I believe it was the Holy Spirit who placed the thought in my mind of appealing to DOW subscribers (you) to follow my example in serving the Lord as His amanuensis. I found myself mentioning this to Lesley Mathews when she and her husband, Vilho, surprised my wife and me with a visit at our home in late February.

Surprisingly, Lesley didn’t fall off her chair through shock-horror. Indeed, she looked at me with a smile and said she had already written a number of draft testimonies that speak of God’s goodness, greatness, and faithfulness in her life. To refresh your memory, Lesley produced “The Love Always Project”, a collection of devotional songs: website: www.endlessgrace.com.au

As you know, I’m not someone who is slow at responding to opportunities that come my way in order to honor God and inspire believers in their lives and walk with Him. So, I begged Lesley and grovelled for a “taste” of one of her drafts to share with you. Several days later, I received the following from her…

“This is what the Lord says—the Lord who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the Lord: Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come”(Jer. 33:2-3).

Have you ever felt that a problem or a struggle you are facing seems as big as a mountain? So big that it feels immovable? Perhaps you’ve been in a situation where there doesn’t appear to be an obvious way out. And it weighed so heavily on your heart and mind that it felt like no one could understand? 

Worry and fear has a way of intrusively intercepting our thoughts, which when left unchecked, only compounds the all-consuming concern that no one is able to help. How do you move forward in the middle of a situation that seems impossible? What do you do when the questions only seem to outweigh the answers? These are very real and relevant concerns, because no one is immune from experiencing challenging circumstances at certain times of their life.

If we are to believe the Bible, then the answer can be found in the words of the Creator. God is the source of perfect peace! Throughout the Bible, God gives the key to our dilemma. Wisdom, direction, and understanding is available, only if we will ask (Jam. 1:5). If you need wisdom, ask our generous God and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. Jeremiah tells us that the God who made heaven and earth is able to give us the solutions we so desperately search for… solutions we could never work out on our own.  

If we run to God with everything that is within us, and call out to Him with our passionate pleas for help, His presence is ready to renew us. God is interested in every detail of our lives, and wants us to surrender all our anxieties to Him. But perhaps you’ve been disappointed in the past and even angry or unsure as to why certain prayers have remained, seemingly, unanswered. You’re not alone!  

However, what I’ve found is that, even if the circumstances don’t immediately change, the act of surrendering and sitting quietly before the Lord ensures that “I” will start to change. A hard, sceptical and troubled soul can be made soft when we look to the Lord to give us His peace… even in the middle of the storm. When we surrender to the God who loves us with an unfailing love, our focus will move away from the problem, onto God who has the answer for what we are facing (“and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” … Phil. 4:7). 

We are never alone … God is with you and me always … He loves us with an everlasting love. Call out to Him right now. Spend time reminding yourself of who He is, what He’s done for you and me, and how much He wants to meet with you to refresh you and give you rest.  

I now invite you to sit quietly for 4½ minutes and reflect on the words of the song “Came to My Rescue”… https://youtu.be/mbkHZ_T34_w

“I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
    Bend down and listen as I pray”(Ps. 17:6).

Wow! I am so glad I asked Lesley for her testimony. Her experience of God has deepened my understanding and appreciation of God through the uniqueness of her faith experience. I hope the Spirit of our Lord ministered to you with the generosity of His love, mercy, and grace through Lesley’s testimony.

Lesley has since accepted my invitation to be a ‘voice for God’ on our Dancing-on-Water website. In the Guest Author category on the website, under Lesley’s name, you will find five articles authored by her that will minister to your heart and mind, inspiring your walk with the Lord.

Bill

(Waiting for you on dancing-on-water.com is a “A Fresh Word.” It’s the title of a must-read article by our Guest Author, Marian Dyer.)