She Did It Again

I was set on blogging about Daniel today, but alas he must wait yet another day. Ruth Myers did it again in her book 31 Days of Praise. Her words spoke to me right where I am at. Well, really God is the one doing the speaking. I am doing my best to listen. Maybe by writing it out and thus getting into my head for a second time (as a teacher I know that repetition is the mother of all learning) will help me really grasp what He is trying to tell me.

Today I have to share the whole entry:

"Father, I'm so delighted that You are both loving and sovereign, and that You cause all things to work together for good to those who love You, to those who are called according to Your purpose. So I thank You for each disturbing or humbling situation in my life, for each breaking or cleansing process You are allowing, for each problem or hindrance, for each thing that triggers in me anxiety or anger or pain. And I thank You in advance for each disappointment, each demanding duty, each pressure, each interruption that may arise in the coming hours and days."

"In spite of what I think or feel when I get my eyes off You, I choose not to resist my trials as intruders, but to welcome them as friends."

"Thank You that each difficulty is an opportunity to see You work...that in Your time You will bring me out to a place of abundance. I rejoice that You plan to enrich and beautify me through each problem, each conflict, each struggle..that through them You expose my weaknesses and needs, my hidden sins, my self-centeredness (and especially my self-reliance and pride). Thank You that You use trials to humble me and perfect my faith and produce in me the quality of endurance..that they prepare the soil of my heart for the fresh new growth in the godliness that You and I both long to see in me...and that my momentary troubles are producing for me an eternal glory that far outweighs them all, as I keep my eyes focused on You. I'm grateful that You look beyond my superficial desire for a trouble-free life; instead, You fulfill my deep-down desire to glorify You, enjoy Your warm fellowship, and become more like Your Son."

"I thank You for the bitter things

They've been a friend to grace,

They've driven me from the paths of ease

to storm the secret place."

~Florence White Willett

That's all I have for today. Really, I didn't say anything. I let Ruth Myers do all the talking. She did a much better job than I would have anyway.