Praising in the Storm

 We are in the "quiet of the storm" now, it seems.  Christmas has passed with all it's glorious expectations and miracles delivered, including our van working again.  We have less than a week before we are turning the calendar on a new month and a new year.  

I'm looking forward to an appointment of extended fasting, prayer, and time in the word in January, because it is another way to turn from the enemy and say he has no ground, and to lay before the King-allowing Him to pour out truth.  

As I read the account of Jesus literally confronted by Satan in the desert, I am reminded of the final statement, which is not revealed to us only this once: "Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." (Matthew 4:11).  When sustenance, comfort, provisions were at a new, all-time low for Jesus, because He was at a time of being alone, though with God, and fasting, Satan tried to offer Him sustenance, comfort, and provisions by making the choice that God allows us all to make: life in submission and obedience to Him, or life in our own hands, manipulating the pursuit of what God wants to give us anyway.

"Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only" is the key to this life in which we are given choices in how we handle trials and temptations.  Over 100 times we hear the application of worshiping the Lord and serving Him only throughout the Bible.  We hear it first in the Ten Commandments, though it is the relationship God sets up in the garden:  do not look to other ways of gaining wisdom, knowledge and provisions, but trust that He really does have your best interest in store: seek Him first.  That doesn't mean we don't research at all, but that we seek God in prayer and worship, believing He will reveal to us what we need to know, and we test every answer to His word.

Before we research vehicles, consider where we spend money, what we need to pursue for the helps our kids need, and what we do with our day, we need to worship Him and see that it is Him we're serving in the day.  As kids' therapies, appointments, paperwork, phone calls and chores fill up my "to do list," along with the desire to just sit and cuddle or play with my kids, I fix my mind on Him.  All of these things are wanderings in the desert without Him.

Yes, I'm hopeful in my flesh for some relief this year, but I must also consider, that though His yoke is easy and His burden is light, it won't be removed, this is security.  Jesus went from that desert to being repeatedly questioned for the mission He was sent on.  What seemed like the final attempt to take Him out was only the greatest opportunity for victory over sin and death: all in God's plan.  

Lord, whatever may come, You are my King.  I want to worship you even when I feel like I have no strength and the ability to focus takes a fight.  Thank You, Lord, that Your grace is sufficient for me.  I trust You with today, and with every day in this new year, for my children, for all our provisions, and for all the days of my life.

I may have dreams, goals, and visions for the new year, but they are all Yours to manipulate.  Reveal Your ways to me, O Lord, my rock, and my redeemer.  In You I place my trust.  Amen.