Jesus reigns! I just wanted to declare that before I got started on the rest of my day. When I am not feeling the sacrifice of my life style, I am so grateful to God He has made a way for me to have an incredibly awesome life! Today I sat in a park with two dogs and read Psalms and got paid for it! Now I am breaking all the rules of writing by having so many exclamation points, but how can you beat a job like that?
I have a major spiritual battle going on in my life right now, so reading Psalms was good. I never read it straight through as I occasionally had to move the dogs from here to there, but it was an amazing experience. I have never spent much time in Psalms. I love facts, instructions and stories, so usually you will find me somewhere in the New Testament. Jesus’ last words to his disciples in John 14-17 has been where I turn for comfort. I think I should spend more time in Psalms. It was incredible.
Because of this spiritual battle, I spent a part of this evening thinking about the armor of God – salvation, righteousness, truth, peace, faith and the Word of God. There may be times and places in this world where I do not experience emotional safety from a temporal appearance. Abuse and other factors mess with my feelings. Things can be toxic, BUT I am safe because I have salvation. No one can take it from me. I am righteous. More righteous than the scribes and Pharisees. I believe the truth of Jesus. Truth is always my friend and protector. Peace. Sometimes peace comes with a sword. Faith. God, give me faith! The Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. God, help me use it!
I have also spent some time today thinking about the pain of sacrifice. I think it will be my weekly thought in a month or so. Overall, today was very good. I continue to feel really grounded and centered on God. Pray for me to remain so. I need Him absolutely desperately.
“Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ “If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” – Matthew 10:34-39