For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.’ Jeremiah 29:10-13 (NASB)

The theme for the weekend retreat was based on Jeremiah 29:13.

With the message of my book Twelve Inches as the backdrop, we spent the weekend talking about how to allow what we know about our God to rule over our emotions, thus developing and maintaining strong faith.

It was a revival-type of weekend, as several women recommitted their lives to following Jesus with all their heart, mind and soul.

The retreat organizers had planned for one of their church’s ministers to end the retreat on Sunday morning with the Lord’s Supper. After a service filled with testimonies of how God moved during the weekend, we were ready to partake of the Lord’s Table.

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

She shared a short message about how the busyness and messiness of life can easily misplace our hearts from fully resting in God. At the end of the message, she shared an image that God gave her – a reminder of how He designed for His children to live. Pulling two colored paper hearts, one bigger than the other, she held them up and gently placed the small heart inside the larger one.

“This is how God wants us to live,” she said. “Allowing our hearts to be centered in His.”

She had a basket full of small and big hearts that she passed along, and each of us picked one of each to keep. I sat my two hearts on my lap and contemplated the visual.

While playing with the small heart inside the larger one, I started moving the smaller heart towards the center of the larger one. Because they were hand-cut, they looked quite asymmetric together.

That’s when my perfectionism kicked in.

I started moving the small heart upwards, so it rested better centered, and the edges became even on both sides. It looked better that way. It just did.

Or so I thought.

That’s when I heard God whisper in my heart:

“When you move your heart from the center of Mine, look at where your heart ends up.”

I looked again and realized what He meant.

I was wearing black pants, and, as I shifted my little heart from the center of His heart, the upper edges of the small heart touched the fabric of my black pants. As my heart left the center of His, even though it seemed to look better than it did before, it moved outside of His perfect heart… thus touching darkness.

The imagery was as clear as the message therein:

God knows His perfect plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11) …

And even when we were living in exile (Jeremiah 29:10) …

He called us to turn to Him, inviting us to live within His heart (Jeremiah 29:13) …

The boundaries of God’s heart are the safest place for His children to live. Everything outside of that is darkness.

The boundaries of God’s heart are the safest place for His children to live. Everything outside of that is darkness. #RechargeWednesday
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I don’t know about you – but I often find myself fiddling with my own plans, leaning on my inadequate wisdom, shifting to accommodate ideas that make sense.

Indeed, it appears to be so harmless to shift just a bit from the center of God’s will. And it certainly can happen so.very.subtly. But all it takes is one important decision without consulting Him, and we may be on the way to place our life outside of His protection and perfect plan.

All it takes is one important decision without consulting God, and we may be on the way to place our life outside of His protection and perfect plan. #RechargeWednesday
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Just a little compromise…

Or saying yes before praying…

Bringing our moral compass just a little off course to please someone…

Or justifying our sin or lackluster faith walk…

Spending little time listening to God… and too much time heeding worldly voices…

It’s subtly simple.

It’s one little shift at a time.

What an image! What a Truth!

May we remember that waiting upon God before moving is not only a matter of obedience but also a matter of trusting His loving hands. May we rest our hearts completely in His, even if, from our perspective, life would feel or look a bit better elsewhere.

May we remember that waiting upon God before moving is not only a matter of obedience but also a matter of trusting His loving hands.
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Friend, if today you are tempted to move forward before a divine Green Light leads you on, I pray you will make a deliberate decision to sit back down. Be still before your God.

Seek the peace that surpasses all understanding before moving forward, trusting that, even though it may look like your life would look better somewhere else, the only place where your heart will find balance, joy, peace and freedom…

Is in the Center of His perfect Will.

Nothing else will do.

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LINKUP is open! This week, a simple cut-out at the end of a restreat was used by God to show me the importance of remaining in the center of His will. Even when it does not make sense. Join us?
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The post Heart Shift – When Our Hearts Drift Away from God’s {Recharge Wednesday} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord.  ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways      and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8 (NLT)

As he pulls a chair to sit beside me, his somber voice reflects the emotions clearly seen on his face. He received an answer for something we’ve been long waiting for. Something that affects our family’s plans and dreams. Something he and I have been praying for and patiently waiting.

A promise has not been kept.

I see the disappointment in his beautiful eyes. Disheartened, he pours out words that I have heard from myself many times before: “I know God has a purpose for this. I’m just upset right now.”

I prayerfully ask God for wisdom. His wisdom, not mine. And so, He whispers: “look down.” As I lower my eyes, I “see” God’s voice, underlined and highlighted on my open Bible on the table: “My ways are far beyond what you can imagine.”

Sigh.

How many times have you muttered under your breath: ‘I don’t understand it, Lord.’ How many times have you laid down at night, wondering – ‘what am I doing wrong?’ How often do you hear yourself saying: ‘why me, God?’

If you are alive and breathing, I know you have asked these questions before. You may have done so even today. So, although I don’t have the answers to all your questions, I want to share with you an interesting concept that God laid in my heart a while ago as I studied the book of Isaiah.

