Streams in the Desert

Streams in the Desert

As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange God with him" (Deut. 32:11-12).

Our Almighty Parent delights to conduct the tender nestlings of His care to the very edge of the precipice, and even to thrust them off into the steeps of air, that they may learn their possession of unrealized power of flight, to be forever a luxury; and if, in the attempt, they be exposed to unwonted peril, He is prepared to swoop beneath them, and to bear them upward on His mighty pinions. When God brings any of His children into a position of unparalleled difficulty, they may always count upon Him to deliver them.
--The Song of Victory

"When God puts a burden upon you He puts His own arm underneath."

There is a little plant, small and stunted, growing under the shade of a broad-spreading oak; and this little plant values the shade which covers it, and greatly does it esteem the quiet rest which its noble friend affords. But a blessing is designed for this little plant.

Once upon a time there comes along the woodman, and with his sharp axe he fells the oak. The plant weeps and cries, "My shelter is departed; every rough wind will blow upon me, and every storm will seek to uproot me!"

"No, no," saith the angel of that flower; "now will the sun get at thee; now will the shower fall on thee in more copious abundance than before; now thy stunted form shall spring up into loveliness, and thy flower, which could never have expanded itself to perfection shall now laugh in the sunshine, and men shall say, 'How greatly hath that plant increased! How glorious hath become its beauty, through the removal of that which was its shade and its delight!'"

See you not, then, that God may take away your comforts and your privileges, to make you the better Christians? Why, the Lord always trains His soldiers, not by letting them lie on feather-beds, but by turning them out, and using them to forced marches and hard service. He makes them ford through streams, and swim through rivers, and climb mountains, and walk many a long march with heavy knapsacks of sorrow on their backs. This is the way in which He makes them soldiers--not by dressing them up in fine uniforms, to swagger at the barrack gates, and to be fine gentlemen in the eyes of the loungers in the park. God knows that soldiers are only to be made in battle; they are not to be grown in peaceful times. We may grow the stuff of which soldiers are made; but warriors are really educated by the smell of powder, in the midst of whizzing bullets and roaring cannonades, not in soft and peaceful times.

Well, Christian, may not this account for it all? Is not thy Lord bringing out thy graces and making them grow? Is He not developing in you the qualities of the soldier by throwing you into the heat of battle, and should you not use every appliance to come off conqueror?
--Spurgeon

From Ordinary to Great..... Dr. Charles Stanley

From Ordinary to Great

Dr. Charles Stanley

Acts 4:13

Anyone who studies God's ways soon realizes they are quite different from man's. Worldly wisdom says that extraordinary people and abundant resources are needed for great tasks, yet the Lord often chooses the small and insignificant to achieve His purposes on earth.

For example, Christ selected a rather unimpressive group of men as disciples, yet after being filled with the Spirit, they "turned the world upside down." During His ministry on earth, Jesus fed thousands with a child's meager lunch, and He viewed the widow's two small coins as a greater offering than all the other generous donations (John 6:5-12; Luke 21:2-3).

God specializes in using people who aren't naturally qualified to accomplish His tasks. Moses was a verbally impaired 80-year-old shepherd who liberated a nation. After Gideon hid from the enemy, God made him a valiant warrior. David was the overlooked youngest son who killed a giant with a small stone and became Israel's greatest king.

God isn't looking for impressive people; He wants willing ones who will bow the knee in humble submission. Being weak and ordinary doesn't make you useless. Rather, it positions you for a demonstration of divine power in your life. He takes insignificant ones and delights in making them great.

Have you ever considered that your lack of ability, talent, or skill is the ideal setting for a great display of Christ's power and glory? If you are willing to submit to His leading and venture into the scary yet rewarding territory of faith and obedience, He will do great things in and through you.

How to Find Your Strength and Identity in the Lord..... ALLI WORTHINGTON

How to Find Your Strength and Identity in the Lord
ALLI WORTHINGTON

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 (NIV)

Have you ever watched a time travel movie where the main character keeps going back in time to try to fix things, but when he comes back to the present, he’s made things worse? That’s what 2020 has felt like!

It seems like we just find our footing with one crisis when another erupts. This turbulent world, turned upside down by calamities, catastrophes and contagions, is crying out for a generation of women … daughters of the King, filled with the Holy Spirit, who get their strength from God to live in a way that matters.

