to slouch on the sofa, our chair, or wherever we are sitting. Sometimes standing too, we slouch! I find that I need on numerous occasions, to pull myself up and get my butt back against the back of the seat versus half way through it. Ever have that problem? Wasn't really thinking about it, but in thinking about what to write this morning, here I am, realizing I am slouching in the recliner (which is already tilted back!) and need to get re-situated. Slouching isn't always comfortable, and it always feels better when we straighten up our back and get seated properly. Before we slide down again to get more comfortable. Right? Did you just scoot back in your chair? I did.
Another morning I just did not want to get out from under the warm covers! It's 56 degrees this morning and even now I'm snuggled in my chair under a cover and another over my shoulders. I do love to be warm. And when I get too warm, I throw off the covers until the body cools, then snuggle back under the covers again. You do that too?
Hubby and I had an interesting discussion last night. He shared some concerns he had and even some of his fears. He also shared his desires. I listened, and responded as I felt led to. A scripture came to mind and I repeated it to him, but I couldn't remember where it was found - I did have the right book of the Bible; just couldn't remember the verse! So I looked it up.
Proverbs 3:5 (NKJV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding."
and another verse came to mind.....
Psalm 46:10 (NKJV): "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"
I often just shorten that one to "Be still and know that I am God". Be still. What does that mean, anyway? To be still; to not move; to be silent; to be quiet. But most of all, center your thoughts on God, and away from the cares of the day; the cares of the world.
No matter who won the elections, God is still God; He is still on His throne; and He still loves us. He may allow 'bad' people to be elected to office, and sometimes He uses them to punish us for our wayward ways. When we put Christ as the Center of our lives, it doesn't mean everything will be perfect, but it does mean that we have One who will walk with us through all the trials that we go through.
I read Habakkuk this morning. He was a minor prophet in the Old Testament who wrote down his questions to God and God's responses back to him. It is only 4 chapters; you can read it in one setting. Of course originally the book was a dialogue with God because Habakkuk was troubled by what was happening to Judah. He expresses his concerns pointedly to God but ends the book with a beautiful song of worship after receiving God's answers.
God hears, and answers Habakkuk's questions; there was much he didn't understand. But God never turns away the questions or the seeker. Habakkuk took the answers God gave and decided to trust Him with the answers God did not give. Make sense?
Habakkuk cried out 'how long'? - wanting to know how long God would allow Judah would not follow Him. That is the perpetual cry of the human heart. We all get impatient for God to act on what we think is right or wrong, but God views all of history. Everything that has happened in the past, what is happening now, and what will happen in the future. God never changes. His actions are settled. Even justice is not a function of time. When God says a nation is going to be judged, it is as if it has already happened.
So a question to you is.... "Will I trust Him.....no matter what?" Will I trust in the wisdom and goodness of God no matter what happens to my spouse, my children, or even in the world around me? Will I trust Him no matter how these elections turn out? Will I believe He still has authority over the world and that He will bring about what He desires? To chastise us, to encourage us, to love us, to restore us... the process is never easy. It is often quite painful. We hang on so tightly to those we love, but when we place them in God's hands - no matter what - He is the one who has the final authority. We are to believe, and trust in His faithfulness, His mercy, His grace.
Take shelter in God Himself, decide to be thankful and joyful. Faith grows stronger when we deliberately release our anxieties, remembering that "The Lord God is my strength" and that His plans are best, no matter how unreliable life may feel at the moment. Our past, present, and future all belong to the Lord. Our times - our very lives - are in His hands. Trust Him.
Blessings!
