Last night, I went to the Village and I hadn't been in two weeks. It's crazy to realize the instant level of peace that I felt just walking in. Like God telling me, maybe this is just one small thing that you have been missing the past couple weeks that has made things feel just not quite right. I love the Village because it is one thing in my life that I hear directly from the Lord telling me, "this is exactly where you need to be, this should be your church home." That is why there is so much peace I think from being there. Next goal: onto building community through the Village but that can be another blog post...ha.
Last night Matt continued to work his way through his series on Habakkuk. Needless to say, God was speaking directly through Matt to me on so many levels. This is one of those sermons that I think I could listen to 10 times and learn something new and great each and every time.
The most important thing that I needed to hear/heard was about how God answers our prayers and his purpose behind his YES's and NO's. He hears ALL of our prayers. Every single one. Each passing thought, moment, day. He hears, listens and responds. The tough part seems to be what his response is. Hearing no is never fun but when I think that God tells me NO because He knows what's better for me that I know for myself...that's where I can find peace in the no.
I just keep thinking about how he talked about "you don't have to perfect, just always pursuing." If that isn't grace then I don't know what is. No matter what junk we have in our lives, no matter how many times we fail him or turn our back on Him. HE DOESN'T CARE. Even more, he knows that we will do it and chooses to love us anyway. I was reading my daily devotion thing and it just talked about the heart that the Lord gives us. And in it He gives us the opportunity to reject him, embrace him, love him, or hate him. He gives us this freedom. It goes on to say that the only reason He gives us this option is because in order to have a world where LOVE is real, He must allow each person the freedom to choose His love. Even though, no matter what, he already chose us before he even created us.
So today I'm choosing to be grateful that the Lord tells me NO. That he closes doors I was far from ever realizing needed to be closed or sometimes doesn't even open them in the first place. He hears and He responds. All in his perfect plan and in his perfect timing.
So I am officially adding another "new year's resolution." To not worry about being perfect or get hung up on sin and the negative things in life but instead to be constantly focused on pursuing him through it ALL. The good, bad, hard, sad. Because the thing is, if my focus is on pursuing Him, the hang ups will slowly fall to the wayside.
Also, last night we sang Completely Done which is definitely a song that has given me much peace in the past year and definitely goes along with the Lords NO's. But my favorite part...
"What reason have I to doubt? Why would I dwell in fear? When all I have known is grace, my future in Christ is clear
The old is gone, the new has come, what You complete is completely done. We’re heirs with Christ, the victory won, what You complete is completely done.
I don’t know what lies ahead, what if I fail again. You are my confidence, you’ll keep me to the end. I’m leaving my fears behind me now..."
He takes away fear and closes doors so that new ones can be opened that bring glory and honor and praise to Him and His glory. Not our own. That is what we were created for and that's what I am pursuing.
So on a not so serious note or maybe a very serious note. I will start praying for God to give me this gem in the picture below. I'll let you know if he says yes or no... ;)
Beautifully expressed, Rebecca. I too have been asking the Lord for a grateful heart, no matter what. When He says no to anything in my life i have to trust that it was better for me than Him saying yes.
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