Read the following Scriptures and ask the Lord to speak to you as you read.
- Psalm 13: 5-6 “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.”
- Isaiah 40:31 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
- Psalm 100:4 ”Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”
During those first few weeks of our trial, God also told me to worship. So I did. And worship has been one of the biggest weapons that I have used over this past year. It has refocused my mind on God and who He is, convinced me of truth, and brought me so much peace.
Whatever you focus on, you worship.
Make sure you are worshipping God alone — not your circumstances, not your problems, not the enemy. You see, the fundamental part of worship is that we magnify God. And when we do that, we are brought into His presence (Psalms 100:4) where we get the full perspective of His majesty. And when we get the right perspective of who God is, then our problems certainly don’t look that daunting. Look at who we serve! Is anything too difficult for God (Jeremiah 32:27)? Certainly not! In fact, there are so many times that I have had to worship my way into belief.
When circumstances or news from the doctors assail me relentlessly and the facts of our situation seem to scream louder than God’s promises, I worship until I believe. I worship to convince myself of God and His truth. We are repeatedly commanded in Scripture to rejoice, give thanks, and praise God (Psalms 147:1). And this is why: worship will completely change the atmosphere. Try it the next time that you are having a bad day or have lost hope in your present situation. Things will start looking up! You will be comforted, strengthened, and refreshed, for truly, “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
So you may be wondering, where are we now in our story. A month and a half ago, my husband underwent major brain surgery — yes, the one that we had been so direly warned about last year. A significant change in the tumor discovered during regular MRI monitoring in January prompted an emergency attempt to remove the tumor. We had to drop everything and fly to another city for two weeks for this intense surgery. Unfortunately, the tumor was not able to be removed. However, God miraculously brought my husband through that incredibly difficult surgery with the most minimal of side effects which even now are being healed.
My husband now sports a large 6-inch scar on the back of his head, a forever reminder of what he has been through. And yet, there is more. As I write this, my husband is scheduled to begin radiation treatment within days, going back and forth to the hospital five days a week, even during the Coronavirus season.
Do I know the end of our story? Has it gone the way that I would have chosen? No and no. But this I do know: I know that my God is with me. He is for me. He loves me, and He is working all things out for my good whether I see it right now or not. And I know that my Redeemer lives. And because of this, I can rest, I can worship, and I can choose to put one foot in front of another and keep walking with Him in His joy, peace, and strength. And my dear sister, I pray that you can too.
Prayer for Today: Father, Thank You for revealing to us the importance of worship. Please imprint this on our hearts and help us to daily worship You. May our lives be a fragrant offering to You — every moment of every day, as we walk in faith. We love You and we lift You higher than any circumstance, person, or difficulty in our lives. Help us as we honor You by walking by faith and not by sight today. Amen!
I am passionate about helping women hear from God. This year has been an incredibly difficult one for our family, but in the fire of this trial, I have felt the love of God so much more intensely and personally than ever before. I have also found the beauty of seeking God's heart in a much deeper way. I want to know His heartbeat, see what He sees, hear what He hears, say what He says, do what He does, and make His perfect love known.
Come along with me on the adventure of a lifetime!
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