Run to Him- in His Word

Run to Him! In His Word-11-27-17

Do things sometimes get you ‘all emotional at this time of year? Do you sometimes feel like you should be excited because Christmas is coming but you just want to curl up and go back to sleep? Or maybe you just are tired of all the sales and deals floating around and you feel like you just can’t get enough of it but your out of energy. No matter if you are exhausted from shopping or from all the emotional up heaves, that generally come when families gather… run to Him!

 “The waves of death overwhelmed me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave ^[wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path. But in my distress, I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears. 2 Samuel 22:5-7

⁴ Take delight in the Lord,  and he will give you your heart’s desires. Psalm 37:4

We can encourage ourselves by changing situations, but sometimes that just does not work; sometimes the situations that bring us down are not in our control. When this happens we need to give it up to God, allow Him to take control of the situation and then seek Him in His Word, our Bible.

When I am overwhelmed I find it easier to get through rough patches or even times of complete devastation by reading the Bible and praying. But sometimes it does not seem that God is listening, sometimes we feel as if He kicked us to the curb and left us there to be taken by the trash

man.

I want you to know that it I not so! When times are really rotten I am told, it is when God is working on us. We become stronger in character when we go through adversity, so why not grow closer to God too! If you are spending time with a friend, really spending time with them, you get to know them better. When we are really spending time reading the Word, or a daily devotional even, we will get to know Him more and how He can relate to what we are going through.

David ran from Saul’s army for a while and he was feeling forsaken by friends and everything He knew was changed. He called out to God.

Turn your ear to listen to me, and set me free.  Be my rock of safety where I can always hide.
Give the order to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Psalm 71:1-3

David did nothing wrong to be chased by the King Saul, He but did what God wanted of him. He did the right thing and God made him the next King. We need to not complain, not argue, not gossip about other people, not be mean to others and snappy just because we have to wait in lines. We need to share the Love of Jesus wherever we go because when we do that we show that we are listening to Him, instead of our own selfish nature.

…so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.  But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. Philippians 2:15-17

 Then the one who looked like a man touched me again, and I felt my strength returning. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for you are very precious to God. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.” Daniel 10:18-20

When we speak to God, in prayer and in praise, we will find not only physical strength increases but also our emotions will be more attuned to what He desires, and we desire. Instead of fighting the season of Holidays, why not seek God and find out why He has allowed these things? Maybe we do not celebrate on the right day, or maybe we do not celebrate the right way; but God can get the glory in this season more than many others!  I like to look at Christmas Shopping as a time of year to talk to customers in line, or around me. I pay attention to what they are saying and I try to encourage people or help them find things, even though I do not work for the stores I am in. Why not try this? It is so exciting to help someone out just for no apparent reason!

Then when you get cut off, or you get pushed away from a line you can just pray for the people on the spot when you get the chance!  Not out loud, but silent prayers, they do not need to know you are praying for God to help. I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry and the skillful are not necessarily wealth. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time. Ecclesiastes 9:11

So when we start to feel stressed or depressed over the Holiday Season, lets stop, and as I have said in past articles;

Stop, Drop and Pray!

Stop allowing the thoughts to fill our minds with defeat.

Drop the issue that is causing the thoughts to flow.

Pray for peace, for good thoughts, and to seek God for Joy, Hope, and Love to exude from yourself and those around you.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for your love today, for your joy unspeakable and for the unmeasurable peace you can bring to us as we go about our day when we stop to pray first, and read your Word. Help us to listen to Your voice and find these things that we may continue to share Your love with others, In Jesus name. Amen.

Suggested Reading: Psalm 37: 1-40, Daniel 10:1-21, Psalm 22-31 and John 10:1-42