Reflection of 2009

The Lord is so gracious. He never fails to amaze me. His patience towards me is unending, and for that I am so grateful. It seems that no matter how often I have learned or heard lessons or truths of the Lord growing up, He still can open my mind to those truths in a new way. I guess that is truth in action, that the Word is living and active. Praise Him for that!! Praise Father that He is not a dead or inactive God, but truly He was, and is, and forever will be.

I had the chance to s hare a testimony at a crusade that my church was holding this week. For the Lord’s glory and hopefully someone’s encouragement, I will also share with you…

As believers, we go through many seasons. There are seasons of peace and contentment, seasons of growing, and seasons of trial. Some seasons seem easier than others, but all seasons are beneficial. The truth is that trials do come, to all of us. And God knows that they will. That is why James says to count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds, because the testing of your faith produces perseverance and perseverance must do its work, making you mature and complete, lacking nothing.

Again, I am so grateful that God’s Word continues to teach me, even lessons that I have learned or been taught about 20 times. This past year, my mind was opened to a deeper understanding of some vital truths:

1. The Lord is my shelter. Sometimes God shelters us completely FROM a storm. Other times He chooses to shelter us THROUGH a storm. “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.” (2 Samuel 22:2). I had a beautiful mental image one day- the Lord’s hands were domed together (almost like the position of your hands when you say the rhyme, “Here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and see all the people.”- I hope you know what I am talking about)- So the Lord’s hands are domed and inside the dome was me. Whether the Lord chooses to completely shelter me from the storm (whereas I probably never will know that the storm was headed my way) or whether He chooses to shelter me through the storm, I am still totally safe and secure. Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved or shaken.” The Lord is my shelter.

2. The will of God will never lead me where the grace of God cannot keep me. I saw this quote on my prayer partner’s journal and it has stuck with me ever since. God’s grace is sufficient for me. He will never lead me where His grace is not big enough to keep me or help me to handle. “Though my flesh and my heart may fail, God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalms 73:26).

3. If God is for me, who can be against me? The Lord tests and tries my heart to shed light on my weaknesses or shortcomings but NOT for the sake of condemnation (Romans 8:1). He is ALWAYS for me. He makes me aware of my hindrances so that He can set me free. “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6). “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation- whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

4. The Lord will fight for me (Joshua 23:10, Exodus 14:14) and the Light ALWAYS overcomes the darkness.

Therefore, I have the choice of how I will respond, whether in a season of contentment or a season of trial. How I pray that I would hold on to the truths that are hidden deep in my heart. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Praise God for His unfailing love!!