Day 165 - Hiding Place

 

 "I believe that God is in me as the sun is in the color and fragrance

of a flower - the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence."

Helen Keller

God is always so incredible to me; my Abba Father who gently awakens me to the sound of gentle breezes, the melody of birds, and the quietness of my spirit as He bids me good morning.  I had determined that today would be a day I would spend entirely with Him, working through some thoughts and ideas He's been sharing with me. I always know when it's His voice I hear, as He never pushes or makes pleas, He simply reminds me. He knows me so well. He's my Abba, of course He does!

Thus far and once more He's taken me back in time to Youth With a Mission (YWAM) days, when I was just beginning to understand the true nature of Jesus. For all my life He'd been my friend, my constant companion, yet I didn't know Him as I do now. So this time was a very special moment in my life when He began to teach me what He needed me to know for the years to come. They were precious times, yet somehow some of what He taught has been lost to me, as I have forgotten who I am, who He created me to be, and more importantly, His path for my life. For any who believe I am not where He wants me at this moment in time, you may be mistaken, in part. Whereas I know I have things to do elsewhere as part of the vision, I am exactly where He needs me to be at this season of my life.

"Are you close to quitting? Please don't do it. Are you discouraged

as a parent? Hang in there. Are you weary with doing good? Do just a 

little more. Are you pessimistic about your job? Roll up your sleeves and

go at it again. No communication in your marriage? Give it one more shot....

Is hope a forgotten word?... The Land of Promise, says Jesus, awaits those who endure."

 No Wonder They Call Him The Savior

by Max Lucado

Over the past several months I have been waiting for God to speak, and all along He has been speaking. I was just too worn out and downtrodden to hear Him clearly. I was listening, and I was hearing. I was faithful to write it down in my journal, even in my blogs, but still the message did not ring hopeful in my ears. Confusion was coming in every direction from "the voices" I so desperately try to keep out of my head. I cut off my telephone now when I am listening to God, so please don't think I don't want to talk to you if I don't get back to you. It's not that at all...I'm just spending time with my Father, Abba.

This morning I listened to Charles Stanley speak on Putting Prayer First. He referenced Mark 11:22-25 where Jesus is speaking to his disciples about faith. Jesus spent the majority of His time on these two subjects: prayer and faith. They are after all rather inseparable in relationship to Him.  Dr. Stanley said, "The greatest possible difficulties can be removed when we have faith in God to work in our behalf."  He reminds us that nothing is impossible with God. The "mountains" in our lives are the things that discourage, cripple, or paralyze us...that keep us from fulfilling our purpose.

 If we endure, we will also reign with him.

2 Timothy 2:12

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time

we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

Forever faithful and true, He again takes me to that place so many years ago, a time when the phone rings, and she is there on the other end telling me things, hoping I'll give up and let go. It was as if my best friend were trying to tell me what she had heard or seen or suspected. By God's grace alone I was able to tell this woman she was mistaken, and I was sorry. Time passed and one day she called again, this time to tell me I was right all along...my husband loved me, not her. This is only one tiny glimpse of the life I have lived, and we all make mistakes, but God is relentless in His love for us.

Listen to these words....

You Raise Me Up
by Selah

 

When I am down and oh, my soul so weary
When troubles come and my heart burdened be
Then I am still and wait here in the silence
Until You come and sit awhile with me

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on Your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
I am strong when I am on Your shoulders
You raise me up to more than I can be

There is no life, no life without its hunger
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly
But when You come and I am filled with wonder
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity

You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
(You raise me up, I can stand on mountains)
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
(Walk on stormy seas)

And I am strong when I am on Your shoulders
Oh, you raise me up to more than I can be
You raise me up to more than I can be

Though years have passed, and my life story has changed, I am not embittered by anything that has come to pass.  Betrayal is a two way street, and no one is innocent.  My experiences living and learning, and re-learning, remembering, and being reminded again and again have only strengthened me. There's no way I am giving up on the life that God has in store for me, or the purpose that He alone has destined. So for now as we wait together in quiet places, away from the noise of the world that comes through many voices or perhaps only the voice of one plea, still I must wait for His leading.

I now have a place to begin, even if I am only capable, at this place in time, of taking baby steps as I heal again. I don't need physical rest as much as I need emotional rest. But I'm making progress, because I know Who holds my hand, and who carries me much of the time when I am too tired of going on.

 

For today, at this moment in time and in my hiding place with Him, I am at peace, away from any outside distractions or any voices of their own reason, just His. We have some things to talk about, so I best get at it. I am so thankful to spend my day with Him, listening...He is my hiding place. I hope you find yours!


You Are My Hiding Place
by Selah

You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You

I will trust in You
Let the weak say I am strong
In the strength of the Lord

You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You

I will trust in You
Let the weak say I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
I will trust in You

You are my hiding place
You always fill my heart
With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You

I will trust in You
Let the weak say I am strong
In the strength of the Lord
I will trust in You

You are my hiding place
(I will trust in You)
You always fill my heart
(Let the weak say I am strong)
With songs of deliverance
(In the strength of the Lord)
Whenever I am afraid
I will trust in You