refocus and delight

Have you ever felt a strong tug of the senses during daily quiet time? The sense that you are getting the same message from a devotional and a bible verse? It happened to me a few months ago when I was reading the book of Nahum. You see, I wanted to write something about a what I learned that day but I put if off hoping to do it one day. It almost didn't happen until today- the day I felt so weak after suffering from an acute exacerbation of asthma symptoms for 12 days now.

This was my personal revelation that day: God is where I want him to be. In addition to this gleaning, I also marked the page on the devotional I read that same day. I read it again today and realized how much I needed to hear this message again. Here is page 367 from the Daniel Plan Devotional:

CALL ON HIM

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:18

When we're tempted to get discouraged, it's important to know that the Lord is near to all who call on him. He's not far away and busy; he's near. He wants to hear from us. He wants us to call on him with our needs.

Pastor Rick Warren says, "You get the power to keep going from God, by asking him to empower you, and trusting in him moment by moment." Asking is important; it's one of the ways we cooperate with him in pursuing the goals he has for us. God wants us to have a relationship with him, and asking for his help is a way of saying, "I need you. Please be involved in my life."

The Psalms are full of passionate prayers calling on God for help. "Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me" (Psalm 31:3). "Keep me safe, O God, I've run for dear life to you. I say to God, 'Be my Lord!' Without you, nothing makes sense" (Psalm 16:1-2 MSG). These are models for us to follow.

This is what I highlighted in the book of Nahum 1:7:

The Lord is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows everyone who trusts in him.

God is exactly where I want him to be-

so close to me that I can feel his comforting presence as I struggle to cope with this illness, so deep within me that I can feel his love erasing my doubts and fears.

With his grace and power, I am healed.