Psalm 119: 1-8 The Message

You’re blessed when you stay on course,
    walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
    doing your best to find him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
    you walk straight along the road he set.
You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
    now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
    keeping to the course you set;
Then I’d never have any regrets
    in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
    I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I’m going to do what you tell me to do;
    don’t ever walk off and leave me.

01:38 Tuesday.

Last night, our community life pastor made us ponder on the word “lingering.” Our culture has trained us to hurry, and when we give in to haste, we miss opportunities of connection with God and others. Our Creator didn’t intend for us to live this way. Spiritual disciplines are often thought of in the traditional sense—fasting, solitude, silence, etc. But spiritual disciplines can be anything that opens and changes our heart to become more like Jesus.

Last Sunday, I blogged about dropping out of my race because of the pain that is involved in waiting. I felt like I was in a military bootcamp. I found myself asking too many “whys” to God that day. Why He’d put me on this journey? But deep inside of me, I felt I had to “linger” around just like Mary in John 20: 11-18. Mary felt the same way most likely. Maybe she asked, But how can I cultivate an unhurried heart when there is so much on my plate?”

It is choosing to slow down or simplify my agenda strengthens my trust in God. It reminds me that He is in control of my schedule, my day, and my life.

God did answer my request to understand my journey. God made a sense of it all. Our community life pastor shared Psalm 125, I felt like God was speaking through her.

“Lord, how do we live in the peace You promised when there are storms all around us?” Sometimes we get a warning when a storm is about to hit. The national weather service issues storm watches and warnings but not everyone has the time or means to get away from danger. However personal storms can move in with lightning speed and devastate the landscape of our hearts and we never saw them coming.

Then Jesus told them that hard times were coming. He tried to prepare them for the persecution that was ahead, for the unprecedented storms on the horizon. And then He said this, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 NLT

Psalm 125 is a picture of man in the middle of the storm.

Yes God had placed me in a bootcamp to strengthen my heart. He is preparing me for my future. He is preparing me for the challenges I will be facing once I arrived at my promise land.

We might miss being God’s blessing to others if live a life of hurry.

Flight or fight

https://youtu.be/GRz4FY0ZcwI