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Ever have one of those days when you think to yourself, I can’t take it anymore. Maybe your day started out good or even great but then something happened and before you know it what started out as a good day snowballed into one issue after another and you just want to throw up your hands and say “I quit”. I’m sure we all have at some point in our lives.

When Jehoshaphat heard the news that a great multitude was coming against him, he was afraid. He could have thrown up his hands and quit. Instead his first order of business was to gather everyone together in the Lord’s house and pray. He sought the Lord for direction. He reminded Him of things that He had done for them in the past. He and the assembly of people looked to the Lord and waited on Him to tell them what to do. And He did. He told them not to be afraid and to stand still and see His salvation. He reminded them the battle wasn’t theirs but His.

When it seems as though roadblock after roadblock pops up, praise God for what He is doing in your life. Those roadblocks mean that the enemy sees God doing a good work in you and he is trying to get your focus off of God and His plans for your life. Instead of stressing about your situation take it to the Father and seek Him. Remind Him of what He has done for you in the past and ask Him for direction. He doesn’t need you to remind Him of what He has done for you, instead speaking it forth reminds you of what He has done for you. Of what He can do. Acknowledge that you are powerless without Him and wait on Him to tell you what He wants from you. And when He reminds you that the battle is His and not yours, and to be still do it. Be still and watch the Lord’s mighty hand at work in your life. God bless!

Father, When the battles we face seem overwhelming, help us to remember to turn them over to You. To remember that they are not ours but Yours and that the battle is already won. May we seek You first, remember the things You have done in our lives, acknowledge our weakness, and wait on You for direction. We thank You and praise You in Jesus name amen. 

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Have you ever taken a trip, missed a turn, and find yourself having to back track? Last winter when my husband was traveling back and forth to his mother’s house working with his siblings to sort through and downsize her stuff before she moved to assisted living, it was decided to sell her vehicle. She wasn’t able to drive anymore and we were casually looking around for another vehicle. As it turned out, we purchased it when we learned the mileage was low and within our budget. (That’s a whole another story which I wrote about earlier this year. 😅)

Now my husband does the driving when we travel 😐. The drive to his mom’s is a route that he can practically drive in his sleep. Since I’m not the one driving I never really paid much attention. Yes I had a general idea having traveled there with my husband in the past. It’s actually fairly simple but if you are like me, it’s easier to learn a route when you are the actual driver. The good thing about my husband when he is driving is that he doesn’t get annoyed with me when I ask him the names of the interstates or back roads that we would sometimes take, pretty much every time I would go with him. He is quick to give me a little background or some long ago memory of the small towns that we pass through when we take the back roads which is pretty neat.

The day we drove up to get the car he quizzed me on the directions and reminding me the names of the interstates that I would be taking. So when I had to drive the car back while he stayed a few more days, I thought I can do this even though I must admit I was a little intimidated. I mean I was making the trip back alone ~ well Lucy was my companion and we all know that dogs are great travel companions 😉~ I sort of knew where I was going and my husband had given me directions. The one thing that he stressed was going east and south. He said as long as I did that I would be good. So, off I went on my return trip home.

About that missed turn. My husband had reminded me about the road splitting before getting onto the interstate I needed. In fact he had even offered to drive to the state line so that I wouldn’t miss it. I told him I had it under control and I would be fine. Well…I was doing pretty good and I knew that the road would be splitting soon so I got in the lane that I needed to be in. Except I forgot and took the wrong split both were pointing me East but one was further north of where I needed to be and while I’m certain I could have stayed on that road I wasn’t familiar with it so I backtracked and got on the correct road. You know what? My husband even called to check on me to make sure I had gotten on the right road! I’m pretty sure I waited to tell him about my side trip after I was headed in the right direction to which he laughed. Thinking back over that time I thought about how we sometimes can get off track in our relationship with the Lord if we aren’t paying attention and how He nudges us back on track.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

These are but a few reminders of how much He loves us. Of how He is watching over us and is there for us if we will only cry out to Him.

He cannot help you unless you let Him. But while He is waiting for you to open the door, He can remind you of His love, and that He is waiting for you. God bless!

Talk about a man of faith. The-Lord-Will-Provide. Abraham did not waver because he knew that the Lord would provide. The whole time that he traveled with Isaac to the place the Lord had directed him to go, he never questioned. He knew that the Lord would provide for the burnt offering. How could he not believe after the Lord had already told him that He would establish His covenant with Isaac? And provide He did. The ram caught in a thicket provided by the Lord when Abraham drew his knife to slay his son. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son for his Lord. When you think about it, Abraham must have known that even if he did slay Isaac, the Lord would have had to raise him up because He had already said He would establish His covenant with Isaac.

Maybe you are facing a difficult situation that seems hopeless. It could be a financial situation, your health, or maybe even your job or lack of a job. With God all things are possible. He will provide for our every need if we have faith to believe and not doubt. Big or small nothing is too difficult for Him. If Abraham who faced the difficult situation of sacrificing Isaac, had enough faith to believe that the Lord would provide. How can we not believe that He will provide for our situation?

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Romans 8:32

Jehovah-Jireh our provider.

Websters Dictionary : fear ~ a feeling of respect and wonder for something very powerful. It also says ~ an unpleasant emotion caused by being aware of danger: a feeling of being afraid

Interestingly enough fear can be taken one of two ways, with respect and wonder, or with a feeling of being afraid. Sound familiar? We can have faith and trust in the Lord, or we can be afraid and listen to the lies of the enemy.

Consider the Lord was here at the beginning. He created the heavens and the earth. He created us and everything all around us. He knew us before we were ever born. He knows every detail of our lives. He is able to see it from the beginning to the end whereas we only see in the now. We may remember the past, which is over and cannot be changed; the future has yet to happen and we have no idea what it involves because we aren’t there. The only thing we know is what is before us, the now. When you think about it wouldn’t you rather fear and hope in His mercy and grace than to think you have it under control and don’t need Him? If He is pleased when we give Him the respect He deserves, imagine the blessings He will pour out on us. Praying for you and your loved ones. 🙏❤

Praise You, O Lord, for You alone are worthy of all our praise. I honor You, O Lord, and thank You for Your mercy, that You extend each new day. Praise You, O Lord!