Small Stepsby Joni Eareckson Tada
"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." Galatians 5:25
A friend of mine who suffers from migraine headaches tells me that on some mornings she wakes up thinking, How can I do this? I don't have the will to even get out of bed. Lord, help me just make it to the shower. On days like this, she says she's doing great if she can make it to lunch time without collapsing back in bed from pain.
When you're hurting, life is lived in steps. Very small steps.
The sufficiency of Christ is more than enough to meet the needs of a
lifetime, but life can only be lived one day, one moment, at a time.
This is why today's verse is one of my friend's favorites. Especially the part about keeping "in step with the Spirit."
The meaning here is not about keeping pace, as if the Spirit were
racing ahead and we'd better keep up with Him; it has to do with
measuring one's moments in a slow and circumspect way. God's strength
is available one day at a time (Lamentations 3:22-23). And frankly,
when you're suffering like my friend, you are only able to take one day
at a time -- often, one hour at a time.
Contentment comes from many great and small acceptances in life.
What is there in your life right now that is slowing you down? Can you
thank God for it, knowing that it makes you gear down to a slower speed?
Discontented people are always rushing ahead to escape the 'now' of
their circumstances. The environment in which to learn how to be
content is the environment of moments and small steps. When life isn't
the way you like it, like it the way it is one day, one hour at a
time... with Christ. And you will be blessed.
There are things in my life, Lord, which are slowing me down.
Help me to see these 'problems' as opportunities to keep in closer step
with the Spirit.
Blessings,
Joni and Friends
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Sunday, December 11, 2016
Small Steps by Joni
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Monday, September 12, 2016
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Fatigue
The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace!
Psalm 29 brought great comfort to me this morning as I read about the LORD'S powerful voice and His majestic strength. Those of us who deal with chronic pain, fatigue and insomnia can wake up feeling weaker than we went to bed. Staring into the hours ahead may feel overwhelming. But, just a little shift of my focus onto the strength of the Lord and His powerful sovereign rule over His universe manifested a great sense of hope for my day. God is in control and He will give me strength.
Think on just a few of these descriptions of His voice...
~ over many waters
~ thunders
~powerful
~majestic
~breaks the cedars of Lebanon (the grandest of trees)
~flashes forth flames of fire
My favorite was this one...
May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace! v. 11
I am promised that no matter what the day may hold that my GOD (who has all power over his kingdom) will bless me with His strength and peace! This brings peace to a person dealing with chronic pain and it's irritating companions known as fatigue and insomnia.
God has planned my day and not only planned my day but will give me His strength to do all He has assigned.
"Oh, heavenly kind and precious Father! Thank you for your Word that gives me hope to face today. I have faith now to ask that you would give me YOUR strength because I am weak. Your strength is made perfect in my weakness.Please help me to accept my limitations but in those limitations to not use them as an excuse for laziness. I want to serve those you have sovereignly assigned to my path today. Help me to remember that serving is not only physical but in my weakness I am always able to give an encouraging word or to pray. May my faith be increased to trust that You are guiding me today to do your will. I want to remember that your plan for today may look completely different than the list of tasks that I scribbled on my daily calendar. YOUR will be done in my life today. YOUR kingdom come in my life today. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen."
May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the LORD bless his people with peace!
Psalm 29 brought great comfort to me this morning as I read about the LORD'S powerful voice and His majestic strength. Those of us who deal with chronic pain, fatigue and insomnia can wake up feeling weaker than we went to bed. Staring into the hours ahead may feel overwhelming. But, just a little shift of my focus onto the strength of the Lord and His powerful sovereign rule over His universe manifested a great sense of hope for my day. God is in control and He will give me strength.
Think on just a few of these descriptions of His voice...
~ over many waters
~ thunders
~powerful
~majestic
~breaks the cedars of Lebanon (the grandest of trees)
~flashes forth flames of fire
My favorite was this one...
May the LORD give strength to his people! May the LORD bless his people with peace! v. 11
I am promised that no matter what the day may hold that my GOD (who has all power over his kingdom) will bless me with His strength and peace! This brings peace to a person dealing with chronic pain and it's irritating companions known as fatigue and insomnia.
God has planned my day and not only planned my day but will give me His strength to do all He has assigned.
"Oh, heavenly kind and precious Father! Thank you for your Word that gives me hope to face today. I have faith now to ask that you would give me YOUR strength because I am weak. Your strength is made perfect in my weakness.Please help me to accept my limitations but in those limitations to not use them as an excuse for laziness. I want to serve those you have sovereignly assigned to my path today. Help me to remember that serving is not only physical but in my weakness I am always able to give an encouraging word or to pray. May my faith be increased to trust that You are guiding me today to do your will. I want to remember that your plan for today may look completely different than the list of tasks that I scribbled on my daily calendar. YOUR will be done in my life today. YOUR kingdom come in my life today. In Jesus Name I pray. Amen."
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