My Ryrie study Bible, complete with my handwritten notes and Isabelle's notes as well.
Most mornings, I don't get to have time with the Lord. I try to do it at some point in the day or at bedtime, but it's not nearly as refreshing as first thing in the morning.
Friday morning, however, I was able to spend some time in the Word. It was especially precious because of the way I was nourished.
Chapter 9 of Nehemiah is a beautiful chapter. In it, Ezra begins praying by giving summary of Israel's history, hitting all the high points, and especially focusing on the incredible things that God did for His people. Ezra also tells of all the times where the people of Israel strayed, but God remained faithful and always preserved a portion of His people. He always met their needs.
Indeed, forty years You provided for them in the wilderness and they were not in want;
Their clothes did not wear out, nor did their feet swell. Nehemiah 9:21
I can really relate to swollen feet right now, so it amazes me that theirs did not swell.
And 40 years without needing new clothes?!?
God met every single one of their needs.
What are you needing right now, mama? Patience? Rest? Energy? Strength? Wisdom? All of the above?
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
Ask.
Lately, I'm in need of energy. Or rest. Sometimes God gives me the energy to do what I need to do, and other times He doesn't. Instead, I have to rest and let the house fall apart a little bit. And that's OK, because clearly, God wants me to rest instead of forging on, full speed ahead. But I know that my times of exhaustion, fatigue, and yes, vomiting from morning sickness will not last forever. I'll have good days or weeks again, whether it comes during this pregnancy or after the baby arrives. For about a week and a half, God gave me lots of energy. The result is that my house is getting cleaner and more organized. I'm loving it. But now I'm spent, and God is saying rest.
But are you worthy enough for God to provide what you need?
The neat thing about the passage in Nehemiah is that it comes immediately after a description of Israel's great sin of idolatry.
Even when they made for themselves a calf of molten metal and said 'This is your God who brought you up from Egypt' and committed great blasphemies, You, in Your great compassion, Did not forsake them in the wilderness; The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, to guide them on their way, nor did the pillar of fire by night, to light for them the way in which they were to go. You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, Your manna You did not withhold from their mouth, and You gave them water for their thirst. Nehemiah 9:18-20.
No, we're not worthy. Like His chosen people, Israel, a thousand times we've failed Him, and we'll fail Him again. Still, God loves His people. He hasn't changed since then. The main difference between now and then is that God showed another portion of His perfect plan for the world when He gave His very worthy son to die on the cross for our sins. Praise God. I've got some sins that need covering.
That's the beauty of the cross. The same grace that saved me is what enables me to grow in holiness, never becoming perfect, but still growing in Christlikeness more and more every day.
Moms, lets bring our needs to the Lord, even if they seem insignificant, like the prayer I often pray "Father, just help me make it until naptime." I often hear myself singing a hymn that I remember from childhood: Trust and obey. There is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey. And I just put one foot in front of the other, asking God to supply the strength, rest, and precious patience to obey Him, trusting in His provision of my daily needs.
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