i LOVE God!

i come from a long line of worriers. but i have learned (and sometimes re-learned) in my years on the planet that it does me no good to worry about anything. i can't possibly change a circumstance or a problem by worrying about it. all worry does is rob me of my peace. so worry is something i make a conscious effort to avoid. things just need to be laid at the feet of Jesus. He's the only one who can make a difference anyway. He has all power, all authority. now this is not to say that i am never concerned about things. or that i float through life like some kind of idiot who is completely unaware of reality. all i mean is, what's the point of driving myself and everyone around me nuts by worrying? why would i allow a circumstance or difficulty or tragedy to overshadow or strip away the peace that is mine? things come at us in this life, and sometimes they come in a pretty fast and furious manner. i've had plenty of experience with the troubles life can bring in the past. there's some trouble right now in a few different areas of life. i know for a fact that there's more coming - don't know when, but it's inevitable. no one is exempt or immune to it. but because Jesus is in my life, i can rest. i can be sure that He's got each piece of it in His control. i can be sure that He is with me and will never leave me. He sees the next thing coming - and the next, and the next, and the next... none of it surprises Him. why choose to worry when i could be choosing not to?

so, all of this and so much more has been rolling around in my head lately. i seem to be constantly reminding myself these days to rest - to abide in Him. to trust. to wait. to take some steps back and let God be God. then this evening i got a devotion in my email inbox about these very things. it said it was from purposedrivenlife.com but it sure seems like God now has email. it is proof that God absolutely cares for me and pays attention to the details of my moment by moment, hour to hour life. it's kind of long but it is so worth reading.


As Quiet As A Child
by Jon Walker

I don't concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD- now and always. Psalms 131:1b-3 (NLT)

Today's devotional actually comes from my sister, a godly woman and serious prayer warrior. She emailed this morning, saying she'd been thinking the peace of God that passes all understanding.

She said she'd spent some time meditating on Psalm 131 -
· Verse 1b - "I don't concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me ." We are free to live out our purpose when we relinquish control of the things that don't belong to us in the first place. Such as -- worry about things over which we have no control; or trying to control something we have no business trying to control.

· Verse 2 - "But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother .." I trust, even when the outcome seems a long way away. A nursing child wants attention NOW, but a weaned child trusts and is content to wait.

· Verse 3 - "Put your hope in the LORD- now and always." We hope in the Lord with confident expectation. In other words, we truly believe that he will answer our prayers, that he will respond, that he will get us through. You can declare confidently that the Lord will pave your way and walk with you and keep your feet from stumbling. He's done it before and He'll do it again!

Praise God for His peace! It is through His peace that we can do all things - and endure so much. It is a peace that passes all understanding.

What now?
· Overly Concerned - Is your peace undermined because you're concerned about matters that are not even your responsibility? Or, matters that you have absolutely no control over? Ask God what should be on your 'responsibility' list; ask him what items you should remove from your 'responsibility' list. Psalm 131:1b - "I don't concern myself with matters too great or awesome for me."

· Prayer, but Delayed Gratification - Are you at peace because you have learned to trust God and wait? If not, ask God to reveal what makes you demand an immediate answer from him, and talk to him about what he reveals. Ask God to help you learn to trust him - and to wait. Psalm 131:2 - "But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me."

· Confident Expectation - When you say you hope in the Lord, really hope in the Lord. Expect him to come through for you - at just the right time in just the right way. Psalm 131:3 - "O Israel, put your hope in the LORD- now and always."