Power in my Pocket
Good Morning!
Do you know that feeling you get that we call "it's on the tip of my tongue?" I was in church yesterday and I kept feeling that "tip of my tongue" feeling about trusting God.
It is easy to say it. It is easy when things are truckin along, maybe not exactly the way we want, but when things aren't too overwhelming or earth shattering, it is easy to say I trust God. I still don't see things as being huge and overwhelming in my life, but I am getting a deeper sense of what trust really and truly FEELS like. I don't know how to exactly put it into words, but it is this calmness and stillness that feels like it's deep down inside of me.
Our pastor talked about the "what ifs" of life yesterday. We are studying Psalm 23 and we are on the last line of the Psalm which talks about how ALL the days of my life, goodness and mercy will follow me. When you read goodness, as our pastor said, it does not just mean "ok" but it means "incredible." The original text for mercy translates as "steadfast love." "Follow me" is considered active and pursuing, even chasing you down!
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
When I read this familiar Psalm, I'm tempted to blow right through it because I've heard it all my life. That is kind of sad in a way, but I realize that when I slow down and think about those words, it is one of the promises that we walk around with full access to.....most of us probably have it memorized or partially so. Because it is so familiar, it is something I can use as I go about my day. I can say to myself "surely goodness and mercy will follow me ALL the days of my life" ..... Yes, the days that feel uncertain, the days of pain, the days of waiting, the days where I don't feel like I'm getting it "right!"
Even though I know there will be that ebb and flow of the "feeling" of trust, I know that my "tip of the tongue" feeling of trust is the Holy Spirit actively stirring in me more than I can muster on my own. When we take to heart that goodness and mercy is not just for some people on some days but it is for you, it is for me, it is for our every-single-day, then we will be actively dwelling in the house of the Lord! .....not someday when we are in heaven, but every day!
I pray that the deep sense of trust would continue to grow in each of us!
love
jennie
