Meadow Pippit by JJ Harrison

Beloved of God,

As I watch the trees move and dance to the wind’s urging, it is my God who made these trees. It is my God who makes the wind blow. It is my God who gives and takes away. Some off the greatest joys I’ve had in recent months is to be with people, to talk, to pray with them, and I can’t do that now. I am not speaking much for when I do I get migraines, and I get dizzy. To tell my husband and children I love them…sigh.

I wonder tho if I have talked too much. In the quiet, in the lack of words I have listened. Listened to my husband, my children, yet most importantly, listening to God’s voice.

Ephesians 4: ²⁹ Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and  give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God’s own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).

I hear what Paul is saying. Speech that is good, beneficial to the spiritual progress of others…

When was the last time you truly thought about what you were going to say beforehand? You paused. You breathed. So that what you say would be a blessing and give grace to those who hear it?  These are the thoughts running through my mind.

Then this morning, (I wrote this last night) in my time with the Lord, He gave me this. It is on my mantle in my kitchen.

Lamentations 3:

²² It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not.^(A)

²³ They are new every morning; great and abundant is Your stability and faithfulness.^(B)

²⁴ The Lord is my portion or share, says my living being (my inner self); therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.^(C)

²⁵ The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him [inquire of and for Him and require Him by right of necessity and on the authority of God’s word].

My hope, my portion…are based solely on His stability and faithfulness. His tender (love that) compassions (notice plural…) fail not.

I will fail people in my words and deeds. I will say things and God will close doors and suddenly what I said I would do, God has other plans. Yes, I will help with here. Yes, I will help there. Yes, I will participate. Yes, yes, yes. And God says, no.  Here is your portion. Here is your lot. Stay in the boundaries I have for you. They are good.

How can pain be good? How can hard times be good?

Because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness…

What does He expect of me?

…wait hopefully and expectantly for Him..

Pray on. Pray on.