The Lord replied, "I will personally go with you...and I will give you rest--everything will be fine for you." Exodus 33:14
Showing posts with label praise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label praise. Show all posts

Saturday, January 14, 2012

More Precious than Gold

I have a confession to make:  In the difficult post-Christmas-break reentry I thought of my friends who were home enjoying the quiet solitude of back-to-school...with envy.  I coveted their undisturbed quiet.  Honestly, how bad would it be to send these stubborn, ungrateful children back to school?  (Please excuse my frustrated emotions--they're really great kids.)

However, those sorts of questions are never the issue when pursuing wild obedience.  Never.  "Hath God said?" has gotten humanity into a whole pile of trouble.

I called one of those lovely friends and she enthusiastically agreed to use some of her happy solitude to pray for me.  She really is a wonderful friend and whole-heartedly supports me in this adventure. 

Wild obedience cannot take place successfully without the support of loving community.

I'm sure it was because of her prayers that I began to remember the ways He's helped me.  Songs of praise began to lift my spirits.  I was renewed in my vision. By Friday we were back on track.  The kids even said it was the best day ever.

These few sentences sound so light-hearted and simple--I don't want you to be misled into thinking this faith walk must be a piece of cake for "some people".  This forging of faith is something deep and precious that happens in the secret place of your relationship with God.
 
Whatever your adventure in wild obedience, I pray that you'll be encouraged.  Your faith is incredibly precious--your determination to obey not taken lightly--by your Father who delights in you.

So be truly glad.  
There is wonderful joy ahead,
even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.
These  trials will show that your faith is genuine.
It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--
though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.
So when your faith remains strong through many trials,
it will bring you much praise and glory and honor
on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him.
Though you do not see him now, you trust him;
and you rejoice with a glorious, in expressible joy.  

1 Peter 1:6-8