Where I pray before I write... & I wait...

...& He just blows me away!

Once again - I had planned a post for today... mapped out a topic and an outline and put it in my drafts file to tap out this morning.  But that was all before... 

...before Boston. 

...before prayers and hearts and priorities were rerouted and once again refocused.


...before going through the motions in order to stay on task felt even more wrong than - well, than before.

So - instead of sticking to my plan... and typing out a post because it was scheduled, I stopped what I was doing.  I remembered to breathe - on purpose, with purpose.  I turned up the worship (thanks Kim Walker Smith!) and bowed down my heart... 

I prayed and asked Him what He wanted me to write... what was it that - right here, and right now - He is wanting you (yes, you!) to know beyond anything else...

And I waited.

I didn't have to wait long... He is ALWAYS speaking... always ready to let us in on what He is thinking... 

He is a thought, a breath, a heartbeat away and waiting
- just WAITING for us to turn our attention towards Him.
When we do that... He comes runnin'!

So - I asked... and I waited... and He spoke.

He turned me to Ezekiel 20 and I was brought to my knees.  

This - this right here? 
This is Grace:

“I seriously considered inflicting my anger on them in force right there in Egypt. Then I thought better of it. I acted out of who I was, not by how I felt. And I acted in a way that would evoke honor, not blasphemy, from the nations around them, nations who had seen me reveal myself by promising to lead my people out of Egypt. And then I did it: I led them out of Egypt into the desert.

                                                                           (Ezekiel 20:9-10 The Message) 

Did you see that?

It seems with every national tragedy... with every act of terrorism... with every violent natural disaster - the question of God and His goodness rises up - from those who know Him and those who don't... but this?

Just - wow!

"I seriously considered inflicting

my anger on them in force right there...

then I thought better of it.

I acted out of who I was, not by how I felt.

I acted in a way that would evoke honor, not blasphemy..."

If this was the only thing you knew about God

- it would be enough to choose Him -

that whenever I do something, choose something,

say something that stirs up His anger

- instead of blowing up or boiling over -

He thinks better of it -

and instead, He acts out of Who He is,

not going by how He feels.  

Lord - let that be said of me!

When I feel wronged or hurt... when I find bitterness or fear rising up within and what I want to consider (or find myself already doing) is more in line with Anger than Grace - let it be said of me that I THINK BETTER OF IT and I act out of who He is (in me) - and not by how I feel!

As if that is not enough to bless and to ponder... He goes on...

He goes on because I think He is super smart

and He knows how we are! 

You see - if I were to stop right there... well - I would fail. 

I can't possibly remember to think better of it ALL the TIME!  Sometimes - yes.  More and more - that is my prayer! But EVERY time? Doubtful...

So He goes on:

"I gave them laws for living, showed them how to live well and obediently before me. I also gave them my weekly holy rest days, my “Sabbaths,” a kind of signpost erected between me and them to show them that I, God, am in the business of making them holy."  

                                                                         (Ez 20:11-12 The Message)

So - He gives and He gives and He gives some more!

He gives laws for living.... shows us how to live well... 

He gives us Rest days... holy Sabbaths as a signpost...

Did you see what it's for?  "to show them that I, God,

am in the business of making them holy."

It's HIM - not us!

HE is in the business of making us holy!

He is in the business of helping us 'to think better of it'. 

Friend - aren't you just so glad

that He is just SO GOOD?

The Amplified Bible says it this way:

"...that they might understand and realize that I am the Lord Who sanctifies them (separates and sets them apart)."

He doesn't leave us on our own - ever!

He doesn't sit back and let anger stir and simmer... 

He doesn't expect us to get it right every time...
but He does desire for us to let Him do it right through us...  

When you feel anger stirring...
when you feel lost and on your own...
when you are scared or unsure
or just bending low under the weight
of a load you are not meant to carry... 
when you feel wronged or cheated
or so very tired...

Look for the signpost... 
Breathe in the fresh air of the Spirit...
Pray and wait - expecting to hear...
and experience His love running towards you...
His 'thinking better of it' through you...
His acting out of Who He is...
not by what He (or you) feel!

At this time, in this season... 
In EVERY season...
let that be said of us!

Speak Life. Be Love. Shine On.
~Karrilee~

Linking up today with Jennifer Dukes Lee at  #TellHisStory