April 8: We Choose

So, just a few days ago, I woke up sad and out of sorts. Really in a bad place. My husband called it sassy.  I chose to allow sadness to settle in (which clearly was when sassy showed up). I thought to myself that I had a few good and sensible reasons to be in this state of somberness.  

Once I was tired of evaluating all the reasons I was feeling so icky, and even bored with my own company, I asked myself (surely the Holy Spirit's prompting), “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?” (Psalm 42:5). The rest of the verse caused me to stop in my tracks!  “Hope in God; for I shall again praise him…”—this I was not doing.

This awakening reminded me of a very small book, tucked away in my travel book bag, titled The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence. He wrote, “Therefore, we should rejoice in our difficulties, bearing them as long as the Lord wills, because only through such trials will our faith become purified, more precious than gold. (See 1 Peter 1:7, 4:19.)” Wow! 

The next day, I woke up with such an opposite attitude! I was joy-filled once again, my eyes were barely open and I was happy for many things. I could hear the lyrics, “…all my life you have been faithful. And all my life you have been so, so good….” And although life is hard, and life does bring many difficulties, God has always been faithful, and he has always been so, so good. My previous attitude was not aligned with this Truth that I knew; I allowed myself to be distracted.

So how can our hearts be aligned with Jesus? Especially when we feel isolated, maybe even useless, and quite possibly overwhelmed with the new structure, or lack thereof, in our lives? How can we feel joy when we ache for the joys the world previously provided for us everyday? Well, I believe the answer is, we choose. We just choose. And most importantly, we choose Jesus. 

Such an honor has been bestowed upon us! Such a price was paid for us! This is why, this day, this hour, this minute, this second, this breath, is enough. Jesus is enough!

So I’ve been challenged, again, to:

Be committed:

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Be hope-filled:

[R]ejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3,4,5)

Be patient:

As for [the seed] in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (Luke 8:15)

Be still:

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:10-11)

Be reminded:

As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic; they took to flight. Trembling took hold of them there, anguish as of a woman in labor.  Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts, go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. He will guide us forever.” – (Psalms‬ 48:5-6,12-14)‬‬

I’ll end with this, a final word from Brother Lawrence. 

“Do not forget Him! Think of Him often. 

Adore Him ceaselessly. Live and die with Him. 

That is the real business of Christians; 

in a word, it is our profession.  

If we do not know it, we must learn it. 

I will pray for you.”

Lord, help us to choose you everyday, 

in the midst of the shelter in place order, 

in the midst of our noisy homes, in the midst of our insanely quiet homes, 

in the midst of the lack of toilet paper, eggs, flour, and 

in the midst of the long lines— just to get into the grocery stores, 

in the midst of worry, fear, and concerns 

about what the future may hold, 

help us give more grace, think of you often, and adore you more. 

In Jesus’ name, Amen

Shelter in Peace,

Kim Zuro