We’ve all been deeply touched and changed by the adversity of this season. Your adversity may have included a broken relationship. It could have been a time of battling anxiety, illness, loss of someone you loved, financial hardships or even a pattern of thoughts that tore you down. Every woman’s battle is unique.

What I know to be true is that our hearts have been fashioned to face and fight even the hardest of situations. We aren’t alone; we have God on our side. And we can’t ever lose sight of that truth because it holds the secret to our real identity.

When we forget who we are in God, we are at risk of believing these lies from the enemy:

• How you look is the most important thing about you.
• What you do and what you achieve define you.
• You must prove your worth.
• You are responsible for everyone’s happiness.
• You aren’t going to recover from this.

Each of these lies is custom designed to distract, discourage and depress us. Small and insignificant on their own, these lies compound over time until they feel true. As the constant day-to-day reminder of these lies wears us down, we begin to doubt who we are.

To do all God has for us in this life, we must know who we are. And our uncertainty about our identity is precisely why the enemy’s lies trip us up. John 10:10 spills the enemy’s deceitful mission, but it also reveals God’s ultimate plan for us when we believe in Him and who He’s made us to be: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” 

The truth is, we are in the direct lineage of the King of the universe. That is our true identity, and no lie of the enemy has the power to steal that from us.

And because of that truth, our calling is clear. Our calling is to know Him, and our mission is to show Him. We’re not called to be people-pleasers but God-pleasers. We aren’t called to give up when times get hard but to give in to God’s will and draw strength from Him.

The truth is, you can’t break a woman who gets her strength from God.

If you are a believer, the Holy Spirit lives in you. We can’t keep walking around feeling powerless, like life is happening to us and we are victims. The Spirit of God lives inside us, empowering us every single day no matter what the world throws at us.

And no matter what lies the world throws at you, the truth is that you are worthy of salvation because He saved you. You are worthy of love because Jesus loves you. You are worthy of more in this world because He empowers you.

Being a woman of God isn’t about what you can do on your own. It’s about standing strong in who you are in Christ and what He does in and through you.

We can partner with God and press into the future He has for us, no matter what that looks like, no matter what adversity comes our way, no matter what obstacles we face, no matter what.

You are a daughter of the King, filled with the Holy Spirit, standing strong on the promise that God created you and called you to live life abundantly in Him.

Lord, thank You for the comfort that comes from knowing You created us to find our identity and strength in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
John 3:17, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (NIV)

Who Determines Your Identity?..... by Kelly Givens

Who Determines Your Identity?
by Kelly Givens

One year, in between jobs, I worked as a temporary administrative assistant at a financial planning firm... during tax season. It was as challenging as you might imagine. I had no experience in taxes but suddenly found myself surrounded by tax forms, calculators and clients who expected me to have the answers to all of their tax issues. I might as well have been in a foreign country trying to communicate in a language I barely understood.

I started with grand ambitions: I told myself that I would learn all about taxes; I took an incredibly challenging online tax course, learned a ton about deductions and exemptions, and strove to be cheerful and helpful to my colleagues and our clients. Things were going great - I was exhausted but felt helpful, felt like my boss appreciated me and thought my coworkers were glad to have me around. Until the worst imaginable thing happened.

A customer claimed to have dropped off his taxes to be done, but his paperwork was nowhere to be found. All of the most important documents he owned and had trusted to us had somehow vanished. Worst of all, I had been the person handling the coming and going of most of the client’s paperwork the day it went missing, so the blame fell on me.

I was nauseous with anxiety. I felt the cold condemnation of my coworkers as they repeatedly asked me what I had done with this man’s documents. All I could say over and over was, "I don’t know. I don’t remember taking his paperwork. I am so sorry." I listened as they whispered accusations behind my back. I felt them watching me like a hawk, seeing if I would make any more careless mistakes. Worst of all, my boss was totally stressed out and I felt the weight of everything on me.

I went home that night and cried my eyes out. I prayed fervently that God would somehow miraculously make the documents appear. I prayed for the strength I needed to face work the next day. I truly felt as David did in Psalms 55 when he prayed,

Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
Oh, that I had wings of a dove!
 I would flee far away and stay in the desert.

All I wanted was to run away and never face my coworkers again. And I couldn’t even think about what the client would say when he found out that all of his tax information was gone.

