Monday, January 18, 2021

Lifting up our eyes to Heaven...

Psalm 121: 1-2 says:  " I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord, maker of Heaven and Earth." (KJV)

A more modern version of this verse is from The Message which says: "I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from the mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made Heaven and Earth and the mountains."

This is one of my favorite Psalms!  We read it at my grandfather's funeral, my mom's memorial service and my mom's birthday is December 21st, so I always associate this Psalm with her birthday and my grandfather.  I have many notes by this Psalm in my Bible.  If it weren't for their strong faith, I am not sure my faith would have grown so strong in my early years.  They both were living examples of Christ's love and forgiveness!

Since then, I have been able to be a part of several wonderful churches where the people encouraged me to grow in my faith every day.  I read several devotions each day, pray and have been doing ongoing Bible Studies for years through Crossroads Christian Church in Shawnee.  These studies has enlarged my faith, enhanced my knowledge and encouraged me to do and be more of what Christ wants me to be.  

Also, I have been able to be a part of a Women's prayer group since 2012 and these prayer warriors are awesome!!!  We used to meet every Thursday at our church and pray for the women's ministry there.  These ladies have become my Prayer Warriors!  They not only pray for the women and concerns of our church, ,but they help me on a day to day basis by being there for me anytime I have a prayer request!  And, I pray for them and their prayer concerns, too!  It is amazing to have such a strong network of believers who strive to become more Christ-like every day.  Amazing Grace how sweet the sound!!!

I am blessed to have very strong Sisters-in-Christ right within my family as well!  My sisters Cathi and Debbie are strong towers for me.  We pray together, laugh together and send each other encouragement all the time!  I honestly do not know what I would do without either of them!!! God has surely blessed me with their love and prayers and strength!!!

And, I have many wonderful Sisters-in-Christ with other friends outside of my church - they are amazing as well.  One such friend always seems to have the right words for me when I am in despair or in need of consolation.  Ponder these beautiful words Julie penned for me a couple of years ago in a prayer for me:  "Seek and absorb truth from God's Word and be saturated by His love."  Isn't that beautiful?  Be saturated by His love!!!  Saturated!!!  Every day........Those words are engraved on my heart.  Those words have helped me through so many moments when I have a mountain in front of me. 

Life is hard!  We need these wonderful prayer warriors surrounding us to keep us going!  We need strong prayers.  We need strong friends. And, we need the words of faith to allow us to overcome the tribulations in this life!  And, we need to know that we have the Strongest God there is available!!!  He never lets us go and He never leaves us!!!   

So, what mountains are you facing today?  What clouds seems to linger?  What gray or dark mood seems to not go away?  Whatever it is, you can face it with the strength from the Psalm above and the God who inspired the words!!!

Isaiah 43:1-3 says: "Fear not for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name, you are mine!  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.  When you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you and when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, the flames will not set you ablaze for I am the Lord Your God, the Holy One of Israel."  

Let those words sink in...linger on that passage...ponder the meaning of those words.  They are not to be taken lightly! We have a God who never leaves us, nor forsakes us.  He is with us in the water, in the river, in the fire.  He is on the mountain - He IS the mountain we can rely on!  100%!!  All day, every day.  

I dare you to believe that God loves you that much.......I dare you to listen to Kari Jobe's song:  My Beloved every morning for 30 days. I believe you will find a God who is there for you, waiting for you to come to Him.  His love is the mountain I stand on.  I hope you will too.