Breathing in God’s Faithfulness!
Each day the Lord pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life. Psalm 42:8 NLT
As daylight’s gentle shadows entered my window, I sighed, relieved to have slept through the night despite the heaviness of the previous day’s trials.
I walked across the dew-covered grass, carrying the hose up our sloped yard. Needing to water my perennial garden before the day’s intense heat scorched my newly planted flowers.
As I reached the garden, I gazed at the sky, and there it was… God’s faithfulness. A ball of fire had crested the hills, blazing orange against the expanse of the clear new-day sky.
Breathe!
God, thank you for this new day. A fresh, untarnished start in which I desire to give you room to move.
To move in the mystery of prayer.
To move in the stillness of my soul. No rushing. No striving. No figuring out.
To move in me and through me. All for your glory, praise and honor.
I am here, Lord, in your presence. Starting this day with you.
For now, I sit and wait for the sweet voice of your Spirit to speak tenderly, to wash over me, and to fill me with truth, grace, and mercy.
Lord, move in this quiet morning. Speak to me of your eternal love. Whisper truth into the places where I have deceived myself, where I have accepted lies instead of what you long for me to know… what is right, good, and pure. Offer me wisdom for the complicated next steps in my life, where fear creeps in and multiplies like a fast-growing vine. Refresh me. Shatter my weariness with peace, hope, and purpose.
Dear Child of mine, come to me. I see your weariness. You carry such heavy burdens, and I long to give you rest. Your rest will come as you let go of your heavy troubles and yoke yourself to me. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart. In this great exchange- your troubles for my peace- you will find rest for your soul. What I offer is a soul rest that brings peace even amid great trial or the weight of uncertainty, and grave adversity.
Let me bring meaning to the troubles you are currently facing. Let me fill you with inexplainable peace that this world knows nothing about. Let me offer you all of me, my strength, a safe place of refuge in exchange for your load of care and fierce overwhelm.
When my ministry on this earth was done, I left this earth, but I gave you a gift—”peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT
So- “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
Breathe!
At the start of this day, I consider Christ’s invitation.
Lord, “Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad?” Today I choose to “put my hope in God! I will praise him again— my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:4,11 NLT)
“O Lord, you are my Shepherd. In you I have all that I need.” (Psalm 23:1 NLT)
From my heart’s cry, I sense Christ urging me to take His mantle of rest… not just a night of good sleep, but a rest for my troubled heart and mind. A rest that plunges deep into the midst of my uncertainty and discouragement. A rest that spills over into confident trust.
As I breathe in the truth of God’s Word, a sweet soul-rest permeates my heart and mind, shattering my fear. A portion of Isaiah 30:15 fills my mind: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.”
At the start of this day, God is calling me to a place of rest, one of complete reliance and trust in Him.
Daughter of mine, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and I will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT
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What are practical ways to seek God’s presence during times of adversity?
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Which Scriptures have encouraged you to trust God when you couldn’t understand your circumstances? Keep returning to them! Read and rehearse them.
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As you consider God’s character, how can you experience soul rest during times of struggle?
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I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NLT
Linda Jane Dingeldein: Different by Design
Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese art form.
Repairing broken tea ware by reassembling each piece with gold creates a masterpiece that is richer and stronger than its original design.
This restorative process begins by recognizing that each broken or cracked piece is needed to re-create something of exceptional worth. In this accepting act, redemption is birthed. A rich story of beauty through brokenness.
The process of embracing our brokenness allows us to acknowledge our imperfections as needful, as we invite the Master Creator to make us into a new masterpiece.
It is in this yielding that we can experience true healing from God’s hands of mercy and grace.
Watercolor by: Linda Jane Dingeldein
Linda Dingeldein
After twenty-five years as a missionary, Linda Jane is now entering a new ministry role as pastor’s wife; where she will serve alongside of her husband Joel, in Warren, Pennsylvania. The calling to serve Christ remains the same, as does her endeavor to reach women with the gospel message, and to teach them to live authentically out of who God created them to be. Linda's passion is communication through the spoken and written word, photography and illustration. She loves all things cultural, creative and colorful.