My husband and I went to Bible study that night, and together our small group prayed over the situation, prayed that the missing documents would be recovered, and prayed for my peace. One person’s prayer in particular stuck out to me:

Father, I pray that Kelly knows her identity is not in what she does or doesn't do, but in what you have done for her. I pray she knows that no amount of mistakes could make her any less your daughter.

Those words were a balm to my wounded spirit. I pictured Jesus holding me, reminding me of his great love for me and that even though I had messed up, my mistakes didn’t define me, he did.

I am a daughter of the King. Being reminded that my identity rests not in my success but in Christ’s sacrifice gave me the courage I needed to face another work day. I realized I had been finding my identity in what other people thought of me and in a job well done, instead of resting in the knowledge that no matter what, I am a beloved, redeemed child of God.

I went home that night and cried my eyes out. I prayed fervently that God would somehow miraculously make the documents appear. I prayed for the strength I needed to face work the next day. I truly felt as David did in Psalms 55 when he prayed,

Fear and trembling have beset me;
horror has overwhelmed me.
Oh, that I had wings of a dove!
 I would flee far away and stay in the desert.

All I wanted was to run away and never face my coworkers again. And I couldn’t even think about what the client would say when he found out that all of his tax information was gone.

My husband and I went to Bible study that night, and together our small group prayed over the situation, prayed that the missing documents would be recovered, and prayed for my peace. One person’s prayer in particular stuck out to me:

Father, I pray that Kelly knows her identity is not in what she does or doesn't do, but in what you have done for her. I pray she knows that no amount of mistakes could make her any less your daughter.

Those words were a balm to my wounded spirit. I pictured Jesus holding me, reminding me of his great love for me and that even though I had messed up, my mistakes didn’t define me, he did.

I am a daughter of the King. Being reminded that my identity rests not in my success but in Christ’s sacrifice gave me the courage I needed to face another work day. I realized I had been finding my identity in what other people thought of me and in a job well done, instead of resting in the knowledge that no matter what, I am a beloved, redeemed child of God.

Unlikely, Yet Perfect..... By Jennifer Waddle

Unlikely, Yet PerfectBy Jennifer Waddle

Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David. - Matthew 1:5-6

I’ve never been one to dig deep into my own family’s genealogy. It’s not because I don’t find it interesting. In fact, the few things I do know about my heritage is fascinating to me. But there’s one genealogy that captures my attention every time I read it—the genealogy of Jesus. For amidst the ordinary (and not so ordinary) names, there’s mention of a woman who probably never dreamed she’d be included in the Messiah’s family line. Her name is Rahab.

Rahab is described in the Old Testament book of Joshua as a harlot, or prostitute— depending on the version of the Bible you read. However, her way of life changed drastically the day she decided to hide two Israelite spies. Through divine inspiration, she knew the men had been sent by God to search her hometown of Jericho, and she helped them escape the king’s men by hiding them on the roof, underneath stalks of flax (Joshua 2:6).

The remarkable thing about Rahab’s actions, was that they were carried out from an unlikely perspective of faith. You see, she had heard of God’s miraculous ways—how He had dried up the Red Sea and led the Israelites on dry land. She had heard of the Israelites’ victories, as they conquered mighty kings and took over entire provinces. And with that knowledge, a seed of faith was planted in her heart. Remarkably, she believed (and feared) what she’d heard about the God of the Israelites. In her own words, she said, “For the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua  2:11).

Through her faithful acts of bravery, she and her family were miraculously spared the destruction of the wall of Jericho in which they lived. Afterward, she went on to marry Salmon, who was in the direct lineage of King David. And twenty-eight generations later, Jesus Christ was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem.

The genealogy of the Savior is the perfect example of how God sometimes chooses the most unlikely people to be instrumental in His purpose. For He looks at the heart and not the outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). He chooses the weak to be symbols of His strength. And, He calls unlikely people to carry out His perfect will.

If genealogies and family histories are fascinating to you, consider looking deeper into Jesus’ timeline. As you read the ordinary (and not so ordinary) names, you’ll find that the Bible is full of surprises that will take you on a journey of remarkable discovery. You’ll also see how God can use the most unlikely of people to perform His perfect plan for mankind.

A Prayer to Soothe an Anxious Heart..... By Jennifer Heeren

A Prayer to Soothe an Anxious Heart
By Jennifer Heeren

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6)

Feelings of worry and nervousness will inevitably pop up as you travel your life’s path. Things will happen that you don’t understand. You will be called to do something even when you don’t have a clue about the outcome. Anxiety will present itself to your uncertain mind. But you don’t have to live there. The answer to anxieties is to go to God as soon as you sense a worry. Don’t wait. Pray immediately and ask for His strength to carry you.

