Our family has been slowly adjusting to this new season.
Of course we still miss our Anne, but Grandma is so thankful for the help.
(She’s doing very well, and the doctor removed the stitches yesterday. Praise the Lord!)
Jase and I are coming around to a new routine.
Which has included furniture.
I’ve been thankful for the ability to spend many of my early mornings working in the garage.
The rest of the day is spent in homeschooling and housekeeping.
Jase is learning to do more cooking, which has been a blessing.
Through it all, we are learning, stretching, and seeking the Lord.
Because we want to follow His lead and we want to make changes based on Him.
As we continue to walk through the summer, I’m reminded to praise God.
For wherever we are and whatever is occurring, He is worthy of praise.
Psalm 18:3 KJV — I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You so much for Your faithfulness! You are worthy of all our praise, all our worship belongs to You. Lord, You are our Savior, the Lamb of God. Thank You! Lord, as we walk in this day, please continue to help us to worship, to remain steadfast in Your ways. Lord, when we are struggling with things, please remind us of Your goodness, Your glory, Your holiness and love. Lord, please set a guard over our eyes, that we might not look on evil. Please set a guard on our hearts and lips that we might harm others with our words. Thank You for Your amazing love, mercy, and grace. I praise Your holy name, Jesus! Amen.
And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. II Chronicles 20:15 NKJV
You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord , who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.” II Chronicles 20:17 NKJV
From their perspective, the people of Judah, they had a major problem.
An enemy so numerous they described them as: “A great multitude” 2 Chronicles 20:2b.
But Jehoshaphat’s fear set him to seeking the LORD. 2 Chronicles 20:3a
And God’s answer is: “Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord,”. 2 Chronicles 20:15b
And what position did they take?
So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord , and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord , For His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. II Chronicles 20:20-22 NKJV
They took the position of praise.
Yes, I’m certain they had their weapons, but they didn’t trust in their own strength.
Instead, they trusted in God’s promise and praised Him.
They literally praised God for His mercy while facing a horde of their enemies.
“Now when they began to sing and to praise,…and they were defeated.”
The enemy was defeated.
It’s still true today.
Psalm 9:10 NKJV — And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
No matter the circumstances we face, as believers in Christ Jesus we can praise God for He has already defeated the enemy.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NKJV
Nothing on Earth compares to the blessed assurance of one’s soul being safe in the Lord’s care.
Therefore, those called by the name of Jesus should praise God.
It’s a privilege to worship the Lord.
It’s an opportunity to defeat the fear, discouragement, and doubt of the enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy.
John 10:10 NKJV — “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
As a follower of Christ, I’m taking the position of praise.
Like Jehoshaphat, I’m trusting in God’s promises.
I pray that for you as well.
Romans 15:13 NKJV — Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Dear Lord Jesus, How great is Your name and how wonderous Your mighty works! You have conquered fear and death and the enemy of our souls. Your power and might and love are beyond anything I can comprehend. You defend the weak, You save the lost, You heal the broken, You restore the sick. Lord, in You is all that we ever need. No matter what is occurring around us, no matter what the past has held, we can look to You and be safe. For great are Your works and mighty are Your commandments. There is safety in the shadow of the Almighty, because no matter what the enemy may do to us here on Earth, our souls are safe with You, because we place our trust in Your name, Jesus. Thank You so much for all You have done and are doing on our behalf. I love You, Lord. Amen.
Psalm 28:7 KJV — The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
I’ll be honest.
This week has been challenging.
It wasn’t one thing especially.
More like a bad knot in a favorite necklace.
It’s complicated, and just pulling on one part does nothing but tighten it.
But as I walked through the week, I found my heart and soul being carried.
With each difficult circumstance I found my soul praising God.
I didn’t always even think about it.
Often, I’d just begin saying, ” Jesus, You alone are worthy.”
Sometimes it was, “Almighty God, Most High, You alone are worthy.”
Other moments it was, “Lord Jesus, to You belongs all honor and power and praise!”
But a few times, when my heart was troubled more deeply than the others it was simply, “God, I know You are worthy. I trust You.”
And in this my heart was carried through.
Although the week is ending, I’m not certain the circumstances have.
I don’t know exactly how to untangle the knot, but I know who does.
And I know, no matter what He has my best interests at heart.
He will see me through.
His way is best.
I trust Him.
And I praise His holy name.
Psalm 7:17 KJV — I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
patientlyhopeful 