Tag Archives: Difficult Times

The Gift of Thirst

21 May 2012

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The Lord is inviting you to come and drink…

Have you ever had such great thirst that you crave a large cup of water or maybe your favorite drink? Now, have you felt so much desire to be close to God, but yet you feel so far away? This morning I began to question so many things in my life. I found myself at a place of dryness – a place where I have such need to seek God and know His will. My thoughts kept taking me back to dry times in my life where God always satisfied my thirst.

Then, he reminded me that being thirsty is His free gift to me. Without being thirsty, will I truly go to Him for my need? If I so satisfied, will I seek to desire Him? So, I thanked Him for this dryness. Then, I was reminded of this verse in Isaiah 55:1-2:

“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; 
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
 Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread,
 and your labor on what does not satisfy? 
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live. 
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
 my faithful love promised to David.”

I’m so thankful for times where I am thirsty for more. These times allow me to make the choice of either turning to God to satisfy me or to attempt to quench the thirst on my own. If I choose the latter, I know the results will be superficial and will only lead me back to God – the ultimate thirst quencher.

On my Bible, next to this verse, I wrote the following:

  1. Be Open
  2. Listen to God
  3. Believe in His Goodness
  4. Live

If you are thirsty, I want to encourage you to be open to God’s word in your life. He is asking you to listen to Him – not what others may be saying to you. Once you hear Him, then Believe His word. He only wants good things for you. Then, allow your soul to live – to dwell in His presence.

I truly hope that just as your body needs water, that you desire the everlasting water to satisfy your soul – that is Jesus. The Lord is inviting you to come and drink… Thank Him for this free gift of thirst because He will surely satisfy you.

Rest in His Word: Isaiah 55:6

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” (NIV) 

Heart Checkup:

  • Can you recall times in your life where you were so thirsty, but God satisfied you?
  • Write them down and thank Him for those times.
  • Have you even recognized your thirst? What steps have you taken to got the waters?

Why Is This Happening to Me?

1 May 2012

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He is the Almighty; His strong arms are holding you right now.

Have you ever asked yourself this question before? I know I have… many times. Let me share something very personal with you. I’ve been married for 12 years now to a wonderful man of God. From the beginning, we both wanted children. Two years into our marriage we found out we were not able to conceive. Six years later, we began looking into our options, which failed miserably. I won’t give you all the details, but just know that it’s been one of the most difficult times in my life. During that time, we had moved to another city, away from our church and family due to my husband’s work. It was a very lonely time for both of us.

I became bitter and angry.

Maybe you’ve experienced something similar or are currently facing the storm… you lost your dreams to have a “normal” family – you survived…

Or maybe you:

  • Lost a loved one – you survived…
  • Lost your husband to divorce – you survived…
  • Lost a baby – you survived…
  • Lost your home – you survived…
  • Lost your identity due to rape or abuse – you survived…

What I have learned is that in the midst of my pain, God always has a plan for me. As I sit here watching the birds sit on my guayava tree, I can’t help but to remember the song that ministered to me so many years ago. I play it back and tears roll down my chin, but this time of pure joy in my heart. Here’s the chorus:

“This is what it means to be held

How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life

And you survive

This is what it is to be loved and to know

That the promise was when everything fell

We’d be held”

Held by Natalie Grant

Link to hear the song on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOufqWodFNo

Today, allow yourself to be Held by the Lord. Remember what God has done for you in the past and be confident that He will continue to be the same today as well as tomorrow. Everything will work out just fine. Trust His plans for you. They are only good. Although you may not see the outcome just yet, know that He is the Almighty; His strong arms are holding you right now.

Rest in His Word: 2 Corinthians 12:9

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (NIV)

Heart Checkup:

  • Reflect back on the difficult times in your life… write them down
  • Ask yourself, “How is it that I got through them?”
  • State the following: “I survived then, I will survive now.”