Philippians 4:6 has the first three steps to talk to God about your anxiety:

1. Pray about everything. Does it say only pray about the big problems? I know I have the tendency to try and muddle through in my own meager strength until I can’t go on anymore. But if I do what Philippians says and pray about everything, that really does include everything. God is strong enough to handle ALL my worries. Whereas, I often break from the pressure that I put on myself.

2. Tell God what you need. Don’t use the excuse that He already knows. Of course, He knows already. He’s God. Actually, He knows even more than you do. I tend to get so caught up in my wants, that my real needs are often hidden from view. God may already know what I need but He wants me to always come to Him about everything. Even when I ramble on, He probably just smiles and listens and is glad that I felt comfortable talking with Him

3. Thank Him for all He has done (and will do). Gratefulness goes a long way to cover my anxieties. When I keep a long mental list of all that God has blessed me with, they often crowd out my anxieties. Also, I can keep a mental list of hopes and promises for my future, that also takes up the space that fears try to live. Doubts may seek to fill my mind but thoughts of comfort give me renewed hope and cheer (Psa 94:19).

Go straight to the psalms. The psalms are a great place to go when anxieties seek to overwhelm you. They often begin with a problem and a crying out to the Lord. Then they explain what they want. Finally, the Spirit within the author remembers the truths about just who God is and extreme comfort is the result. The situation may not go away but the attitude changes.

Bring your emotions; don’t hold back. In Psa 31, David comes to the Lord with tears blurring his eyes. He feels as if his body and soul are withering away. He feels sadness is shortening his years. His strength is gone. Like David, we should come to God with all our emotions showing. God knows about them anyway so why should I try to hold something back from him?

Remember that God is very near to you. Psalm 23:4 says that even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, when I remember that the Lord is close beside me. I can remind myself often of this fact that God is indeed very near to me. Then, I don’t have to worry about fighting off my enemies. I can simply let God be God.

Remember that the Lord is your light and salvation. Doubts, fears, and anxieties seek to surround me with darkness—so much that I can’t keep moving forward on my journey. This is Satan’s goal—to stop me from living out my faith in God. But God is my light always, especially when anxiety threatens to darken my path. With that much light all around me, why should I be afraid (Psa 27:1)?

Be desperate. Psalm 34:6 tells me that when I pray out of desperation, the Lord listens and saves me from all my troubles. I can be real and honest with him and I can come to Him like my life depends on it. Just like a parent runs to their child’s cries of distress, God will run to mine. And the more brokenhearted I am, the closer the Lord seems to me (Psa 34:18).

Remember that He is a Good, Good Father. God is indeed a Good Father. Like a mother eagle to her eaglets, God longs to cover you with His feathers and give you full refuge along with a warm place of safety to rest your head (Psa 91:2-4). God promises that He will rescue those who love and trust Him (Psa 91:14). He really does want the best for me and you.

Trust that He has overcome the world and its trials and troubles. Trials, and even sorrows are inevitable in this fallen world where evil so often appears to be winning. But I can have peace despite those troubles. I can take heart and have courage because Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33). And His Spirit lives within me so I am an overcomer too!

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” (Psa 27:8)

Pray over your anxiety with me:

Dear Lord, I thank you that I can come to You always for any reason. I’m grateful that when I pray to You, You answer me. Help me to come to You at the beginning of my fears and anxieties instead of waiting until I can’t stand them anymore. The quicker I come to You the better. You want to free me from ALL my fears. Help me look to You for help more often so that I can be radiant with Your joy. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Streams in the Desert

In me... peace (John 16:33).

There is a vast difference between happiness and blessedness. Paul had imprisonments and pains, sacrifice and suffering up to the very limit; but in the midst of it all, he was blessed. All the beatitudes came into his heart and life in the midst of those very conditions.

Paganini, the great violinist, came out before his audience one day and made the discovery just as they ended their applause that there was something wrong with his violin. He looked at it a second and then saw that it was not his famous and valuable one. He felt paralyzed for a moment, then turned to his audience and told them there had been some mistake and he did not have his own violin. He stepped back behind the curtain thinking that it was still where he had left it, but discovered that some one had stolen his and left that old second-hand one in its place.

