Wherever You lead

Its been awhile since I have written my heart to read. Sometimes my good intentions have their way of staying just that, good intentions. How many things on a daily basis do we intend to do that we just never get around to....spending more quality time with our family members, spending more time in prayer and reading our word, eating like we should, exercising, saving money and the list can go on and on. But the deeper issue here is my not my lack of commitment but my lack of desire. You see everything that gets done is the stuff I value. You've heard it said "Where there is a will there is a way." I don't make the time for the things I intend on doing because they fall short on the list of my priorities (my hearts will).

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?- Jeremiah 17:9

Ouch! Yes its a revelation of my human heart. Its self seeking, prideful, and lazy. Frequently insensitive and disobedient to the voice of God.  But what is truly important in this life? Is it not the people and things that get left behind on my list of things to do.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.- Hebrews 4:16

But oh sweet grace! The fact that I even realize my imperfect state is the precious grace of God. That he loves me enough not to leave me to myself. That he is right here desiring to lead me on my, to follow his will for my life not my own. So reader if you can relate to this and know there are things in your life that are out of order be encouraged! He is here waiting for you to obey and follow His lead. May we have hearts that join Paul and say;

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith — that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.- Philippians 3:7-11

Over the past few months, ideas of sharing moments of my life and things the Lord has shown me throughout it all, have been flooding through my mind and heart. My desire is to glorify Him because He is the one who deserves the glory, as well as encourage others as they walk this life out too. Oh the things I've been through, but we can all say that right?!  So many victories and accomplishments are interwoven with trials and seasons of darkness. The pain and suffering each of us has to walk through, no one can truly comprehend the heaviness we feel at times, and that's what I wanted to talk about this first blog.

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." (Romans 5:3-5) 

 Since I have became a nurse the frailty of human life has burdened my heart greatly. I see much affliction and it is easy for one to think where are you God, why aren't you doing anything?! Not all situations end the way we want them to. Hard times can lead to poverty, close relationships can crumble to pieces, and sickness at times ends in death. But what I have experienced in my own life as well as the lives of others over the past months is that He is doing something. These trials are shaping us, showing us our need of Him. No affliction that comes our way is a surprise to Him, but is a means for Him to reveal His great power in our lives.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ( II Corinthians 2:19)

So today if you are walking through times that are difficult I want to encourage you to continue to seek Him for comfort and peace. He is forever interceding on our behalf. No one in this whole world may understand how your feeling but He does.

 "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39)

  **If you would like additional information on this topic, some recent great reads of mine are "Suffering and Sovereignty", Brian H. Cosby & "The Sovereignty of God", A. W. Pink