Diane Johnson
Psalms 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
These last few days in my morning talks with the Lord, he has shown me how the staff I thought he held for discipline was also the staff he used to ward off mine enemies. And so began another lesson in my human nature. When I asked more he reminded me of the verse that says truth is a double edged sword. We know it can cut you and it can defend you. When I stand against the Lord, his words cut me to the quick. When I stand lost, looking for a way back to him that same rod becomes his staff and he leads me home. What he has been reminding me as I stand in a barren land and face my exodus from the next thing that has enslaved me is that his son not only died to save me from my sins, but Jesus walks along side me in the darkness too. Not only does he lift up my chin and say be not afraid, but he also says be not ashamed of the stew you are in, don’t be afraid to ask me to walk in it with you, I am already there anyway, walking it with you and if you ask... I will open your eyes so you can see me too. :>)
Isaiah 40:28-31 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and the young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on the wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Psalms 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
These last few days in my morning talks with the Lord, he has shown me how the staff I thought he held for discipline was also the staff he used to ward off mine enemies. And so began another lesson in my human nature. When I asked more he reminded me of the verse that says truth is a double edged sword. We know it can cut you and it can defend you. When I stand against the Lord, his words cut me to the quick. When I stand lost, looking for a way back to him that same rod becomes his staff and he leads me home. What he has been reminding me as I stand in a barren land and face my exodus from the next thing that has enslaved me is that his son not only died to save me from my sins, but Jesus walks along side me in the darkness too. Not only does he lift up my chin and say be not afraid, but he also says be not ashamed of the stew you are in, don’t be afraid to ask me to walk in it with you, I am already there anyway, walking it with you and if you ask... I will open your eyes so you can see me too. :>)
Isaiah 40:28-31 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and the young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on the wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Glenda's comment ...
THANK YOU so much Di for sharing. ALL of this touched my heart. But a little personal bit...
"Not only does he lift up my chin and say be not afraid, but he also says be not ashamed of the stew you are in, don’t be afraid to ask me to walk in it with you, I am already there anyway,"
all my life I have longed for that touch, that someone who will lift my chin, look into my eyes and when I see into theirs I will see LOVE... just so recently I have begun to believe that I CAN and DO have that in GOD! When I read that in your post, I cried. God touched my heart in SUCH a REAL way through your words. I have also spent my life always apologizing for every single mistake, constantly in a state of feeling I was in the wrong and needed to be ashamed of EVERYTHING I did. Again... the words God spoke through you were just what I needed to hear. Thank you SO much for allowing God to use YOU to speak to my heart. You are an amazing encouragement to me. Love you sister.