As I sit in the early morning quiet, I wait. I have been praying for weeks on an encouragement to share and as I was going through my Facebook feed a dear friend of mine, Pat Walsh, posted Courage Dear Heart Psalm 31:24. This is where the Lord said, “this is what I want you to write to encourage the Ladies.” It caused me to think of the past few weeks and the prayer requests we have shared, the struggles we are treading through, the questions, hurt and stuff that has been looming around us…Take Courage Dear Heart and Wait/ Hope on the Lord. This is from David in the Psalms
“Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”
Psalms 31:24 NIV. We do hope in the Lord, more than that we Have Put Our Hope In The Lord. Sickness, mental illness, stress, finances, hurt, shame and much more are popping up in our circles of friends and family. We are bombarded with questions and no answers, just David saying, “Take heart”. This is such a promise for us to hold on to, Hope is always an act of trust, love and expectancy. For me sometimes just getting up, putting my feet on the floor takes courage as I am not sure how my day will play out. This I can assure you is not always so easy for me, trust does not come easy, life definitely has been a challenge and that ugly thing called doubt and negativity keep knocking on my mind and hearts door….Take heart dear friends God has not forgotten us, He SEES and HEARS US. He is working tirelessly to bring us together often, to walk alongside each other and help carry those burdens, trials and messiness of the world and take them to God in prayer and He gives us the strength only He can give us. These past weeks when trying to pray, be in public, go to work, be nice to people and even driving down the road I have to stop and take courage dear heart….So much is going on around us, trying to drown out God’s voice. It can be mentally and physically exhausting and the last thing I want to hear is “Take courage those who hope in the Lord”, BUT GOD gently nudges me and I can stop my tantrum or pity party and melt in His embrace that gives my heart COURAGE, STRENGTH AND SUSTAINS ME THROUGH THIS NEXT STEP. There is a song from Hillsong “Touch of Heaven”, and the chorus is…”All I want is to live within Your love, Be undone by who You are, my desire is to know You deeper. Lord, I will open up again, throw my fear into the wind, I am desperate for a Touch of Heaven.” These words spoke to me this weekend. The song has been going through my mind and heart, where ever I am I am hearing it. In Bible study and our small groups, as I listen to our hearts pour out I hear Jesus saying “Take courage dear heart….I am here and I Hear You, I See You and I am with You, for I know your Hope is in the Father and Me.” I am leaving you here with several verses that have been pouring through my mind and heart as I remember all of you in my prayers. Have a blessed week and I pray you have that Touch from Heaven foe you as you look to Him.
“But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” Psalms 31:14 NIV
“Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.” Psalms 31:3-4 NIV
“I will exalt you, Lord, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. Lord my God, I called to you for help, and you healed me.”Psalms 30:1-2 NIV
“Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalms 30:4-5 NIV
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.”Psalms 30:11-12 NIV