Susan Marlene
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Be Still, Receive And Thrive

5/1/2016

2 Comments

 

There are many who say, “Who will show us any good?” Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance upon us. You have put gladness in my heart, more than in the season that their grain and wine increase. I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone
O LORD, make me dwell in safety
.Psalms 4:6-8 NKJV


Negative situations and individuals may be an everyday experience for us. Difficulties can abound, littering life with disappointments and pain. David cried out with verse one, Give me relief from my distress, be merciful to me and hear my prayer. Matthew Henry states ‘When men condemn us unjustly, this is our comfort, It is God who justifies; He is the God of the believers righteousness.’ When the LORD lifts up the light of His countenance upon us, it changes something significant inside our heart and spirit. Something we could never hope to change in our own strength. Oh, the love of our Lord is ever-present and healing.

Imagine experiencing His presence during a trial. His uplifting, cleansing, nurturing, filling and causing the overcoming of each painful experience. David mentions in Psalms 4:4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your hearts on your bed, and be still. When angry, isn’t it quite difficult to keep silent? Our minds may run over and over the topic of our dis-ease or uneasiness. But, once we have settled down to obey the Lord and be still, His love, joy and bounty can fill those wounded places inside our hearts. May His name be glorified! What a summertime joy within our spirit! Peace, long-suffering, patience, forgiveness, loving kindness, truth, and grace will change us to resemble Him in character and attitude. Our joy in this transformation is over and above the material gain and glory this world offers.

Worldly gain can be destroyed by drought, fire, or storm. The work of the Lord in our hearts can’t be taken away from us by loss, pain or bad report unless we allow it. I’m not saying that trials aren’t difficult. Sometimes it's all we can do to hold on to Him. But, with His strength it's doable. Receiving His approval is like a balm. He bolsters us up and fortifies us with courage to overcome life’s disasters. He makes us stronger if we become quiet and receptive in His presence. As long as we allow His ministrations to those pain-filled tempests we will become spiritually rich. Despite tragedies and because of them too, our response to His Spirit can be instrumental in offering healing and wisdom to others.

He is like a tree planted by the rivers of water. That brings forth it’s fruit in season, whose leaf also does not wither. And whatever he does prospers. Psalms 1:3

We can be those spiritual fruit-bearing trees laden down with the sweet offerings of a fruitful life. Our hearts, our names, our purposes are safe in Him, and we will prosper for all eternity in His presence for His glory.

Be still, receive, and thrive!
2 Comments
Mary Zatkalik link
5/1/2016 08:14:13 pm

His word does get us through those hard times. Yes, it's like a balm to feel His approval and that's so important while we're trying to stand and survive! I love Psalms for that.

Reply
Susan Kinney link
5/28/2016 07:28:58 pm

Greetings Mary! Thank you so much for your comment. I love His love for us. Those times when life is hard, but He is there!

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    Susan Marlene is the author of Sisters & Friends, HEARTS FOREVER FAITHFUL and SHORT STORIES, Some Fanciful, Some True, A Collection from Various Time Periods & Adventurous Tales, as well as ​Splashes of Hope, A Trio of Short Stories.

    She has published in these venues also. 

    www.ChristianDevotions.us and in Splickety Love Magazine, The Novice, and  newspapers. She writes devotions, fiction, and nonfiction. She is a member and co-founder of Pens of Praise Christian Writers 
    Group.  She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

    ​She speaks at writers' groups and prepares devotions and teachings often for Pens of Praise Christian Writers,  and was a former member of Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, and Alternative Education Teacher’s Aide. She loves  antiques and misses  her Leonberger, but loves her Boxer who fills their lives with love and laughter. Her cat was the queen of the household and is also dearly missed. 

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"Hope" is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all,​  by Emily Dickinson


susan@susanmarlene.com

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