For a while, I have had health issues that have made me need to make adaptations to the way I live. Recently, I thought everything was improving, only to have some symptoms return. This was challenging for me.
About a week ago, I was listening to Jeremy Camp’s song “He Knows”. The words that impacted me the most were: “Let your burdens come undone..” I realized that if I wanted life to feel better, I had to DO something — to somehow change “something”.
“Beware of giving up too soon. Our emotions are not a reliable guide.” (John Piper). It is very difficult to have complete control my emotions. However, I am more able to have control over my actions. I am becoming more aware that my actions can change my emotions. As I change my focus, my adaptations become blessings because they make life feel better. I still pray for improvements in my health and for wisdom to make any changes to my lifestyle that might be helpful. However, my focus is slowly shifting towards the blessings I have instead of what I don’t have.
1- be confident that whatever is and whatever may be, God will be there. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16
2- give control to God. The Lord will fight for you; you need only be still. Exodus 14:14
3- be aware of what my mind focuses on. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
4- trust the future to God Forget the former things; do not dwell on t.he past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18
And.. sharing these words by Charles Spurgeon because I couldn’t say it better myself. “The Christian knows no change with regard to God. He may be rich today and poor to-morrow; he may be sickly today and well to-morrow; he may be in happiness today, to-morrow he may be distressed–but there is no change with regard to his relationship to God. If he loved me yesterday, he loves me today. My unmoving mansion of rest is my blessed Lord. Let prospects be blighted; let hopes be blasted; let joy be withered; let mildews destroy everything; I have lost nothing of what I have in God. He is “my strong habitation whereunto I can continually resort.” I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth I wander, but in God I dwell in a quiet habitation. “From Morning and Evening – Feb. 27 (devotional )
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