When God Takes Away

The other day I prayed, "Lord, take it all away! . . . the load of vain imaginations, emotions, have-tos, and shoulds. I can't deal with the weight of them!"

Funny how He answered that prayer!

It was after a wedding, celebrating a new beginning, that the Lord spoke to my heart.

At the reception, there was a photo "booth" where we could pick up little props to make funny pictures.  We laughed and took many pictures with friends.  At home after the festivities were over, I looked at the ones that were given to me.   And the Lord of Life spoke to my heart.

When I asked God to take the chaos of life away, I also asked, "Who am I amidst all this change?!"

God placed a funny mirror in front of me and said, "Look."

I looked.  

And I could hardly see me!

I felt lost in the chaos.  

Jesus reminds me, 

"I am the way, and I speak the truth, and I give you life; 

you can only come to the Father, your home, through Me and then you will not feel lost."

John 14:6 (Angie paraphrase)

  

Joy bubbled out as God's Word sunk in.  But the heat of the day rises.  Hurts surface.  "Doors close."  Work seems to multiply and the chaos gets to me again.

And God reminds me, 

"Hey girl, I know you love Me,

And I am your Lord. 

I am your strength all day long

I am the Rock that does not change

(go ahead and stand on Me, I am trustworthy and faithful),

the Fortress of protection for you

(hide within Me, not from Me)

I am your deliverer,

I AM GOD,

your Rock,

your Refuge,

your Shield,

your Salvation,

your Stronghold.

Psalm 18:1-2 (Angie paraphrase)

And the masks begin falling away.  

Then, God holds up a mirror, again.  He tells me to look more intently.  

And I see masks held by my own hand!  

Father, how do I let go and let you lead? How do I be who You intend me to be?  Sometimes I THINK I'm being who You want me to be.  And I still don't get it right.  Then, there comes that desire to hide, again! You know all my hiding places.  Shine the joy of following Jesus into them. 

Jesus says I am found when lost in Him.  ( Matthew 16:24-25)  Daily, without my own understanding, following His direction.  (Proverb 3:5-6)  DAILY,  in the midst of "giants," believing He will protect me.  (Joshua 1:9)  DAILY, being emptied of self, picking up what He brings, and following Jesus.  (Luke 9:23)  

And I walk in the freedom of Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:1), into new beginnings ordained by God, delivered one day at a time.

Love always,

Angie

What comes into our minds when we think about God
is the most important thing about us.
A. W. Tozer