What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Friday, March 6, 2015

Random Journal Day: The Battle Is the Lord's!

Here we are again...Random Journal Day - (click HERE for more info)...a day when we brave souls grab an old journal off the shelf (or out of the drawer), dust it off, and randomly select an entry that is worthy of sharing with the rest of the world.  We've been doing this for about three years now, and I am always amazed at how God reminds us of His love and care over and over again.  The words written in our past often come back to help us in our future/present time. That's just how God works.


So I dug out this beautiful old journal again...and God directed me to the following entry, written about fourteen years ago as I was preparing for some major surgery as well as going through some difficult times personally.  Thankfully, I had been reading from God's Word every day and writing down verses as He opened them to my heart and spirit. Here's what I wrote on that March morning so long ago:

"It looks like rain today.  I hope it will rain all day and all night~then my flowers and trees will grow and be happy!  Today's devotional comes from Exodus 32...verse 9 says:

"I see how stiff-necked this people is..."

I pray today, Lord, that I would not be stiff-necked like the Israelites were in the day of Moses.  Forgive me, Lord, if I am being stubborn and inflexible in any area of my life.  I pray You will help me to be pliable and usable for Your kingdom.  I want to be Your humble servant-ready to do Your will.  Lord, I do not understand this trial that I am currently undergoing.  The battle seems to be closing in on me from all sides.  Yesterday, my friend ____ called and encouraged me from Your Word, O Lord.  II Chronicles 20:12-22 is a wonderful testimony of how I ought to face these battles I am enduring.  

Verse 12:
"O our God, will You not judge them?  For we have no power against
this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know
what to do, but our eyes are upon You."

Verse 15:
and he said, "Listen, all you of Judah and your inhabitants of Jerusalem,
and you, King Jehoshaphat!  Thus says the Lord to you:
'Do NOT be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, 
for the battle is not yours, but God's!"

Verse 17:

"You will not need to fight in this battle. 
Position yourselves; 
Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord,
Who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!
(and me too, Lord?) (my note)
DO NOT FEAR OR BE DISMAYED;
Tomorrow go out against them,
for the Lord is with you."

Verse 21:

"And when he had consulted with the people, 
he appointed those who should sing to the Lord,
and who should PRAISE the beauty of holiness,
as they went out before the army and were saying,
'Praise the Lord,
For His mercy endures forever.'"

Verse 22:

"Now when they began to sing and to praise,
the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, 
who had come against Judah, 
AND THEY WERE DEFEATED!"

And then I wrote:  

"PRAISE GOD!  THAT IS THE ANSWER...PRAISE GOD!"
THE BATTLE BELONGS TO GOD!  I DO NOT NEED TO FIGHT IN THIS BATTLE.  I JUST NEED TO STAND STILL AND SEE THE SALVATION OF THE LORD---WHO IS WITH ME!
I JUST NEED TO PRAISE THE LORD, FOR HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER!  I DO NOT NEED TO FEAR OR BE DISMAYED...FOR THE LORD IS WITH ME!!  PRAISE YOU, JESUS!
AMEN!!!

On the very next page in this journal was written the lyrics to the worship song, "Shout to The Lord", which became my theme song of praise and victory:

"My Jesus, My Savior,
Lord, there is none like You.
All of my days,
I want to praise
the wonder of Your mighty love.

My Comfort, My Shelter,
Tower of Refuge and Strength,
Let every breath, all that I am,
never cease to worship You.

Shout to the Lord,
all the earth, let us sing,
Power and majesty, praise to the King..
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
at the sound of Your Name.

I sing for joy at the work of Your Hand,
Forever I'll love You,
Forever I'll stand;
Nothing compares to the promise I have in You!"


Back to the present:  Wow! These words echo throughout my mind..."DO NOT BE AFRAID NOR DISMAYED BECAUSE OF THIS GREAT MULTITUDE, FOR THE BATTLE IS NOT YOURS, BUT GOD'S!"

This can be applied to so many aspects of our lives right now on a personal as well as national and world level. Something to remember on those days when we feel overwhelmed and alone.  
"Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, Who IS WITH YOU!"  "DO NOT FEAR OR BE DISMAYED...THE LORD IS WITH YOU!"

Need I say more?

13 comments:

  1. Pam: This is very encouraging to me. In the past, I have gotten anxious about things to the point of making myself ill. I need to learn to always realize that what I have to go through, God is there with me. Thank you for this special message. Blessings to you and yours.

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    1. I think this is a timeless message that we ALL need to be reminded of throughout our lives. I'm so thankful God has reminded me AGAIN that the Battle belongs to God...I don't have to worry or fret! You'd think I'd learn!

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  2. Well, look who showed up at the party! And I am so glad you did, Pamela! What an important reminder, to see how the Lord brings us through. How we need to recall these moments when God reveals His faithfulness, His tenderness, His strength. We go up the mountain with Him, and down through the valley- we think in the valley he has abandoned us, but He never does leave us. Today I was reading in Mark and was so amazed at one line that said, Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith! And I wondered, if God has ever been amazed at my own...not so subtle lack of faith the minute I feel the boat rocking. Anyway, I am so glad that His Spirit is alive and well in you, strengthening, encouraging and guiding you into the faithfulness of our God! Hugs, from a stiff-necked Israelite....who is is being transformed by His grace!

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    1. God wouldn't let me squirm out of it. He kept directing me to go back and look again at those old journals. I thought I'd already posted everything worth reading...but God pulled this one out and said look again! A message we need to hear over and over again it seems. Thank you for making this happen!

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  3. Amen! And thanks for sharing such a powerful and wonderful journal entry/entries from so long ago, yet so powerful and appropriate for the NOW!

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    1. Thank you Barbara. God wanted to make a point with me and possibly for others as well. Thank you for stopping by. We are all in this together...sharing God's Words as He speaks through our hearts.

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  4. Yowza! This is such a wonderful and exuberant post! Thank you Pam, this is wonderful!

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    1. Shout to the Lord! Praise God! He's still fighting all our battles for us! We do not have to fight! Just sing and praise! Hallelujah!

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  5. EXACTLY! How often should I pray these words? How often do I? (The number is Not the same!;)) I love His faithfulness, though. that He is everything that wonderful song says He is. That's one chorus I can never sing without wanting to just plain BELT it, you know?
    Love this!

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    1. Oh yes I know it! SHOUT to the Lord! The battle IS the Lord's! Hallelujah!!! Amen!

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  6. Wow. JUST what I needed to hear today! ' Stand stil.....' I've just written to you of the confusion in my mind as well meaning Christians are saying this further surgery is because I'm not listening properly & doing what He wants etc.....etc. now here you are......!! I soooo needed this today. Thanks. Joan

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    1. We have to learn how to turn a deaf ear to well meaning people who are negative voices of discouragement instead. Tune them out and tune IN to God. He will guide your steps aright...and yes, He will fight this battle for you. Not saying you shouldn't heed wise counsel or Doctor's advice, but pray and seek God first and He will lead you and give you discernment. Praying for you dear friend across the sea. May God give you peace and comfort and most of all HEALING! Please stay in touch.

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  7. Pamela- Great post! I am just now getting to read the RJD posts for March...I needed to read this tonight...the battle is raging on so many fronts as you say...I needed the reminder that God is WITH us! And this post reminded me in a cross reference sort of way that our battle is not against flesh and blood...I need to wait on the LORD to work through some personal angst instead of fighting in my own strength or blaming the wrong source (like other people) my enemy is not flesh and blood and God had the spiritual battle covered...I will stand firm and wait for His deliverance! Hurrah!

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