Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your Presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:10-12 and 16-18
I’ve thought a lot about humility lately. I regularly consider the humility it takes to walk confidently with God.
Humility: a modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness.
Realizing that without God I am nothing, somehow translates into solid confidence and walking out life with certainty rather than pretense. Since I am not self-promoting, I can relax into the fact that what God brings my way, He will also sustain if I continue to abide in Him.
The broken spirit and broken and contrite heart it mentioned in the verse above are things I have become very accustomed to during this season. I have been led into the center of the forest of my life and the only way to make it through without getting lost, is to focus on His Presence and what He’s doing at any given moment. See, what I’m taking away from life, right at this moment, is a deep gratitude for my season. Is that hard for you to believe? Friend, here in the wooded area, where a person can’t see a way out on their own, is the nearest I’ve felt to God in a while. He alone is cutting a path for us. He alone is deciding when and how that path will be cut. We are smack dab in the center of His will, and I’ve never felt more grateful. I’ve also learned a lot about not keeping God in a box when it comes to how He can and will provide. My mind has been opened, and also blown, at how creative He is in this area, bringing just the right scenario at just the right time. He is amazing.
Every time I’ve begun to descend into despair, He’s given me a glimpse of the promise fulfilled. Every time I’ve wondered how on earth we would make it any farther, He’s been standing right beside me and immediately bringing comfort or breakthrough.
One day, maybe I will recount every single thing He’s done to love us in and through this season, but I assure you, it would be a long list.
Prayer Moment: God, You are the God of the mountaintop and God of the valley. Thank You for giving me the privilege of knowing You in both places. Thank You for loving me so much that You are willing to allow me to be uncomfortable because You know in the end, we will be closer. Love is not strong enough a word to adequately describe my feelings and affections for You, but it will have to suffice for now. I adore you. You alone are worthy. You alone are Holy. I will follow You forever, wherever. In Jesus name. Amen.
I do not trust my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but You give us victory over our enemies, You put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise Your name forever. Selah. Psalm 44:6-8
365 Days in the Presence 