It's a Valley of Decision ~
What will I do with this one life of mine?
May we be found faithful.
Twenty five years ago, I sat a conference with Larry Crabb and could barely take in what I was hearing from him. I was a mess. I left the meeting sobbing with little hope for my little life. I found a nearby room and slipped in silently. I randomly opened my Bible and asked God to speak: it was Joel 2:13. Not exactly biblical. But the answer was transformational. "Rend your heart not your garments." I was in a Valley of Decision that day whether I would remain faithful to an absent God. Fast forward to today's Valley and I'm faced with little hope of recovery. That is, if I'm living for this life. But, I'm not. What's different about this valley of decision is that I know that life will never work as it should until That Day when we are with Him Forever. This is a broken world. We are broken people. God superintends this world in His Will and I must blindly trust even when I do not see how He is working this all out. Rend my heart. "Let the weak say I am a Mighty Man." Joel 3:10. "Let every difficulty, big or little, reveal whether you are God's faithful or adulterous wife. Repent as necessary and surrender more fully to God's plan. God's plan is to make you fully alive with joy, meaning, and love." 66LLPRAYER FROM PSALMS
Psalm 73:26 ~ "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God, You are the Strength of my heart and my portion forever." Thank you that this measure of life is not based on our performance. We are fully loved this very moment. More than we could ever know. One Day.
May I ask a personal question of you Pearls?
ReplyDeleteDo you fast? On a regular basis? Or just when you know there's an area that needs attentive prayer? Tell me more if you are willing.
I know this is an area that can have dominion over me, so I tend to avoid it. At least twice in Today's reading, the prophet calls to consecrate a time of fasting. I have food issues, am on a perpetual diet and the issue for me is not to be holy but thinner. It's too easy to fast for the wrong reasons, fail, and feel guilty so I haven't in a long time. I know we live under magnificent grace but it is a spiritual discipline of effective and God-enabled saints.
There are so many more beautiful verses in this day's readings, so I don't want to take this forum up with too much of my "junk." Just if you feel led, please email me awgeffert@gmail.com.
Like this one:
"Return to Me with all your heart,
And with fasting, weeping and mourning;
And rend your heart and not your garments.”
Now return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness."
"I will make up to you the years the locusts have eaten."
And the beautiful promise of His Spirit:
]It will come about after this
That I will pour out My Spirit on all [ab]mankind;
And your sons and daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will dream dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
“Even on the male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days."
Joel is one of my favorite Books. Lots of heartache. Lots of Return. Lots of Restoration. Lots of His Spirit poured out. Lots of Day of the Lord prophesy.
And that phrase that haunts me with its power, "Then they will know that I am the Lord."