Sustaining Moments, from Mom

 I'm digging back into Mom's journal today.  I can't believe she's been gone for 9 years.  I'm so glad she left these pages of her thoughts.  It's like I can hear her voice and see her heart on these pages.  It's her legacy, her faith and her character all on display for those who are still here on earth.  

Joshua 1:6-8 Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.  Be strong and very courageous.  Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you.  Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left.  Then you will be successful in everything you do.  Study this Book of Instruction continually.  Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.  Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 

Philippians 4:6-8 Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done..  Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.  His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.  And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  

Focus on God's will.  Meditate, focus our mind and spirit on God.  Daily spend time with God.  

How?  

1.  Read: the Word of God.  Look for God.  Intentionally, concentrating on the Scriptures.

2.  Pray: over the Scriptures, a verse, passage or chapter.  Let the Holy Spirit put His thoughts into your mind, lead you where you should go.  "Lord, I delight in Your Word."  

3.  Apply the Word: question, study, pray, "Lord how do I walk this out."

4.  Submission:  surrender, obey, sacrifice.

Remember, faith flourishes in the garden of gratitude. 

From me.

Psalm 119:92 If your instructions hadn’t sustained me with joy, I would have died in my misery.

Psalm 119:1116-117 Lord, sustain me as You promised, that I may live!  Do not let my hope be crushed.  Sustain me, and I will be rescued; then I will meditate continually on your decrees.  

God is our sustainer.  But if we don't follow the steps in my Mom's entry, we will not connect to that sustaining power.  How would we know the promises our Father gives if we didn't read and study His Word?  How would we walk it out if we didn't have communion with the Holy Spirit?  How would we be upheld by His arms if we didn't walk in obedience to His will?   Life gets hard, it gets messy.  We need the strength that Jesus gives if we are to successfully navigate the turbulent waters of living in a fallen world.  When we follow the steps of reading, praying, applying and submitting to the Word of God, the Lord rewards us with His Presence and His power to walk through this life with strength,  and the ability to shine for Him.  When we stay in gratitude, even and especially in the hard stuff we stay in peace.   God gave Joshua a monumental task.  But He also gave Him the key to accomplishing that task.  Be in Scripture, and carry it in his heart and mind.  

Lord, I don't know about anyone else, but I cannot do this day on my own.  I know I need You. I know I want You.  Give us each those little moments that can carry us over the waves, whether ripples or tsunamis, of life.  Let each moment in You Presence be what holds us as we walk the path of life,  Keep us, sustain us and keep us focusing on You each day.  Help us to submit to and follow You.  In Jesus' Name I pray.  Amen. 

Make time with God a priority.