Rise Up & Stand Firm

I am an “early riser” and I like to go to bed at a fairly early hour. I feel much better about the day ahead if I have time to prepare and plan. I like to schedule my day instead of my day scheduling me. I like to start my day with some time with the Lord. I have in written on my calendar as “Jesus Time”. I want the Lord to give me wisdom, insight, strength, patience, endurance and love, among other things as I spend time with Him and learn from Him. His Word contains rich thoughts and insight into God’s heart and His call upon my life. I can get stuck regretting my past and He keeps reminding me of what my future can hold. He helps me with the correct perspective on my life.

David pens lots of Psalms for his choir director (aka worship leader) and he often brings incredible perspective on the Presence of God. Check this out….

⁶ Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.
    He will answer him from his holy heaven
    and rescue him by his great power.
⁷ Some nations boast of their chariots and horses,
    but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.
⁸ Those nations will fall down and collapse,
    but we will rise up and stand firm.

⁹ Give victory to our king, O Lord!
    Answer our cry for help.(Psalm 20:6-9 NLT)

He begins the first half of this Psalm saying….” May the Lord…”, but he ends the Psalm with what he knows… “Now I know…”  I understand the Lord being Present with me in suffering because I’ve experienced His Presence and His Power first hand. I remember when my family was suffering and struggling with my son’s battle with cancer, I felt the Lord’s Presence. I felt the power of the Prayers of God’s people. We had strength, we didn’t know was inside. He gave us wisdom and insight into decisions before being faced with them. After walking through suffering and struggle there are things about the Lord that I simply know first-hand. It was in the midst of that pain and struggle that I learned how to “rise up and stand firm”. I had a confidence that came from Him. I had a peace that came from Him. I’m not going to say my journey was perfect, because there were times of intense fear and doubt creeped in. I really had to own the fear and trust it to the Lord. I was determined to let Him lead and simply hold His hand and trust His heart through that dark valley.

Today I rise up and stand firm with convictions about His Power and His Presence that are not negotiable.  I know what I know and trust Him with what I don’t know or can’t see.

Pressing On!

Dwayne