It's a New Year

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMzRTvYaUGU

Because He Lives ~ David Crowder Band

 

Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! ~ Romans 11:33 NIV

 

It’s New Year’s Day, and many will pause to reflect on all that the Lord has done for them in the past year, receiving encouragement for the future. When the girls and I reviewed all our prayer cards, we were encouraged at how many prayers the Lord had answered. We saw the faithfulness of the Lord in all He’d done. How much more will we fall in love with Him as we review the wonder of the Lord?

 

I love that the Lord is both unsearchable and can be found by those who seek Him, (Romans 11:33; Jeremiah 29:13). I am surprised by the voice of His thunder in the whirlwind and His choosing to speak to us in a still, small voice, (Psalm 77:18; 1 Kings 19:12). I have found that there are seasons the Lord calls us to be strong and courageous, promising to walk with us—to be with us wherever we go. And then there are seasons the Lord says to stand firm and see how He will deliver us, (Joshua 1:9; Exodus 14:13). Of the many aspects of the Lord, I think Paul nailed it in Romans 11:33, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Isaiah 55:8-9 agrees, “’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,’” (NIV). 

 

Before we venture too far into this new year, take a moment to pause, reflecting on all the Lord has done and the prayers He’s answered. Then, as you move forward, dig into His Word, and uncover the mystery of His ways. I pray that as you seek after the Lord this year, you’ll stand in awe of Him, falling in love with the Lord, as He reveals the richness and fullness of His love for you.

©Heather Potts 2023

Feeling Dry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjNZf878ISQ

Oh My Soul ~ Casting Crowns

 

Why, my soul, are you downcast?
    Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
    for I will yet praise him,
    my Saviour and my God.

~ Psalm 43:5 NIV

 

Have you ever had a good day, but then suddenly, for no apparent reason, you felt sad, like to the point of tears? We’d had a good day, but suddenly, I felt like crying and couldn’t explain why. I did try to explain it: maybe I’m overtired; maybe it’s because I’m a girl; perhaps it’s hormones. Who knows? I certainly didn’t.

 

After everyone had gone to bed, I sat down with my Bible and journal and flipped to Psalm 43:5 and began writing the verse. As I began to write, God did a beautiful thing for me; two things, actually. The first, was that He washed His peace over me, and I no longer felt anxious or sad. The second, was that He allowed my eyes to drift into the next column and see where I had previously underlined Psalm 42:2:

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?

That was the answer to my emotional tizzy: my soul was needing to meet with God.

 

Due to several things, I had an immensely hard time waking up this morning, which left my quiet-time choppy (at best), as I juggled the girls' needs, instead of keeping my “date” with Jesus. And I (clearly) needed that time. I needed to allow God time to hold me, Holy Spirit to speak to me, and Jesus to lead me. But because I didn’t take the time at the start, something in my day left me feeling dry…until I sat and met with God. It’s an amazing and beautiful thing what entering His presence does for you.

 

If, throughout the course of your day, you find yourself feeling dry, take the advice given in Psalm 42:5-8, (MSG):

Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
    Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
    soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
    He’s my God.

When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
    everything I know of you,

. . .
Then God promises to love me all day,
    sing songs all through the night!
    My life is God’s prayer.

©Heather Potts 2022