Beyond Me

The Faith of a Mustard Seed

God,

As I look at all You have created and done, I can’t help but feel so small. In such a big universe, upon all the thousands of years, in the cycles of seasons, here I am. As I study Your Word, my world and my life seem so minimal. I wonder why I am here? What am I suppose to do? What good am I? How in such a huge world, can I be anything of significance?

The world gives me hope for something grander and better for a small price of Self and yet the void within me remains. The world has left a bigger and deeper void in the pit of me. I turn to Your Word, searching for the answers about my life; where did I come from, why am I here and how do I find purpose for my life. This void is dark and lifeless.

Seeking and desperate for what seems like everyone else at church has, I open Your Word with desparate anticipation of something new, a revelation for my weary soul and find once again, a Hope. Throughout Your living Word, Your spirit highlights for me the faithfulness of You. My heart leaps for joy that there is something more if I only had faith to believe. Where had my trust escaped? When did my heart begin to callous? Your Word softens me again. Hope is renewed. A new breath fills me. By faith, I can move mountains. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Comfort and Peace promised. Sins forgiven. Strength to care and be cared for. In the beginning I was thought of and planned for. There really is more to this life than waking up, working, worrying, living day to day only to one day leave this world, with nothing left of me! 

Forgive me O Lord for my unbelief. I want to be a willing and faithful part of Your wondrous plan, more than someone who once was. I know I am made to be more than my flesh. Help me walk intentionally by faith as an instrument of peace and hope for those like me who are fainthearted and hopeless. Help me root down into the depths of Your richness to build a firm foundation on The Cornerstone. I surrender my finite mind to be established where You have planted me and believe through me, fruit will bear fruit. Like a great Gardner, prune away all that hinders me, cutting away circling roots that choke. Thank You Lord for those mighty precious hands here on earth You have placed in my path to help me grow. While my flesh is tempted to compare, my spirit craves their contagious joy! Thank You for Your faithful Children who encourage and sharpen us in our weaknesses. For those who walk in the Light of Your Love and Truth where I want to walk in obedience also, such blessings in righteousness. Your Light is a lamp unto my wondering feet. I recognize that Satan is the great deceiver and has lied from the beginning of time. God, give me discernment to recognize his plot to distract me from seeking after You. 

Beyond me, my Mommy heart wants nothing more than for my own children to love You with all their heart, mind, soul and strength. Draw me closer to You Lord God so I can hear Your faintest whispers that I might glean from You and pass it on. I want more of You for You are Love. My heart's void is for True Love. May this be the greatest gift my children and their children ever receive from me. A life of love, faith, hope, salvation. Better is one simple day in Your house than the thousands extravagant I can live here. There is none like You! Help my house be Your house.

God, today, my soul has awaken! Today, I choose to renew my hope and confidence in You. When I don’t feel like I have enough faith, remind me that it begins with the smallest of seed and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it will grow from there. I am not doomed for failure when I place my hope in You for Your Love never fails. Through You, I can be an instrument of hope and love for another. I do matter. I do carry possibility for something grand, and it's You! When I am weak, remind me that I too, like so many other Godly women in my life, have the ability to yield seed from the womb of my heart and spirit. Because You live, I live. Because You abide in me, I abide in You. I am more than just me. Open my eyes to have eternal perspective. Help me see past my flesh and see as You see, obeying all that You have asked. I want to be an extension of You, spreading Your Love throughout all generations. May it be true of me that I can change the landscape of my world, saying “to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." I ask all of this Lord cuz I love You with all that I am and there is nothing more than You that I want, need and long for. Your Love is soooo great, none can compare and it is this amazing grace of Yours that humbles my heart and causes my heart to sing Your praises. May the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart be pleasing to You. Make my life about You once again. I love you Lord! Revive Your children today, forgiving our unbelief.

Amen.

"Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in You." 

Psalm 33:20-22

"He said to them, "Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

I need a RESET button!

Do you ever wish you had a RESET button like one of your gadgets? I sure do. Thankfully, we do have a RESET!! Where is it you ask? It is found at the beginning of the search for change and the moment we make the choice to make that change happen...just to the right side of of "love, coffee and prayer!" Then, you find your Righteous Reset!! 

God faithfully gives us "morning mercies." Does this sound like you...."my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, "My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the LORD." Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me." Lamentations 3:17-20 

Do you feel depleted? Alone? Attacked? Grieved? Frustrated? Always rushed? Too busy, never enough hours in a day? Like many of my gadgets, you need a RESET button desperately but can't find it? Your wheels are stuck spinning and you need to hit that button! In desperation, you throw your hands up and scream "enough!" You feel unable to...take...one...more...step.....or make...one...more...decision....let me encourage you that there is hope and you are not alone!!! It is at this moment, we have a choice....give up hope and accept defeat or give up defeat for hope! The ability to reset our heart, soul and mind begins at the moment of desperation for change. We don't have to wait till "our system shuts down." 