It’s a pretty amusing visual: God calls us grasshoppers. That’s right, grasshoppers. I didn’t say it – God did: Check it for yourself: Isaiah 40:22.

I’m a visualist, so please bear with me.

On Isaiah 40, one of my favorite passages in the Bible (and inspiration for this ministry’s name), the prophet reads Israel’s rebellious and doubtful hearts.  He promises once more victory to Zion.

In this prophetic passage, which depicts the coming of the Messiah with a mighty arm and victory, God’s messenger sees past the surface of our faith and into the depths of our hearts:

We doubt. We simply doubt the wisdom, power, strength and unfailing love of our God. We just do it. I do it. You do it. We see our dreams tumbling down at our feet and we lose heart. Someone wrongs us and we quickly wish to take matters into our own hands. We receive bad news and we despair.

All the while, God is “sitting above the circle of the earth”, where He sees everything, and watching us hop around.

Grasshoppers.

In the meanwhile, He “stretches the Heavens like a curtain”, “reduces rulers to nothing” (v.23), “calls each star by name…and does not miss a single one, naming all 10 sextillion (and counting) of them.

Our brains know that – for we read our Bibles. But our hearts deceive us… and we keep on hopping. Grasshoppers.

Finding Peace in the Midst of the Storm

Oh, that we may reach a place in our journey with Christ, where we are so enamored by His grace, so in tune with His plan, that our hopping around won’t last long when trials strike.

May we teach our hearts to remember Who He is… and that He is FOR us.
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In the meantime, let me suggest some anchoring truths, places where we can seek refuge – like the eye of a hurricane – where perfect stillness reigns in the midst of our storms. Allow me to call these “Isaiah’s Oasis” as they offer true rest in the desert and are all located in my favorite book of the Old Testament.

1) When someone comes against you – remember: He is your defender:

“I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals beneath the forge and makes the weapons of destruction.  And I have created the armies that destroy. But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Isaiah 54:16-17

2) When your dreams are shattered – remember: He sees what you cannot see and His wisdom surpasses our earthly understanding:

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by the span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance and the hills in a pair of scales? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him?” Isaiah 40:12-13

3)     And when you are tired of waiting on your promise or on your trial to be over – remember – He never becomes weary and FOREVER works on your behalf.

Stretch your wings, by faith… and let Yahweh be the Wind beneath them
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“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:28-31 (NASB)

Grasshoppers. I bet you won’t forget that visual.

May we be challenged each day, as disappointments come and promises are yet to be filled... to teach our hearts to be still... and KNOW that He is (omnipotent, all loving and merciful) God (Psalm 46:10).
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(This post is an excerpt from Patricia’s book Twelve Inches – Bridging the Gap Between what You Know about God and How You Feel ) Read about it HERE.

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“Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. Matthew 26:52a (NLT)

“Put Away Your Sword, Patricia!”

Those were the exact words I heard at 5:30 in the morning.

I was lying in bed, talking to the Father. Like the impertinent friend of Luke 11, I was bringing my heart’s desire before the Throne again, together with a list of perfectly reasonable explanations as to why God should make it happen. NOW.

As I lay there, shocked and half asleep, the meaning of the reprimand became clear.

Just as Peter in his hastiness (and love for the Savior) tried to take matters into his own hands and stop Jesus’ persecutors, I once again picked up my sword and engaged into battle – uninvited.

A type-A personality like the apostle, I understand him too well.

You see, when I sifted my heart’s desire through the grid of God’s glory and my good, it fit beautifully. Just as it seemed so timely and honorable for Peter to defend His Master from those Romans, it seemed fitting to me to ask God to fulfill this dream. After all, He was the One who placed it in my heart to begin with!

The problem with my attitude is that I often forget that God designed the Master Plan and only chose to reveal it to me one step at a time. But because He has given me enough vision to set my heart on fire, I have a hard time standing still.

Waiting is certainly not this girl’s forte. My tendency is to somehow put my hands in the dough and “help” God accomplish His plan for my life. But we must remember not to be too hard on characters such as Peter and I, though – God certainly uses passionate, go-getters like us to accomplish His plan.

As a matter of fact, I don’t think for a minute that Jesus was blaming Peter for drawing the sword – but for doing so at the wrong time.

The time had come for Jesus to suffer and die. The sword of the Lord was drawn against Him – Zechariah 13:7. Peter’s heart – the Lord knew – as scared as it later became, was filled with passion for his Savior in Gethsemane. Jesus saw beyond Peter’s untimely zeal and mercifully reminded him of His sovereignty:

“Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?” Matt 26:53

Yes! We need to be reminded that God doesn’t need us to accomplish His purposes. Indeed, picking up the sword at the wrong time and uninvited may be a revelation of a faith flaw: thinking that unless we do something, His plan will not be accomplished.

