"Please remain calm..."

I just want to reach out to everyone who might read this today and tell you, "Be encouraged today!" I have no idea what you're facing. Maybe you're facing a tough decision. Maybe you're dealing with family issues. Maybe your finances are weighing you down. Maybe your PlayStation 3 won't work. I don't know. But, whatever it is, God is bigger than the outcome you're fearing, should you're fears be proven correct.

Read over Psalm 40 today. It offers some pretty encouraging stuff. It really shows how much God intercedes in our lives on a moment-by-moment basis if we allow Him too. Verses 1-3 say, "I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord."

So, in a difficult situation that is really stressing us out, our role is simply to wait on God. That's all we have to do and He'll do the rest. He'll work the situation in a way that is best for us and glorifying to Him. Simple, right? Acutally, it sounds pretty vague to me. I think maybe it means that we don't have to let our apprehensions and misgivings force us into jumping to a decision or being too afraid to make a decision, thereby letting an opportunity pass. I think, too often, we rob God of the opportunity to give us something amazing that we'll be singing about to everyone we come in contact with for days to come. Instead, we get scared because we really don't trust His ability to reveal Himself to us and we pass on something great. Or, we jump at the first thing we see because we're afraid that if we don't act now, we'll miss out and it'll never get any better.

But, then again, some would argue that everything that happens is supposed to happen, so we just need to ignore our situation and find contentment where we're at by focusing on God and His goodness. I'm not advocating either way, at least not intentionally. I just know that it says God will pull us out of the muck and mire if we turn to and wait on Him. So, obviously we somehow got in a situation that we're not supposed to be in. Man, that free will. What a brain teaser!

Anyway, even if you're more confused now than ever, be encouraged! Nothing has come upon you that you are not able to overcome through the help of Christ Jesus. God wants to prosper you and put a song in your heart that will turn people toward Him. We just need to cling tightly to Him and not listen to the nay-sayers and the lost when they call us foolish and misguided. We know the truth. It is in us. We just have to believe it and really trust that God is in control and at work in our lives moment by moment. I can't tell you exactly how, but the Holy Spirit can. Pursue Him more passionately than you pursue everything else in your live and He will show up!

I love you all! Be blessed today and keep your eyes on God. Fight the desire to panic. Fully give yourself into His hands. He will raise you up! Amen and Adios!!!