I had gone to sleep the night before, restless. My mind a swirl of things going on, forcing myself to keep my eyes on God through it all. I cannot say I went to sleep with my confidence at an all-time high.
The next morning, I awoke with a note sharing a blog from a friend. The short writing said, I hear the Lord declaring this today over you… “Your anointing and calling is in Canaan…do NOT settle in the wilderness. Set your face towards your promise, look your enemy in the eye and start your journey towards your destiny. Look beyond the natural…your blessing is on the other side of your giant!” Rise up, shake off the dust of the wilderness, pack up the tent of despair, see yourself as victorious over your present circumstances and start slinging your stones…” The enemy is falling, and you are advancing! (Scott Reece)
My heart leapt and my spirit was suddenly infused with hope! As I walked into the other room I sat down and said, “God, I am feeling a little like David today.”
In the book of Psalms, we see the ups and downs of King David. In one Psalm he will be found saying, “My God, why have you forsaken me” and in the next Psalm he is declaring, “The Lord is my Rock and Fortress’ and just a few lines later he is saying, “God where are you? My enemies are surrounding me?”
It seems like an up and down life to me – this is what I was thinking when I said, “God, I am feeling a little like David today.” As I stated, I had gone to bed, fighting to keep my eyes on God and woke up, reading just a few words, which caused me to rise in hope once again. Have you ever felt that way?
I think of Elijah, who faced and defeated the prophets that day – moments later he was running for his life. I think we all have days like this – sometimes hours like this. Where one moment we are full of faith and confidence in all God has promised, and a short time later, wondering where He is and what is going on.
Do you know what God replied to me that morning? When I said, “God, I am feeling a little like David today?” He replied, “yes, and he was a man after My heart. He did not stop seeking My face no matter what.”
Yes, I know we are all supposed to be confident and always filled with unshakable faith. I know the Word of God says He will keep us in perfect peace if our mind is stayed upon Him, and we trust in Him. I realize that. However, I am human. Yes, I am a minister, but I am also a human who battles feelings, challenges, and emotions. But I do not give up. I do not stop seeking God and His face, no matter what. That makes me a person after the heart of God.
Hebrews 6:12 says by faith and patience we receive the promises of God. That scripture has rolled over and over in my mind today. When I looked up the word faith, it means an absolute assurance and belief that God and Jesus are who they say they are. That is so simple. We all KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that God and Jesus are who they say they are. The only thing left is patience…or endurance. That simply means we continue to trust God, pursue God, and declare His Word no matter what is going on in our life. If we do those two things – we inherit the promise. This appears to be saying the only way we can become exempt from inheriting the promises of God is if we quit or give up.
Do you ever have days like I had? Where your mind is a battlefield one moment and you are filled with expectant hope the next? Do you ever feel a little like David in the book of Psalms? If so, don’t be concerned, just keep seeking God. You will become stronger and stronger as you do. And remember, God calls that a man/ woman after the heart of God. It doesn’t get much better than that!
