My Father Knows Best
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)
What’s God doing in your life?
I gave you a week off, so now you have two weeks to look back on and see how God has been faithful to you. What did you see in these last two weeks? How did God come through for you? Is God stirring a passion inside of you? Are you being prepared for something? Have you watched God work the details out in your life? Feel free to stop by and share with me what God has done in your life. I always enjoy hearing all about it!
Honestly, these last couple weeks have had a few ups and downs for me. I could reach back even farther and say even 3 weeks ago… the ups and downs started shaking up my world. You see, I felt like I reached the mountain top about 3 weeks ago. I felt like I got to the top and I was thoroughly enjoying the view. I was reminded of who God was in my life and all that He wants to do. Yes, I continue to seek Him daily, but some days I do a lot more “seeking” than “finding”. Do you ever have days like that? Well, let me tell you… I have had a few.
In fact, these last 5 years of my life. I have been on a certain medicine that has kind of dulled my senses. It put me in a fog. This last year and a half, I have worked to come completely off of it. It’s been a work in progress, but praise God I am seeing victory! God is giving me clarity of mind back and showing me Himself daily! Yes, three weeks ago… I felt the wind brush against my skin and sensed the presence of God in a way I hadn’t felt it in a while. The medicine kind of dulled these senses! It was such a marvelous feeling to be in the presence of my King again… there I was unashamed, twirling like a little girl, and enjoying my Father in Heaven. I was admiring everything about God and the fact that through Him I am seeing victory in my health. The battles have been pretty significant these last 5 years or so, but I have continued to seek God. Not because I always felt Him, but because I know He is faithful. He will not fail me! He never stepped off the throne! He has been God and will continue to be Lord over my life!
I say all of this because it was only 5 short days after this mountain top experience, that I was quickly introduced to the valley once again. My character was attacked and I was hurt pretty badly. I didn’t know for sure how I would recover from the fall this time. Again, I was on my knees before the One who knows me best! I was hurting and thinking “wait, wasn’t it just moments ago that I was on the mountain top.” The truth is that yes, the mountain top has a beautiful view and I enjoyed every moment up there. But some of life’s greatest lessons are learned in the valleys of trials and endurance. We learn by seeking God and His best! We learn by persevering, even when life doesn’t feel good!
These last couple weeks, I woke up every morning repeating to myself 3 verses about joy. Some days I didn’t feel very joyful, but I knew that my joy was to be a response to who God is, not how I feel. My feelings will always betray me. They seem to shift often! My mind needs to be controlled by the Lord and His thinking. So I commit His Word to my life! I will be joyful because God is good! His goodness endures forever! I will not let the Enemy defeat me or keep me in the valley! I have things to do! I have places to go and people to bring with me! I’m on a mission to see God’s glory be displayed!
Are you with me? Do you want to go where God leads, even when it doesn’t feel good? Do you want His best for your life, even when it doesn’t make sense? Will you trust Him? Will you go after all that He has in store for you? Will you be courageous and victorious through Jesus Christ?
Challenge: Read Deuteronomy 4
Apply the Word: What does it mean to truly seek God? Are you looking for God with all your heart and with all your soul?
Memory Verse: Deuteronomy 4:29
Dear Father God, Thank You for this victory that I am experiencing in my health. It’s been a daily battle, but I continue to see that You are bringing me through it! I love that I can depend on You! You will always see me through! You have never left me and You never will! I live for the purpose You have in store for me and I desire Your best!
My Father Knows Best,
I know what you mean sis. I had many days where I have reached the top and completely enjoyed the view. But what I have come to know is even though I am enjoying the view from the top I can’t stay there I must move up more for the mountains are higher and higher
Yes, it’s great to know that the mountains keep getting higher and higher. The view keeps getting better and better. The hike to the top is worth it! This reminds me of the book “Hinds Feet on High Places”. This is one of my favorite books because it’s all about the Christian journey we are on and the ups and downs we face. Praise God that He is with us in the journey! It’s an adventure of a lifetime with God as my guide!
again you have met me where i needed to see God. thank you for being faithful in your devotions even though i am not. keep it up my friend. it is like meeting an old friend whenever i turn my computer on and your devotional is there waiting for me in the inbox. thank you!
Hi Kathy,
It’s always so good to hear from you! It’s comments like this that inspire me to write. Thank you for every encouraging word! May God continue to use these devotionals in your life!
Hi Sarah, I know exactly what you are saying in your message. I have learned a while back that to please God I must believe that he is with me in the valley as well as the on the mountain. I also know that even on the mountain top, Elijah had to experience a powerful wind, and earthquake and a fire until he got to the gentle whisper of the LORD. Wherever you are in your life, your God is with you!
Thank you Marianne! Yes, God continues to be faithful through every mountain top and every valley experience. I love that He never stops being God. He continues to be very faithful! I appreciate your notes about Elijah. I really don’t take these moments for granted. I appreciate all that God does to build my character and make me more into all that He designed me to be. This is just another opportunity to embrace God’s goodness and mercy! I’m enjoying the adventure He has me on, even the bumps in the road!
Thanks for the encouragement!
Wow, you have no idea how this has hit soooo very close to home. I was just going to write on Tumblr about my experience and came across your blog somehow…and wow. I’m amazed.
Praise God! It’s always great to hear how God is using these devotionals! I’m excited for how He will continue to use this in your life and strengthen you for your journey!
In His Grip of Grace,
Sarah