Search, Know and Lead

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way. – (Psalm 139:23-24, HCSB)

God examine me and know my mind. Test me and know all my worries. Make sure that I am not going the wrong way. Lead me on the path that has always been right. – (Psalm 139:23-24, ERV)

Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; see for Yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong – then guide me on the road to eternal life. – (Psalm 139:23-24, MSG)

When we invite God to be Lord of our lives it is an invitation to lead us, guide us, redirect and correct us so that we can walk in His way and do His will. God has given us a free will and allows us to make our own decisions as we navigate our days. However, He is available and willing to lead us and direct us as we allow Him access. David, the author of this Psalm, was known as “a man after God’s own heart.” He loved and followed the Lord, yet had seasons where he succumbed to sin and needed correction and redirection. I think the reason he was known as “a man after God’s own heart” was his willingness to give God access to all. Though David did not always enjoy the intervention that he invited, he knew that God was God and he was not. It requires a daily decision to release our own desires to seek God to lead and guide us in all things. His ways lead to eternal life; not only for us, but can impact the outcome of those around us too. When we seek Him to live and love as He does, others become aware of His goodness and grace. May we ever invite the Lord to search us, know us, correct, redirect and lead us so that we live out our days with eternity in mind.

O God, search my heart,

Photo by Harrison Haines on Pexels.com

Show me what is true;

Lead me in Your love,

In all that I do.

Show me where changes,

Are needing be made;

In love, You’ll guide me,

To walk in Your way.

Remove from my heart,

What is not of You;

Flood me with Your love,

Help me walk in truth.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You come near when we call, and that You lead, direct, correct and call us to walk in Your ways and do Your will when we seek You. Forgive us for all that we say and do that is not of You, and for allowing things to distract us from the course that You have called us to walk. Lead us to draw ever closer to You. Show us how to live out Your love with those around us, so that they may see Your heart through us. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You and invite You to be Lord of all areas in our lives. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

For You are my rock and my fortress; You lead and guide me because of Your name. – Psalm 31:3

Present Pairings

Faithful love and truth will join together; righteousness and peace will embrace. – (Psalm 85:10 HCSB)

God’s love will come together with His faithful people. Goodness and peace will greet them with a kiss. – (Psalm 85:10, ERV)

Unfailing love and truth have met on their way; righteousness and peace have kissed one another. – (Psalm 85:10, VOICE)

As we choose to follow God and seek to love faithfully and walk in truth, righteousness and peace seem to be present. God is faithful to meet us wherever we are, yet I think we are better aware of His presence when we are seeking to live and love as we are called to do. Right now, weeks feel long and the presence of faithful love, goodness and peace are always welcome. In fact, I am certain that His love is what carries us on our longest and most difficult days. May we ever seek the Lord to lead us in His love and faithfulness, and give Him praise for His goodness and peace.

God’s unfailing love,

And truth are a pair;

Together they’re found,

In joy and despair.

His goodness and peace,

Embrace each other;

So each is made known,

One to another.

As we walk His way,

Extending His love;

We feel in fullness,

All these from above.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your goodness, righteousness, peace and faithful love. Thank You that all are available and accessible as we earnestly seek You. Forgive us for our lack of seeking or for the distractions that keep us from being aware of Your nearness. Teach us to trust and rely on You in all things and at all times. Lead us in Your faithful love, so that we love one another as You do. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we faithfully seek and follow after You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You. – Isaiah 26:3

Make More Room

Make more room.  On Sunday, we had a guest speaker at church who spoke about how God can take our Plan A, with all of its fears, failures, and foolishness, and turn it into His perfect Plan B; but only when we willingly give both our permission and our participation.  God is gentle and kind, and does not force His will upon us.  Rather, He stands at the door and knocks. (Revelation 3:20)   We either open our hearts and our lives completely unto Him, or we miss out on the very best that He has for us.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            That being said, surrender is not a simple thing.  Surrender involves sacrifice.  We must give up our perception of how things ought to be, and allow God to shape and show us what we are to do, and where we are to go.  Often, His directions make little sense, and lead us into the middle of a mess.  What may appear to be a mistake, may very well be the exact place that He has called us, in order to give others glimpses of His grace and point people to His majesty.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                As I stand at the end of 2013, awaiting the arrival of 2014, am I willing to allow God to inconvenience me?  Will I be able to recognize that I perhaps am meant to be in the midst of the messes I find myself in, to shine the light of His glory?  Will I get out of the way, and make room for the miraculous?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             God is not looking for our ability, He is looking for our availability. I do not have to have certain qualifications to serve and honor Him, for He has called me from the moment that I invited Him into my life.  We are chosen to communicate His hope, when we give Him full access, and are willing to participate.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Let this be the year,

where room shall be made;

space to help others,

salvation prayers prayed.

May we be ready,

to lend hand and voice;

to do what You ask,

make You our first choice.

Let us freely move,

wherever You ask;

even in the mess,

accomplish Your task.

For sharing Your light,

You ask for more room;

so hope may shine forth,

dispelling the gloom.

May we surrender,

our whole lives to You;

may mountains be moved,

as we walk in truth.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You take our Plan A in all of its messiness, and turn it into Your perfect Plan B, when we willingly surrender all that we are unto You, and are choose to step out in faith, participating in the plan that You have prepared for us.  Thank You that You have a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and that when we trust You, and move forward faithfully in You, You meet us where we are and guide us where we are meant to go.  Forgive us for attempting to hold fast to our own plans, or for submitting ourselves without movement.  Teach us to trust You fully, so that we shall surrender, sacrifice, and MOVE.  Give us faith to trust You, even if the place You call us to is in the middle of a mess.  Be our strength and our song.  May we love others as You love us, and may many come into a lasting relationship with You in the coming year.  May we make room for all that You have planned for us in 2014.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

May It Be Unto You

image by Creative Commons

May your love abound,

in growing insight;

may wisdom be yours,

His joy and delight.

May you clearly see,

the way that is best;

may you be blameless,

and enter His rest.

May righteous filling,

with spiritual fruit,

come to you from Him,

as you walk in truth.

All glory and praise,

to the God of all;

who will lead and guide –

catch us if we fall.

(Responding to Philippians 1:9-11)

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the giver of great gifts.  Thank You that love and wisdom, joy and rest, and so much more – all come from You.  Forgive us for being concerned about our happiness, which is dependent on what is happening, instead of trusting You – who gives us joy, despite our circumstance.  Teach us to seek You and trust You, so that we may walk in Your truth, wherever we are and whatever our circumstance.  May we know Your perfect peace that passes all understanding, and may we give all glory and praise unto You.  Let our lives be an extension of Your hands and heart to the hurting, and may many come to know You, by the love You have grown in us to give.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present