Hold on tight!

Recently, I was sitting on my deck early on a Sunday morning preparing my heart to head to church where I would be playing the piano for the morning services.  And as I sat enjoying the birds on my deck I realized there were a few things "off" in my mind and heart.  So I began to pray and pray that God would reveal to me the distractions that were blocking my communion with him.  I opened my Bible and began to dig in when I felt the Lord saying 'my sweet child...where are you going?  Wait for me to show you where to dig and the treasure you'll find will be precious.' Oh, how merciful our God is. So, I leaned back in my chair, closed my eyes and began to focus on his goodness, his holiness and his unconditional love for me.  Within a few minutes, God brought to mind a scripture I'd memorized years ago:  In the path where I walk a trap is hidden for me, but you, oh Lord, know the way out (Psalm 142:3 emphasis mine).  Immediately my mind was on high alert.  'What trap, Lord?  Am I gonna fall into it?'  Then another scripture popped into my mind from Isaiah 42:6:  "I, the Lord, have called you to do right.  And I will hold your hand and protect you."  I gave an involuntary sigh of relief knowing the Lord will be holding my hand as I approach the trap and, as I hold on tight, he won't let me fall into.

But God wasn't through.  Nearby in Isaiah I found the Lord's promise to me if I would receive and believe the above scriptures.  It said Then, your light will shine like the dawn AND your wounds will heal quickly.  Your light will shine into the darkness AND you will find joy in the Lord (58:8,10b,14).

Wow.  Knowing, loving and believing God and his promises are the ONLY way to have true joy.  Why not pull out your Bible right now and spend some time with the One who loves you and desires you to adore him?