Quiet Moments With God - Out of a Pit

Today was rough, and I was up during the night, troubled. I decided to spend time in God's Word, a place where he often meets with me. I took my Bible and went out on my deck and sat down. With darkness all around I read, while boisterous crickets serenaded me. I knew the Lord was all I needed, I longed to tuck myself in close to him, beneath his arms where I'd feel his presence, his peace and am reminded how much he loves and cares for me.

I started reading in Psalm 40. The first three verses say this, "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the  mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord."

What a precious verses. My eyes felt the sting of tears. All I needed to do was reach out and take his hand.

     I needed him and ...
          he turned to me and heard my cry. (Wow, he heard me)
          He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire. (Free of the mire weighing me down)
          He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me.(My father walks alongside a toddler and helps.)
          He gave me a new song to sing. I will praise him.(Precious, merciful Lord. Praise you!)

     Many will see what he has done and they will trust in the Lord.

Do you live in a dark place? Have you lived in such a place? You don't have to possess enough strength to lift yourself out of that place of despair. Reach out to the Lord and he will take your hand, pull you up, and set you on solid ground, then watch over you there. You never have to be alone - never forsaken.

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie



   

Quiet Moments With God -- Whisper His Name

Recently in a devotional I read, the author talked about whispering God's name. I remembered a time, as a young woman, when I was in the midst of darkness and all I could do was say His name. I knew very little about Jesus, but He carried me through days of fear and heartache. I didn't know Him as Savior, but I knew His name was powerful and healing.

I was going through one of the toughest times of my life. I'd recently lost a baby, my father had died from cancer, a dear friend had also succumbed to cancer and I was in the midst of a divorce. I had no strength for battles. But I found myself in the midst of one. I needed a job badly and the place that hired me was in the middle of a strike. Each day I had to cross a picket line going in to work and going out.

That first week Kathy, a friend of mine, stopped to visit me. Kathy told me she was a new believer. To be truthful, I didn't understand and didn't really care. I had "more important things to think about" or so I thought. That evening before Kathy left my house she said something that stuck with me. She said, "I just want to tell you one thing. Jesus loves you."

I didn't know Jesus, but I needed to be loved and I needed someone to stand with me. Every day when I crossed that picket line people hurled obscenities at me, but I repeated over and over, "Jesus loves me. Jesus loves me." Saying the words gave me strength and shut out the foul words and accusations. The Lord loves to hear His name and He knew I needed to hear it too.

My life was in ruins and each day I felt as if I were wading through a river of sorrows. But through my tears I'd whisper, Jesus loves me and I'd go on. He carried me. He lifted me up. And then one day I heard a television minister speak of Jesus. He shared the gospel and I listened. And then I knelt in front of the television and gave my heart to Christ. He lifted me up from a pit of despair and I said His name again and again. His name--His beautiful name. To this day, when I say the name of Jesus it soothes my heart.

Say His name -- He hears and I know He smiles.

Grace and peace to you from God.

Bonnie