He remained back of the curtain a moment, then came out before his audience and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen: I will show you that the music is not in the instrument, but in the soul." And he played as he had never played before; and out of that second-hand instrument, the music poured forth until the audience was enraptured with enthusiasm and the applause almost lifted the ceiling of the building, because the man had revealed to them that music was not in the machine but in his own soul.

It is your mission, tested and tried one, to walk out on the stage of this world and reveal to all earth and Heaven that the music is not in conditions, not in the things, not in externals, but the music of life is in your own soul.

If peace be in the heart,
The wildest winter storm is full of solemn beauty,
The midnight flash but shows the path of duty,
Each living creature tells some new and joyous story,
The very trees and stones all catch a ray of glory,
If peace be in the heart.
--Charles Francis Richardson

The Value of Obedience..... Dr. Charles Stanley

The Value of Obedience

Dr. Charles Stanley

Proverbs 2:1-6

Despite Peter's vast fishing experience, he returned from a night's work with nothing to show for his efforts. It's quite possible that the Lord's request to let the nets down one more time struck him as unreasonable—after all, Peter and his partners were the professionals. Nevertheless, the fisherman complied, and his obedience blessed many.

Scripture demonstrates that divine plans often defy human logic. For instance, who would design a battle strategy that involved only marching and shouting? God told Joshua to conquer Jericho that way, and doing so proved successful (Joshua 6:1-5).

Moses is another example. When he felt unsure about his leadership potential, the Lord gave reassurance in an unusual way—by telling him to throw down his walking stick. When Moses obeyed, God powerfully confirmed His choice of leader (Exodus 4:1-3).

Our Father may ask us to do something that seems illogical—perhaps to accept more responsibility when we were hoping to reduce our workload, to leave a position that He provided just recently, or to take on an assignment for which we feel ill-equipped. His plan might feel unrealistic in view of our age, stage of life, or health concerns. We must press forward in obedience, regardless of how impractical the request may appear.

To grasp the importance of obeying, think about children receiving instructions from parents or teachers. Careful listening is needed for the task to be done safely and properly. Some steps may seem pointless, but the rationale often becomes clear later. Always make obeying God your priority.

Jesus Wept .....ANITHA ABRAHAM

Jesus Wept
ANITHA ABRAHAM

“And he said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’” John 11:34-36 (ESV)

There are times when there are no words. The situation is so heartbreaking that you feel it deep down in your soul.

That’s what happened when we heard the news. A small plane had gone missing, and the only person aboard was the young pilot who had attended our church for years. We prayed for a miracle but quickly discovered our worst fears were true. The plane had crashed, and he did not survive.

He was only 17.

I knew all the “right” Christian things to say to myself and anyone else who might ask … but it was hard to wrap my mind around the incredible loss.

As followers of Christ, we have hope. We know that God uses all things for our good and His glory. We know He is sovereign.

But we still grieve. That isn’t a lack of faith or trust. It is the response of the human heart to a fallen world. The story of Lazarus in the Bible tells of a time Jesus Himself grieved.

There are so many facets to the story of Lazarus. Jesus knew him — this wasn’t just someone who pursued Him in a crowd or heard of His miracles. This was a friend Jesus spent time with. We know Jesus loved everyone, but the Bible specifically states, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (John 11:5, ESV).

Jesus had dinner with Lazarus. Jesus even found Himself in the middle of sister drama with Martha and Mary. He knew this family, and they knew Him. Personally.

That was one of the many reasons why the death of Lazarus was such a shock. It was hard to understand why.

We all know how the story ends — Lazarus didn’t stay dead long. Jesus displayed what He proclaimed: He is the resurrection and the life.

But in the middle, between death and life, something else happened. “Jesus wept” (John 11:35, ESV).

This begs the question … why? Jesus knew Lazarus would die, but He also knew Lazarus would live again. Why weep? He could have started with “Lazarus, come forth,” but He chose to shed tears publicly instead.

Scholars and theologians have theories on this. Jesus doesn’t ever say why, so we really don’t know. But I do know this: I’m glad He did. It reminds me that some moments don’t need words. They don’t need explanations or proclamations. They are simply a time to grieve.

The best advice I received from a friend when I was going through a very dark time was merely to “feel” whatever I was feeling. The healing would come later.

To everything there is a season, including grief. As we walk through sad times, know we have a Savior who is our sympathetic and understanding High Priest. A Savior who gives us hope and life eternal.

A Savior who wept.

