following Him and not others

(this was posted Tuesday but it was all about walking with him....)

Yahweh Yireh : the Lord will provide

When you pray to Yahweh Yireh you are praying to the God who sees the situation beforehand and is able to provide for your needs.

WOW!

That is the God who met me today in my quiet moments on the couch. I felt some strong spiritual warfare issues pressing down on me. Does that make sense? But you know, you are anxious and upset, cannot necessarily identify the details of why, but you know this is more than just a upsetting conversation with someone who often has that effect on you. No, this is a spiritual battle, maybe a small one, but a battle just the same.

Well, instead of talking it out (with a friend) this time which is my nature, I learned from Tony Evans last week that we need to go to God with ALL our issues first, not last. So I grabbed my Bible, my Praying The Names of God Study Guide and Stepping Heavenward by E. Prentiss. First, the fact that I could quickly find both books (along with my bible) was a blessing - I would even say God going before me to equip me for today.

Then as I sat down, I did not want to randomly open the Word to any old page, I have done this in the past but not today. I choose to read a psalm - they, so often, seem to offer encouragement and wise advice. So I went to Psalm 25 thinking today was the 25th - it is not but , God knew I would get the date wrong in my head too - because he was waiting from me in Psalm 25.

To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul;
2 in you I trust, O my God.

[good stuff, I only offer my soul to you, not to others to trample on, just to you - my God to speak truth into it]

Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.

[DO not let me allow those in my life, who wish me ill will
3 No one whose hope is in you , to trample on my heart, help me to trust in you]

will ever be put to shame,
but they will be put to shame
who are treacherous without excuse.

[you will hold those accountable whose goal it is to cause harm to me]

4 Show me your ways, O LORD,
teach me your paths;
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.

[help me to know that you are MY God, that you lead me where you want me,

that my hope is in you alone and not in this world or the people of this world]

6 Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love,
for they are from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth
and my rebellious ways;
according to your love remember me,
for you are good, O LORD.

[despite how others love to remind us of our sin, especially our parents, you have forgiven

us of the sins of our youth and you have made us a new creation in you]

8 Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
9 He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
10 All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

[Your ways are ways of truth and love and faithfulness, help me to know this

and stand on the Rock of who you are - help me to cling to that truth]

11 For the sake of your name, O LORD,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
12 Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ?
He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
13 He will spend his days in prosperity,
and his descendants will inherit the land.
[Boy I claim this for my children, that they will inherit a love for you, I trust that you will complete your work in their lives, I claim an inheritance for them, and I claim a break in the path of generational sin our their lives. I pray that my children will prosper through their love and service to you]

14 The LORD confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
15 My eyes are ever on the LORD,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.

[this last part was like balm to my wounds - only HE will release my feet from the snare

not my friends, not myself, not my works, nothing else, only God will release me from

that which wounds me. I need to turn to HIM]

So I know this is long, but wow, I went looking for him to soothe some old, deep wounds that were reopened today, and he was there with some amazing balm. He is my balm, he heals my wounds. He reminds me of the truths he is putting in my heart:

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

I do not need to approval of others in my life, I am not sure I will ever really know that truth, but I am starting to turn to him to remind me daily. I only need him to define me, his truths, his word.

God is so good all the time! What a peace that brings to my heart!