Power, Presence, & Peace

This little spot on the web has been awfully quiet this month.  Actually, it's been silent.  I have not had the desire or inspiration to write anything and there is very little to update regarding my health without sounding like a broken record.  I've missed it a lot though so we'll see where this little rambling takes me.

Snapped this picture at the Horicon Marsh while on a walk with some wonderful friends earlier this week.

Tonight I am blown away once again by how God intertwines all of life to show Himself, His presence, His power, His peace, and His love.  In the past few hours He has shown clear connections between multiple phone calls, prayers, Scripture passages, songs, burdens on my heart, difficult situations in my life, etc.  It. Is. Amazing.  My GOD is amazing!

Another thing that is so humbling is how God uses my own shortcomings, laziness, etc. for His glory.  I have no clue what I just said theologically there...or if it's even close to "accurate"; but I see Him do it in my own life so many times.  One way recently is through me falling painfully behind on my Beth Moore study this month.  One week in particular I just had no desire to be in the Word.  I hate to say that but I'm just being real.  Since then, however, as I've gotten back into it, so many days the study I was on for the day was absolutely perfect for what I needed then.  That day.  That moment.  That difficulty.  That victory.

For instance, glorifying God with my whole life has been hugely on my heart this year.  I mean, in a way that it's never been before.  I've been asking Him so often glorify Himself in and through me.  The study I did today was about the Holy Spirit and His power and presence in us.  One thing that stood out to me so much was at the end of the day's study.  Here is what Beth Moore wrote: "Remember what we learned from John Piper in our lesson on Christian hedonism?  God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.  Our soul's satisfaction for His glorification is a wonderful motive for requesting more of the Holy Spirit.  After learning many lessons the hard way, I want more and more of His Spirit because I want more and more of Him!  The flooding of the Holy Spirit will manifest in all sorts of ways, but God and His glorification are our purest motives, no the manifestations themselves."  The main Scripture passages she had us read were John 14 and 16.  Look them up if you get the chance.

This song went along so well with my study tonight.

The more I'm filled with the Holy Spirit and fully satisfied in Him, the more God will be glorified through my life!  It's not about what I do.  It's about what He does through me.  The end.

Another part of today's study talked about the Holy Spirit's help in difficult situations, relationships, personal issues, etc.  That really hit home for me as well, as I deal with all those things, just like everyone else.  There is so much power in living in the Holy Spirit if we would only ask for His presence and help daily, hourly, moment by moment.  I know that I personally so often forget or fail to do that.  Yet He is waiting to fill us beyond measure! (John 3:34)

These are two verses that stood out to me from John 14 and 16...

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:26-27)

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  (John 16:33)

Why are we surprised or upset when we go through hard times?  Jesus doesn't say we might.  He doesn't say maybe.  He doesn't say probably.  He says we will.  The amazing thing though?  His peace will be there through it all. He won't leave us.  He's given us a Helper.

We are human. I am human. So human.  I don't nearly always respond in the right way to the hard, painful times.  I get angry, upset, self-pitiful.  I curse.  But He loves me anyway.  He picks me up and moves me beyond that.  His mercies are new every morning.  He hasn't given up on me yet and I know He never will.  He daily offers to flood me anew with His Spirit and give me the grace to pick up and carry on, completely forgiven and loved.  It's amazing.  Beyond amazing.  He is my Overcomer.