Dear heavenly Father, sometimes, life is hard, but I am so grateful for Your presence through it all. Thank You for Your love and the hope that we have in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Hebrews 2:14, “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.” (NLT)

Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.” (NLT)

God is Present..... by Boyd Bailey

God is Present
by Boyd Bailey

There they are, overwhelmed with dread,for God is present in the company of the righteous. Psalm 14:5

God is present in your predicament. You don’t have to pray, “God be with us”; He’s there already. He’s there because He cares. He’s there because you are extremely valuable to Him. God cherishes His children. He loves to give His own good gifts (Matthew 7:11). His presence alone is a present. He’s present to give wisdom. He’s present to give you direction. He’s present to give you courage. In His presence there is peace. He is ever present.

God’s presence is there to calm and convict us. His peace is what propels us forward by faith. Don’t give up on doing the right thing. Sinful compromise for short-term satisfaction never ends well. Why put your family at risk by running after forbidden fruit? God hasn’t left you. He doesn’t wink at wicked deeds. He’s right by your side to see you through this sinful temptation. Indeed the fruit of His presence is the fear of God. He reminds us to remain pure.

“How then could I [Joseph] do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9).

His presence is made manifest in a company of Christ followers. In community, the body of Christ is in full expression. Sin pushes us to seclusion. It’s an illusion to think we can isolate ourselves from Almighty God. But in authentic community there’s nowhere to hide. In the presence of committed Christ followers, we feed our faith. Don’t fight temptation alone. Tell someone. Stay engaged with the righteous. This is the presence of God personified.

Stay in the presence of God-fearing followers. This time of engagement with others facilitates our alone time with our heavenly Father. Stay hard after your heavenly Father in solitude and prayer. His presence is inviting you into intimacy. Design your life around a daily retreat into His presence. Look into His face and feel His love. In His presence He provides just what we need in the moment. Therefore persevere in prayer without ceasing. Be present in His presence!

“God is our refuge and strength, 
an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).

What does it mean for the Spirit to be ever-present? How does the Spirit strengthen my spirit?

Related Readings
Genesis 4:16; Numbers 20:9; Jeremiah 52:3; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews

3 Reasons to Worship God in the Barrenness..... By Jennifer Waddle

3 Reasons to Worship God in the Barrenness
By Jennifer Waddle

Worship is not only an expression of the soul to our loving Creator, it is also a choice. For in times of ease, we find it delightful to lift hands of praise. But in times of hardship, we struggle to even find the strength to worship.

As life sometimes takes on the form of barrenness, through empty womb or lonely heart, finding joy in the God of our salvation can be challenging. Rejoicing in the emptiness can feel counterintuitive, but it is the exact thing needed for the journey.

God is in the barrenness. We have to believe that, even when we don’t feel it. For without Him, there is no hope.

“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.” Psalm 39:7

Here and now, in the midst of the “lonely,” the Lord is worthy to be praised. He is still on the throne and He is good. Above every situation, He remains steadfast and holy.

Do we believe that?

Here are 3 reasons to worship God in the barrenness.

1. God has a divine purpose for every season.

There is a foundational and divine purpose for everything we are allowed to go through in this life. That isn’t an easy truth to accept, but it is necessary for rising above the pain, enough to praise God through it.

Remember, the enemy wants to steal our praise. And in the midst of intense trial, he will pounce on our vulnerabilities and lie to us concerning God’s divine purpose. However, when we declare that God is Sovereign over every situation, we can then look upward instead of inward, and worship Him in the barrenness.

To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

2. Jesus is our First Love.

I’m afraid it is part of human nature to love ourselves the most. Self-centeredness is a struggle for even the most serving of hearts. Especially when we face difficult seasons, our attention is quickly turned inward. Almost by default, we strive to make the “uncomfortable” go away.

Therefore, it is crucial to remember our “First Love” in times of barrenness. By loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength, we will still be able to worship no matter what comes.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 ESV

3. God will turn our mourning into dancing.

Barrenness is but a season, a painful time of yearning and wandering. But God is faithful. He is with us in it and He sees us through it. No matter how long the road seems, how dark the night is, there is joy in the morning. The Lord turns every sorrow into rejoicing and our mourning into dancing.

For I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. Jeremiah 31:13

Choosing to worship in times of barrenness is a beautiful and sacrificial act of love and obedience to a worthy Creator. By loving Him with our whole heart, and knowing His divine purpose exceeds our current circumstances, we will indeed dance with joy again.

