.
It is here in the Scripture that my God comforts me. He assures me that He is here. That nothing is out of control. That He will make all things beautiful in His time. What may seem as an insurmountable crevasse is a way in which God is strengthening me, Monkey, Jeremy - to bring glory to Him. And on that day - when success is achieved - you better believe that I will say - "Here we erect an altar of remembrance to God Almighty - He has brought us through this. Nothing is impossible with Him. He is faithful to save to the uttermost."

From now on, I'm sticking to memory verses like, "Jesus wept." or "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." Maybe memorizing Scripture that doesn't have its roots in edification will stave off trials and storms.


Somehow, I don't think it will happen that way. :)

1 comment:

Heather said...

Oh, G... I thought you knew better! Never, ever pray for patience~ the LORD will surely deliver, but never in the way you hoped :)

Much love and prayers for victory over your current struggle, and Happy Easter, bff!

love,
me