Deuteronomy 25; Psalm 116; Isaiah 52; Revelation 22

With two elementary school age girls in the house, there’s a lot of talking. And for someone like me, who toggles the line between introvert/extrovert (leaning more towards introvert as the day wears on), this verse is a mystery and blessing. I can seek out the Lord, and he will listen to my prayers. In fact, he bends down to listen–giving me his attention.

¹ I love the Lord because he hears my voice
    and my prayer for mercy.
² Because he bends down to listen,
    I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalm 116:1-2 NLT

This past weekend stirred up a lot of feelings in me, with Father’s Day and luncheons and relatives. Even last night I sat across from my husband and said, “I don’t know how to get past this. How do I get past this?”

“I don’t know how you do,” he said. “I just know you need to do it.”

I read in this Psalm about a soul wanting rest … and how good the Lord is. He has saved me. He has saved me. And this other stuff clawing at me is little and temporary in light of salvation. Thank you, God, for taking my mind off of past and showing me the very best thing that ever happened to me is you. If I keep my eyes on you and praise your name, perhaps then my mind won’t go back to things I cannot change.

Let my soul be at rest again,
    for the Lord has been good to me.
⁸ He has saved me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling.
⁹ And so I walk in the Lord’s presence
    as I live here on earth!
¹⁰ I believed in you, so I said,
    “I am deeply troubled, Lord.”
¹¹ In my anxiety I cried out to you,
    “These people are all liars!”
¹² What can I offer the Lord
    for all he has done for me?
¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and praise the Lord’s name for saving me. Psalm 116:7-13 NLT

And while I toggle between introvert/extrovert, it seems certain circumstances want to make my feet straddle the line of old and new. Old ways that want me back, of life before Jesus, the way things were because no one ever questioned … and the new way and new life in Christ.

“… My name is blasphemed all day long. ⁶ But I will reveal my name to my people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them.” Isaiah 52:5-6 NLT.

I want life. I want Jesus.

Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. Revelation 22:17b NLT.

Lord, thank you for listening to me. Thank you for words that calm me when my heart rages, rages. You remind me of the power of your name. You remind me of all you have done–Savior! You remind me that you hold this all together–Alpha and Omega. Beginning and End. I worry sometimes over things that loom large. I work so hard at distancing myself from a filthy past that you have already washed clean. If I am looking to you and praising you, maybe others will too. For your glory.

Courtney (66books365)