A Prayer for Those Weary from Spiritual Battle..... By: Maggie Meadows Cooper

A Prayer for Those Weary from Spiritual BattleBy: Maggie Meadows Cooper

My heart has been heavy for someone I love in recent months. The prayers have been endless. The constant hamster wheel of ideas turning in my mind of how to be supportive. The weight on my chest has been so heavy that at times it feels hard to breathe. And it is fully evident that this battle is not able to be won with earthly strength alone.

The enemy is a master manipulator. A liar, evil, devious, and relentless in his pursuit of those who are trying to break chains and grow closer to the Lord. He knows where to hit them hardest. And he knows where to hit everyone in their circle hardest. His ploy is to wear us down so that all seems lost. All seems hopeless. And faith can be replaced with anger, bitterness, and resentment over what should have been instead of even more fervent prayers.

My sweet friends, whether you are going to battle for someone you love, or for yourself, here are five things from 2 Chronicles 20 the Lord showed me we must remember when our hearts grow weary:

1. When we don’t know what else to do, look to Jesus.

“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” - 2 Chronicles 20:12

Y’all, there have been so many prayers for open and closed doors, for wisdom and discernment, for the right people to be in place at the right time. And there are times earthly doors have been opened…only to be closed. Steps forward…that quickly became steps backward. And I didn’t know what else to do. But Jesus does. No matter what your “mighty army” may be, do not forget that His resources are endless. His plans are good. And His timing is perfect. When you don’t know what else to do, cry out to Jesus.

2. The battle is not ours, but God’s.

“He (Jahaziel) said, “This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” - 2 Chronicles 20:15 

If you are like me, you try to carry all of the burdens in your own life and those of the ones you love, around. You pick them up, pile them on, sling some over your shoulder in a backpack, and trudge along until you can’t take one more step. But y’all, we were never meant to go to battle alone. We are God’s…and the battles are His. Surrender to Him. Trust Him to do what He says He will do. He is faithful.

3. We are not alone!

“Tomorrow, march out against them…But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you.”- 2 Chronicles 20:16,17

So many times in my life, I have heard the Lord whisper, “I’m right here.” But I’m embarrassed to admit that it hasn’t always been a comfort. When my baby refused to sleep through the night, and I was begging God to help her rest as I cried by her crib, I heard him say, “I’m right here.” But I quickly snapped back, “Then do something!” Some of you may have been in that same place. But let me encourage you that He is doing something…always working (John 5:17)…even when we can’t see it. Lay down your weapons. Stand still. And allow the Lord’s presence to be enough for the moment.

4. Worship God with prayers and praise, before the battle is won.

“Then King Jehoshaphat bowed low with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord. Then the Levites from the clans of Kohath and Korah stood to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud shout.” 2 Chronicles 20:18,19

When I am discouraged and weary, worship may be the last thing on my mind. I don’t feel like praising the Lord for something that hasn’t happened yet. It can become difficult to celebrate small victories when the big one is so very distant. But if we are going to stand firm, we must believe in the Lord’s faithfulness and worship Him, not because of what we want Him to do, but because of what He’s already done, my sweet friends. Praise Him and sing out to Him as they did that day, “Give thanks to the Lord, His faithful love endures forever!” (2 Chronicles 20:21)

5. Prepare your heart to meet in the Valley of Blessing when the battle is finished.

“On the fourth day they gathered in the Valley of Blessing, which got its name that day because the people praised and thanked the Lord there.” 2 Chronicles 20: 26

The people of Judah were victorious that day as they gathered and praised the Lord. I pray our outcomes will be the same, but the truth is that I don’t know how our battles will end. Many years ago, I committed to praising the Lord in the good…and in the bad. And the truth is, I’ve had to do both. One is harder than the other. But no matter the outcome of the battle you are facing, God is still God. And He is still good. So, praying and believing for victory in Jesus’ name, I will prepare to meet the Lord in my own Valley of Blessing after each battle I face. And I pray you will too.

Dear Jesus,

The battle I am facing seems impossible to win. Help me to look to you when I don’t know what else to do. Help me to remember that the battle is yours, I am never alone, and that there is power in your name. Give me a desire to worship you, even when I don’t feel like it. And prepare my heart to stand firm, give thanks, and praise you, no matter the outcome.

 In your mighty name,

Amen!