A Stirred Spirit

I feel unsettled today. I originally had plans to write regarding goldfish-dusted worship, and I will another day, but today there is something the Lord is doing and stirring in me that I feel I must share. I woke up tired, unfocused, cloudy and knew immediately it was the work of the enemy. I do have quite a bit going on and I know that takes claim to some of this, but today was different. I was being tempted to feelings of loneliness, comparison, neglect, being forgotten, control, pessimism, disdain, frustration, a thought to take care of myself and “do me.” I felt horrible. So I did what I always do. I prayed. As I awoke, when I showered, on my drive in, while I worked, until now as I write this. I prayed and talked to God constantly. “God, take these thoughts from me.” “Lord, I know these thoughts are lies. Lord, restore me.” “Lord, comfort me. I hurt.” “Lord, show me what you are doing.” “Lord, don’t let me miss you. Keep me here with you. Fight for me, Lord. I’m tired.”

Finally, He reminded me of a list I was keeping on my phone. Whenever God speaks to me I type it into my notes. I’m a mom of four, holding anything in my brain is near impossible – I must write it down (and even then I still sometimes need a reminder it is there). Sometime during the beginning of covid, God started to reveal certain scriptures to me in a new way. In a way that stirred me differently. Maybe you have had those moments. Holy “Aha” moments. When a bit of scripture stands out in a way you’ve never noticed before. It’s this list I want to begin to share with you today.

God is doing something BIG right now. I can feel it and I can feel the spiritual warfare around it too. The enemy wants to de-rail us, distract us, and confuse us. He wants to take us out of the battle. Even in the midst of the enemy’s attempts I can see all around me the people of God rising up. I can see the relationships He is restoring, the people He is alerting and preparing for what is to come, the people He is healing and calling forward. I can see His people starting to wrestle with their stuff and turn to God. It is so good, so hard I know, and the enemy is taking note and taking aim. Friends, here is the hope in the battle. We’ve got God. God is bigger. God is able. God is willing. God is faithful. God wants you. Just. as. you. are. There are some of you reading this that have felt that nudging to go to church, to open your Bible, to start talking to God, to ask someone about Jesus, to deal with something that God has been asking you to deal with, to start that project that God has been leading you to and I want to invite you to take your reading of this as another nudge from the Holy Spirit to do it. God is inviting you into something big and something good. Take the step.

Now the list I mentioned. There were three specific scriptures I spent months meditating on and praying. The first is Psalm 42, the second Ezekiel 37, and the last 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. Last month God gave me a fourth, 1 Peter 5:6-11. In the coming weeks I’d like to unpack each of those with you. For today, let’s briefly look at 1 Peter 5:6-11 because if you are feeling that warfare like I am and feeling the nudging of the Holy Spirit, like I did when He was asking me to change my writing topic, this scripture is the focus and reminder we need.

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:6-11

We must be willing to be obedient to what God is doing. Humble ourselves. Put Him first. In the midst of our anxieties, fears, and long to do lists we must be willing to go where God is calling. I almost didn’t write this week because I just had too much going on and God was persistent to make known this had to happen. There is always going to be an excuse as to why we can’t do what God is asking us to do, but none of them are good enough. When God calls us He already knows all the stuff we got going on. He is asking us to press in anyways and to trust Him.

There is an enemy that prowls around looking to take us out. We must be diligent. We must resist him. Notice God’s Word doesn’t say that we will be without suffering but that there will be suffering for our faith. Here is the promise even though we experience suffering, Christ will RESTORE. Christ will STRENGTHEN. Christ will ESTABLISH. He will do this for YOU. It changes the suffering we endure. Our suffering has a purpose and has a hope attached to it. We need Hope. We need Jesus.

There is an invitation to participate with God in what He is doing. Friends, now is the time to take that step. In the midst of the confusion, in the suffering, in the pain, in the doubt, God will meet you. If He is calling you (and He is) then He will meet you. He is doing something big, I can feel it. We don’t want to miss what God is doing and we won’t when we say “Yes, Lord.” Stand firm. Pray for God to attune your ears to Him and your eyes to see what He is doing. It is so worth it. It’s time for us to say, “Yes, Lord.”

Lord, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.