Eventhough on the outside it may appear that everyone else is perfectly happy, we all go through times in our lives where we face these thoughts of depletion and despair. Joy and all things "good" seems to slip away. It can last for moments in our day and sometimes for seasons. God allows seasons of wilderness to test us and refine us, but we have to be honest and admit at times, we sometimes even host our own pity party. Satan is a deceiver and destroyer and he would like nothing more than to steal your joy for when he steals your joy, he then steals your strength, your hope, your faith, your confidence and soon, your heart.

Time after time, one bad habit, fear, prideful or lazy moment after another, we make choices that hurt us. We would like to blame it on someone else however, the proof is in the pudding'. We must own our own "stuff" and confess our sins, repent and "refresh" before we "shut down" our system! Only then, can we receive full blessings and healing and experience a joy "restored." No one else but you has the ability to push your RESET button. It is a choice we must make for ourself, simply choosing whether we place our hope and trust in the One who is greater, our Great I Am...or not. "Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

Lamentations goes on to say, "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in Him." The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him."

What wonderful news!!! You do not have to wait until the morning to RESET and receive the mercies of God!! Right this moment, you can "call to mind" His promises, push your RESET button and "refresh" your hope in the perfect portions of all the mercies the Lord our God has for you!!! Being careful not to be encouraging a "prosperity Gospel," you cannot will God to do your will. Our prayers and heart's hope ought to be Mathew 6:10 Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven! Your circumstances may not change right away or ever. But God is in control, He has a plan and purpose to prosper you (Jeremiah 29:11) causing all things to work for good (Romans 8:28), even in the really tough times. There is a difference of self-induced stress (us choosing to make things complicated or hard) and God's leading us through something for the purpose of testing, refining and purifying. He is faithful and steadfast. His mercies for the storm, the wilderness, and every bit of our life are new every morning. 
(Side note: DO NOT assume those of us walking around with a smile on our face or writing blogs of encouragement, hope and faith, have it all together and have perfect, happy lives. We don't! What we do have is a perfect God who resets us every day, and often must refresh our every breath!) 

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith,with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:2-6

Whatever it is that you need a RESET button for, may you humble yourself before the Lord and choose today to hope, trust, believe, have faith in the One Greater than anything or anyone, the One who has already gained the Victory for your soul. I challenge you to make the decision right now, moving forward, away from defeat to walk in the blessed assurance that you are seen by God, heard by God and are never, ever alone, trusting He has a plan! Our RESET is found in Him! 

It is crucial for Believers to remain plugged into our source of power. God Himself is our strength, joy, purpose, help, and ability to live a life RESET! Old is gone, new has come, day after day, after day! Remember, Satan is clever and will keep you running but God is Greater and He stands ready for you to run straight towards Him! Dig into His Word, know the promises of God, and you will see His heart for you! Knowing how much I am deeply loved, sincerely cared for, sets my heart on fire!! How GREAT is our God!!

If this is something you feel you are too weak to handle on your own, then I beg you to set aside your pride, your loneliness, your fear of judgement, your worry of the unknown and find someone who will intercede on your behalf with prayer and hold you accountable for pushing that RESET button you so desperately seek. No one can do it for you. This is something you must choose to do. What do you choose?

Choose today whom you will serve!!!!! Yes you can. Stop the condemnation, excuses and defeat and choose LIFE in Christ!!!! 

Father God, You hold us in the palm of Your merciful hands and have from the beginning of time. You created us and everything on heaven and earth and we so desperately want and need You to rescue us from the condemnation and defeat we face. While we believe that You have won the ultimate victory on the Cross and by the blood of Your Son, we are saved, we admit that moments here on this earth leave us forgetting the power of Your blood. God, we cry out to You today, without hesitation that we desire more of You. Help us push through our feelings and see on only Truth in You and Your Word that has power to save, rescue and redeem us. We cannot do today in our strength Lord, give us Yours. Help us rest in Your perfect portions and trust in mercies and grace which are offered in Your precious Name. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

We want to RESET and return to the path of righteousness where we will find Your strength, peace, comfort and joy once again. Thank You Lord for the chance to RESET and make new my heart, mind and soul! I trust You. I seek You. I need You. Thank You Abba Daddy, Friend and Saviour for loving me and meeting me right where I am, holding me in Your love. I am Yours. Amen.