Ever feel like you are in the storm of your life and wondered how you got there? Sometimes the storms are distractions from the enemy trying to stop you from moving forward where God has called you. Other times, they are just storms God allowed in your life to strengthen you.
My husband and I went away on our annual trip to the KLove
Fan awards in Nashville just a little over 3 weeks ago. We love taking this trip yearly to remove all
distractions to focus on each other and the Lord. Each year God shows up and fills our cups abundantly. We spent a few days on the mountain top and our
cups were so filled we couldn’t wait to get back home and pour out of those cups
to those around us. We walked away inspired
and blessed.
Then we got home. Work came in like a flood. Actually, life came in like a flood. The first day back I received over 100
service calls. That same week our AC and hot water heater
broke down. Kind of ironic since my husband
does HVAC. We failed to see the humor at
that moment. Then physical issues crept
into the picture. What next?
This past week I was on the phone with my husband during the
day and mentioned I felt exasperated like fighting a head wind walking down the
street with a flimsy umbrella that suddenly flips in the opposite
direction.
What did I do?
I reminded myself of our week away. I reminded myself of how the enemy loves to
distract after a blessing. We were
blessed. We were being distracted.
I would like to say my attitude became Polly-Anna immediately
when I realized the storm was not my making but the enemy trying to distract me. But it didn’t. It took time.
It took prayer. It took diving
deep into His word and reminding myself what I learned 3 weeks ago. One song resonated with me that week. Brandon Lake’s Gratitude.
So come on, my
soul
Oh, don't you get shy on me
Lift up your song
'Cause you've got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord!
This song hit home after the Lord gave me a word while we
were away – Your time of mourning is over.
He wasn’t removing the situation from me, but removing the pain I had
been experiencing the last year. My time
of pain was taken by GOD. He then told
me to praise Him in the waiting. He was
working. I needed to only praise Him in
the waiting.
That is what I did that week.
That is what we did together.
This picture was taken by a stranger behind us at the event. She wanted to share it with us. We worshiped with over a thousand of our ‘best
friends’ that week. It was truly a
mountain top experience.
I write to remind myself of these precious moments…
If you are in a storm, remember no matter the reason, GOD is
with you! Rise up and praise Him in the
storm. Read all the verses you can on praise. You will be surprised how many there are…
He will get you through.
Isaiah 25:1
Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have
done wonderful things, things planned long ago.
Psalms 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the
Lord.
Psalms 103:1-2
Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his
holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—
Here is Brandon Lake’s song Gratitude:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1em6MJp0zUc
Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.
