Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Follow the Ark

It's become a routine for me.  December 1st-ish sets off an alarm in my head, and I'm inspired to spend some time reflecting on the year that has been.  I spend some time anticipating the year that is coming.  I spend some time praying about what the new year means for me and my family.

Usually, by the end of the month, through this prayer and meditation, God gives me a word for the new year. Sometimes I get nothing.  That's cool.  The guidance I receive from God is usually small and more moment to moment than huge lightening bolt.

But sometimes I get a word, something that will guide our actions, or maybe a part that is missing and needs to be found.  In the past it has taken some time, some patience, some quiet to hear the voice.  This year, the response was immediate.

I remember very clearly the very first time I approached God in prayer about 2013, the unmistakeable response I got was FAITH.

Which is awesome, right?  Except, really?  The more I thought about it, the more scary it became.

Faith?  Are you sure?

FAITH.

And then a couple of weeks later Honey took me to coffee and told me that he'd had an offer for a great new job.  In Colorado.

And all of a sudden, FAITH made so much more sense.

And since then, every single time I've doubted our decision or felt overwhelmed with uprooting our family, I hear the Word again, and it's still FAITH.

"Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt."  -- William Shakespeare

"Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will."

"What blessings are you missing out on because of your lack of courage?"

"In Joshua 3:3, God talks to Israel about following the ark of the covenant.  The ark represents the anointing of God...the presence of God... the will of God.  It's very important for us to learn to follow the will of God and not our own will or the will of others.

God has a plan for you and me, and the only way to see that plan unfold is to follow the ark, or the will of God, and not our flesh or other people or our emotions."  -- Joyce Meyers (I think)

"Every great thing starts out a little scary."

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe."  -- Proverbs 29:25

And there was also this post that "I just happened to" read the exact day I was struggling with KNOWING it was God moving us to Colorado.  "Do it afraid."

2 comments:

valerie in TX said...

Dear friend, I am smiling at us - you and me. Because God used my post to give you encouragement about your move, and then turned around and used your post to encourage me back about our trip this December. :) Surely it must mean something that our biggest concerns, yours and mine, is that we are walking in the will of God.

We will miss you guys so much. Even though we didn't see each other all that much, just knowing y'all were here and having you as friends meant so much. I pray God's most abundant, ridiculous blessings will swallow you up and overflow your precious family. And next time we're up your way, you better bet we'll be dropping in for some sweet tea! :) Love you guys.

Unknown said...

I know this feeling all too well, it was in December that God first brought an impending move into our lives. Faith would have been a great word for me, but TRUST is the one that God has brought me back to time and again. We've had ALOT of upheaval since December, but trusting God has gotten me through it still a little bit sane. Thank you for this encouragement! If you'd like to read my story, I blog at www.piecesofamy.net.