As worthy as Peter’s willingness to defend the Savior was, his impulse went against God’s will to fulfill His prophetic redemptive plan for mankind. Jesus was born into this world to die for our sins and He knew His time had come. Nothing would stop Him from accomplishing His Father’s will.

I wonder how many times we miss God’s best, stepping ahead of Him, simply because we do not understand the full scope of His plan?

We sometimes pray for something for a long, long time – a dream or need. Then one day we wake up, deciding that we have prayed and waited long enough. That’s when we pick up the sword and engage in battle, often just before God comes through with the answer to our prayers.

My Limited Point of View

Thinking of the scene in Gethsemane makes me realize how much my hastiness could cost: Ultimately, the fulfillment of God’s perfect plan for my life.

Nothing would have pleased Satan more than to have stopped Jesus from going to that dreadful cross. Likewise, the enemy leaps for joy when you and I step ahead of God and miss out on His best for us.

Put. Down. Your. Sword.

Jesus’ words to Peter served as a timeless reminder that, in order to receive God’s perfect plan, I must remain surrendered to His perfect timing.

It reminds me that, had Peter seen past the cross, he would not have ever drawn his sword.

It reminds me that, if only I could see what God has in store for me, right past the Valley of Wait, I would certainly take my hands off the dough and be still. E.v.e.r.y. T.i.m.e.

What about you? Is it time to put away your sword?

Are you tempted to believe you have waited enough?

Are you about to take matters into your own hands?

If so, before you move forward, meddling with God’s plan, messing up the story He wrote for you, hear the Master’s tender voice, as it shouts from the other side of Calvary:

There is everlasting life beyond that cross, Child.

From where I see it, the victory is certain and the end is beautiful.

Will you put down your sword and trust Me?

The post Taking Matters Into Your Own Hands appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Passage:

Key Verses: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

“Did you do your best, honey?”

 “Yes, mommy, I did” she quietly said.

“Did you study for the test, double-checked your answers?”

 “I did, mommy, I promise.”

 She was at the verge of tears.

My heart sunk. I felt helpless and dumb. The grade was pretty unacceptable and it wasn’t her first that month.

I found myself hating Pre-Algebra all over again.

No, I didn’t think about pre-algebra when I said yes to homeschooling my children. No, sire, pre-algebra was not in my “cons” list. I actually didn’t have a “pros and cons” list at all. I simply knew that God was calling us to enroll our girls in a hybrid school, where they go to school some days and homeschool on the others. I figured we would do just fine; after all, I was only going to serve as a facilitator and booboo kisser on homeschool days.

Wrong! Was I ever wrong.

I was also the one who was supposed to be able to help my babies when they didn’t know what to do. Instead, I looked at pre-algebra papers and wondered how on earth I made it through school thirty years ago.

Nice. Really nice, Patricia. What were you thinking?

Did God really say…?

That’s when I started questioning God on a decision that He guided us through, step-by-step. We knew it was His will. We sought His confirmation and received it.

But at the first obstacle, at the first not-so-comfortable situation, I decided I must have misunderstood Him.

I wish I could say that that was the first time in my 20 years as a Christian that I doubted His direction when things didn’t go as planned. I wish I could put on the super-Christian cape and claim that I always tell my heart to quiet down when things start getting out of (my) control.

But.it.just.isn’t.so.

 I’m just glad I’m in good company.

Several of the Giants of Faith of Hebrews 11 struggled with the same sort of unbelief before they reached the place where they could always see with eyes of unshaken faith.

Think Sarah laughing at the thought of a baby in her barren womb… Genesis 18:12

Think Abraham doubting His Covenant Promise and agreeing to a shortcut … Genesis 16:2

Think Moses keeping his eyes on His inadequacies instead on the promise that I AM was with Him… Exodus 4

Think Peter denying Christ after offering to die for Him… John 18:15-27

Think Thomas touching the wounds after seeing the Risen Savior… John 20:27

Truthfully, when God gives us a direction or a promise, we all usually start on the right path, acting as those who truly believe… only to halt at the sight of an obstacle that is bigger than our abilities… an unexpected outcome… or become anxious and jump ahead of God when we think that He is taking too long.

Still, God’s words to Isaiah ring true to every single promise He makes to His Covenant children:

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55: 11

I’m glad that we pressed on and survived pre-algebra last year.

Algebra 1 has been the promise fulfilled, as our daughter’s A’s confirm that we passed another (faith) test when I chose to remind my heart to believe and trust… and simply press on in obedience. But I know many other times will come, when I will be tempted to question God’s ways, and wonder if I missed the right turn on His path for me, simply because He has chosen to mold me in the process.

My ultimate response, I pray, will remain the same:

I’ll tell my heart to believe.

And in the meantime, while I cannot see the full scope of His promises, I’ll choose to keep on seeking Him… trusting Him… listening to His guidance… obeying His Word.

Knowing with all my heart that, in His perfect time, I will delight as His Word of Promise returns completely fulfilled… just as He said it would.

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