Standing Back Up

The past couple of weeks I have felt as if I am in a constant battle. So many arrows flying at us and it is getting harder to stand back up. It isn't just me but my family, my ministry partners and other Christian friends. What is up?

Yesterday afternoon I was hit with one more thing and I just wanted to go to bed and cry. I didn't but boy I sure wanted to.

I found myself reading Psalm 83 "Oh God do not keep silent; do not hold your peace or be still, O God! For your enemies make an uproar; those who hate you have raised their heads."

I saw how focused I was on the MANY circumstances and felt like I needed to change or better said, refocus my attention.

Psalm 84:1-2"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts! My soul longs, yes faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God." Verses 10-12 "For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of the my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. for the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. NO good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!"

It's amazing to me how you can start reading the Word of God feeling defeated, depressed and the more you read the more it is like a soothing balm. The more I read, the more God Almighty soothed my soul. The circumstances had not changed, but my attitude had.

I left for a rehearsal and so enjoyed fellowship with my sweet sisters. As we we were leaving, another arrow was thrown my way. Car would not start.

No problems, no sign of anything being wrong on my way to rehearsal...nothing.

My battery was deader than dead. FINALLY got it jumped off and headed home. I got home and just sat down in tears. ONE MORE THING. One more expense. One more defeat. One more....attitude check.

One more opportunity for God to teach me something. One more opportunity to say that my God hears and cares. One more opportunity to make His name famous.

Psalm 83:18 "Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD, that you alone are the Most High over all the earth."

This morning, as hard as it is I'm standing back up. The battle is already strong and it isn't even noon! But....

My God will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.(Phil. 4:19) I need only obey Him!

I have been practicing over and over (Phil.4:6-7) "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication WITH THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

So I'm standing back up a little stronger, a little more confident in what He is doing and I am not only asking Him to change this circumstance. Today, I'm asking Him to change me so that only He is seen.