Today is the day for the July Random Journal Day Link Up, where those of us brave enough to do so open up an old journal from way back when and dare to share it with you and the rest of the world. You never know just what you're gonna get when you open up an old dusty journal from off the shelf (or out of the dresser drawer, like mine), and within reason, we print whatever happens to pop up.
For my post tonight I thought I would look for something written around the 4th of July back in the past, but the closest thing I found was from June 6, 1985! This was written when we were searching for a new place of ministry, and we found ourselves in the throws of despair. I'll lay it out for you here, and you might see why I decided to go ahead and share this one...
"Believe it or not, I'm almost willing to stay in ___, if God so directs, that I will do! I'm willing to TRUST HIM in that decision. HE knows what is best for us.Right now we really need help in defeating the spirit of discouragement. After our annual church council, we were really excited and hopeful for our future. But upon coming home, doubt and despair have crept in.
Lord, I ask You today to cast out, in the Name of JESUS, all thoughts and feelings of doubt, despair, and discouragement in both my husband and me. Lord, You know how Satan has tried to thwart what You have wrought in our hearts this past week at "council". Lord, help us to keep our eyes on THEE, so that we may continue to have faith and believe in You, without doubting. Forgive us, Lord, of our fears and doubts. FILL us with Your Holy Spirit, Renew us, and Help us, I pray, Oh Lord Jesus.
I write this prayer so that I can refer to it again--as we see You at work in our lives, Lord. I PLACE MY TRUST IN YOU. AMEN. Thank you, Lord."
As I looked further in my journal for this particular year, I realized that in just two months' time God had answered our prayer, and we were on our way to an exciting new adventure in ministry! Although I was feeling a bit of sadness at leaving behind the friends we had made in the current place of service, I wrote the following:
"The people here at our (current) church were very understanding~although sorry to see us go. It isn't easy to say good-bye to people~but when the Lord says "GO", we must obey!"I concluded with the following:
"Thank You, Jesus, for all Your blessings on me!"
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| One of the "many" places we served...this was back in the mid 1980's... Just one of the ways that God blessed us. Yes, thank you Lord, for Your blessings on us! |
Dear friend, if you are battling despair and discouragement today, think about the little prayer I prayed above, and pray it with me. No matter what the situation, God wants to carry you through to victory. Commit your life to Him...He will not lead you astray.
"Lord, I ask You today to cast out, in the Name of JESUS, all thoughts and feelings of doubt, despair, and discouragement in me. Lord, You know how Satan has tried to thwart what You have wrought in my heart through __________ (you fill in the blank). Lord, help me to keep my eyes on THEE, so that I may continue to have faith and believe in You, without doubting. Forgive me, Lord, for my fears and doubts. FILL me with Your Holy Spirit, Renew me, and Help me, I pray, Oh Lord Jesus." Amen.
Then remember to praise Him for His promises and blessings. Even when you don't feel like praising...the very act of giving thanks to Him opens your heart to receive the blessings He has in store for you. If you don't believe me, just try it for yourself. Give God a chance! He will not fail you.
WONDERFUL! This is what I love about RJD, the reminders that God DID hear our cries even when we did not know it. Evidence that He hears and answers beautifully! Thanks for this Pam, its a keeper.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susie! Yes, it is good to look back at how God answered our cries and petitions in the midst of our times of discouragement. This gives us great hope for our present day/future. Yes, this reminds me to keep journaling...for our future future!! Thank you for being a voice of encouragement to me in so many ways!
DeleteThank you so much for sharing this. What a testimony! I stupidly destroyed all my journals when we downsized a few years ago. How I have often wished that I still had them. If God gave a tremendous revelation or I was in a very down time I would write the date alongside the verse He gave me and then write about it in my journal so I could cross reference but now that has all gone. I've been going through a very difficult time and would have loved to look back and be encouraged as you have been! These last years I don't seem to have been able to journal, either,.....not like I used to do! We'll see! Meanwhile....be blessed. Joan
ReplyDeleteIt is never too late to be encouraged by God's Word. Even as you write on your blog, that is a form of journaling, and something that is encouraging to others as well. I pray that God will indeed show you how He has been there with you even now during the difficult times as in the past, and because He does not change, He will continue to be there for you in the future.
DeleteThank you for visiting with me today. I pray that you will be blessed and that your prayers will be answered. Amen!
I love how God gave you just the right words to pray over your situation and that you can use this same prayer to encourage us today in our struggles with discouragement or despair...I love how we can see answers to prayer by looking back in our journals...I am focusing on the topic of prayer at my blog this month...now I want to go see what prayer nugget God left for me in one of my older journals...thanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kel. I love looking back in my journals and then being able to look ahead as well and see how God did in fact answer our prayers. That gives me hope for our future now as well. Yes, this is a good reason for journaling...especially a prayer journal. I believe it is just as important to record the ANSWERS to our prayers as well as the PRAYER itself! It shows God's faithfulness over and over again. Sometimes the ANSWERS are not what we were originally expecting, but it is always the right answer. Viewed through the telescope of time, we can see that now better than we could back then perhaps. Another good reason for journaling. It puts things in perspective for us when we can see God's design fulfilled.
DeleteThanks for stopping by today. I will check out your blog now too.
Oh, Pam! This is such a testimony to why, why, why we do what we do. Not only the journaling our hearts along the journey BUT the re-reading for signs of His faithfulness. So often I see, as you did, the answer further in the pages...we must look back and peruse our journals. Not to escape the present BUT to remember all of His faithfulness when we forget. ANd we always forget...it is our nature. I love the prayer and the way you shared on to encourage others to pray with their own situation these sweet, raw words. Powerful and Precious! And ultimately how we share these precious experiences recorded, like Israel past we encourage today's Israelites who wonder, seeking grace, truth and wisdom in the desert called today! THank you for this beautiful share!
ReplyDeleteHey Dawn! It sure is great to have you back amongst us again! Glad you had a good vacation and came back fired up and ready to keep us charged up too! Thank you for your kind words of encouragement here. You always make me feel like we are on the right track together in this blog thing we do!
DeleteBlessings my friend!