Again -- not much of a weekend. Camping with Big Brothers Big Sisters, baseball games, church things, and shopping for clothes for kids. That was just me! Troy had the kids Friday and Saturday while I was camping. He usually does a great job of keeping us straight and picked up while I'm gone, but he had his own hamster wheel he was running on: baseball practice, canoe trip for college kids at church, being a team mom while the team mom was camping! We are drowning under a pile of laundry both clean and dirty, as well as various souvenirs from such a busy weekend.
I'm weary. Not physically -- I should be, but I slept in Sunday morning and went to late service. When I got out of the shower, the kids were in their p.j.'s watching TV and I told them to go change into their church clothes (Troy was singing on praise team for both services). "What?!? I thought we weren't going to church!!!" I don't know who started that rumor! We were quite late for class, but I am well rested. But weary.
Last week with our busy-ness, coupled with exhaustion from the time change, I got very little of my quiet time in. Okay, I got none. That in itself makes me weary. It also gives Satan wiggle room in my life. Is it okay to hate the origin of evil? I do. Satan was able to squirm into my life, casting doubts, mistrust, and mistunderstandings -- affecting not only me, but those I love as well. I'm thankful that I recognize that as a symptom of being away from God, but it's so hard to combat.
This morning I was able to get up for my quiet time. All I could do was cry before God. I poured out my heart, and asked Him to give me encouragement in His word today. I didn't know where to start. I figured Psalm was a good place to start and in flipping there landed on chapter 60. I wasn't in my own Bible, with all the good places highlighted, so I started reading. Not much encouragement in the first 3 verses:
"1 You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; you have been angry-now restore us!
2 You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger."
Not real encouraged at this point! But verse 4:
"But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow."
I've got a banner! I belong to the winning team! Continuing. . .
"5 Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary: "In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph."
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, O God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?
11 Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless."
Yes, the help of man is truly worthless. My only comfort is in the Lord. And v. 12 (final verse) says all I need to know:
"With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies."
So thankful today for the Lord to trample down my enemies -- I can't do it!
Go out and be victorious today!
9 comments:
Ya know, some day your kids are gonna make you as proud of them as I am of you! Years ago I honestly never dreamed of what a blessing it would be to ADMIRE my childen.
I believe you were led to the 60th Psalm as much for me as for yourself. I am dealing with my own demons, but you have passed along a shield and a sword for me to take up.
I've read a few of your posts and I'd like to come out of delurking and tell you how much I enjoyed your post for today! Many of us needed this for today. And I was especially blessed by your dad's comment.
Thanks for the post, and thank you for our brief conversation yesterday morning. You are a tremendous blessing to my life. Even in your exhaustion... Love you!
I'm so glad you found encouraging Scriptures to hold you through your day. You sound so busy. I will try to pray more for strength for you to get through this month.
Glory be! You know me and my visual nature, reading the verse about the Lord trampling down your enemies, I began to see them fall, and it just lightened my heart. What a glorious God we have to revel in and admire. You are a blessing to me.
Sarah, it is such a help and encouragement to me to get to know you more through your blog. I ended last semester praying for more godly women in my life. It is only now occuring to me that you are part of God's answer to that prayer.
That was beautiful! I know what you mean about giving wiggle room when we don't have time with Him. I love how God relates to us! Thank you for the great encouragement! Oh! About the victory....check out the song on my blog.
Thank you for the encouragement your post provided me today. As the hour draws near for Levi to arrive, I am still struggling with Satan and the thoughts he brings to my mind. I don't want to doubt, to worry, but Satan is always there whispering to me! It warms my spirit to know that God is right beside me, helping me to battle this evil one. Hoping for peace and quiet for you:)
I am reminded of something I'm sure you STILL have memorized. . ."I will lift mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth. . ." (I have it memorized because I heard you say it a million times that spring and the following fall.) Which reminds me of Elisha praying that his servant's eyes would be opened and when they were he saw "the hills full of horses and chariots of fire." You have more than a banner. . .you have an entire army.
I think it is perfectly fine to hate the embodiment of evil in our world. Especially since God hates sin and Satan is sin personified. I have often spoken to Satan--not prayed to him--but commanded him. Directly. As in, "Go away and leave me alone. I am not listening to you!!!!"
Thanks for giving me the image of a banner. . .I will imagine waving one as I walk to my classroom in the morning.
R--
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