Saturday, July 17, 2010

His Faithfulness and the notion of Divine Control

Throughout the Old Testament and into the New, God reminds us that He will never leave us or forsake us. He is always present. He is active. He is working on our behalf....everyday. He doesn't take a vacation. He doesn't even stop to sleep. I take great comfort in this. Jesus is not at an arms distance from me. He is ever-present in my life. He is with me and these last two days in the hospital, He has been carrying me while showing me His faithfulness and love over and over again. I rejoice in the God of my salvation. My deliverer, My strength. As I am living out 2 Corinthians 12:10, "When I am weak, then He is strong." I praise Him as He has continued to show Himself strong and working on my behalf. Painting a picture with my life that far exceeds anything my mind can comprehend.

As I shared in a post on Thursday morning, getting ready to be wheeled back to the operating room.....how God had ministered to my heart the previous evening and then into the morning Matthew 7:11, Jeremiah 29:11 and Psalm 46:10...

I awoke early yesterday morning (Friday) in my hospital bed. My mind was a bit foggy from the night before and my body felt run over by a mack truck. My sweet husband, had roomed in with me (as He is peacefully sleeping on a cot beside me right now). It was about 5:30 AM and I was wide awake. I whispered to Him in an effort to wake him up, as I so desperately wanted to talk through the day before. The details as He experienced them. We began whispering together and replaying the moments from the previous day, as there were a lot of sketchy details in my head. (I'm on a lot of pain medication, so bear with me even today if I don't make complete sense!)

Barclay asked if I wanted to pray and have devotions together. In the still, quietness of my hospital room, He pulled out His Bible and a devotional by Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest." As his fingers found the date at the top of the page...July 16th, and His eyes began to scan over the verse and commentary for this day.....Here was the title:

July 16
The Notion of Divine Control

Matthew 7:11 “How much more shall your Father which in in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?”

Wow....Barclay and I just locked eyes and hearts again, as we marveled at God's faithfulness. The reminder again from His Word that God gives "good" gifts. The very same verse He had ministered to my heart the day before, was yet again before me. A reminder of God's provision, his faithfulness and the intimacy we have as we abide with Him. I believe there are no coincidences in life. Everything: every event, every detail, every loss, every gain, everything is either from God's hand or allowed into our hand. As God has allowed cancer into my life, as He allowed cancer to be found in my lymph nodes....He is the giver of good gifts. If cancer will allow me to know my heavenly Father more deeply.....then isn't it a good gift? If cancer will grow us closer together as a family, isn't it a good gift? If cancer has allowed us to see God working on our behalf, then it is in fact, a good gift!

As Chambers writes: "Jesus is laying down rules of conduct for those who have His Spirit. By the simple argument of these verses He urges us to keep our minds filled with the notion of God’s control behind everything, which means that the disciples must maintain an attitude of perfect trust and an eagerness to ask and to seek.

Notion your mind with the idea that God is there. If once the mind is notioned along that line, then when you are in difficulties it is as easy as breathing to remember - Why my Father knows all about it! It is not an effort, it comes naturally when perplexities press. Before, you used to go to this person and that, but now the notion of the Divine control is forming so powerfully in you that you go to God about it. Jesus is laying down the rules of conduct for those who have His Spirit, and it works on this principle - God is my Father. He loves me. I shall never think of anything He will forget, why should I worry?

There are times, says Jesus, when God cannot lift the darkness from you, but trust Him. God will appear like an unkind friend, but He is not; He will appear like an unnatural Father, but He is not. He will appear like an unjust judge, but He is not. Keep the notion of the mind of God behind all things strong and growing. Nothing happens in any particular unless God’s will is behind it, therefore you can rest in perfect confidence in Him. Prayer is not only asking, but an attitude of mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural. “Ask, and it shall be given you.”

And so this morning, as I awake to yet another day.....I am asking God to show Himself strong on my behalf. I am rejoicing in His Faithfulness and grace. The pain of the surgery is so present with me. I can't raise my arms, my chest is bound tightly and to take a deep breath takes effort accompanied with pain. When I get out of bed, I feel like I have heavy sandbags hanging over my shoulders, weighing me down, and I have four drains hanging from under my arms collecting all the excess fluid from the surgery. But yet, my thoughts are continually being brought to the throne of grace in praise and thanksgiving for God's faithfulness, His divine control.

As I so didn't want to be alone , God surrounded me with His love in many tangible ways and brought many in and out of my hospital room door who were His hands and feet to me. Thank you to all who visited me yesterday. I think I am going home tomorrow morning, so anyone who would like to stop by today, is more than welcome. Thank you for your ongoing prayers.

Much love,
Stacy


11 comments:

Unknown said...

Stacy - even in your "fogginess" you wrote so beautifully of His complete love and faithfulness!

Praying for you and praising God for all the ways you felt Him with you!

Love,
Jill

Kelly said...

Wow Stacy!

That was simply beautiful and very moving!!

Wishing I could stop by the hospital and see you...offer you my hands and feet, while you are on your road to recovery. Even though I cannot physically be there with you - please knowe are with you in heart and in prayer!


Many hugs dear friend,
Kelly and Family

Diana said...

Stacy - you are on my heart and in my prayers constantly. thank you for speaking to my heart this morning. God is using you in a mighty way... cling to Him!
Lovingly,
Diana

Alicia The Snowflake said...

Thank you for being a light in the midst of your fog. May God continue to shower you with good gifts. Praying for you my friend!

babyrndeb said...

I recently ran across your blog and am touched by your gentle spirit and willingness to trust God even in the midst of extreme hardships.
Praying for you

Peggy said...

Blessings Stacey... Indeed, Divine Control, His faithfulness & your trust! Your words are moving...just wanted to let you know we are praying.

Left a prayer request at The Lighthouse of Prayer in this week's prayer requests.

Hold on and may He raise you up & be glorified as these words truly do! May HE continue to surround you and flood you with support & love!

(((hug))) prayers & peace,
Peggy

He & Me + 3 said...

Amen Stacy. He is faithful & He uses every storm. Beautiful words from the heart.
Praying for you.

The Montgomerys said...

Hi Stacy!!!! How wonderful to hear from you, as you have been on my heart and in my prayers. This brought tears to my eyes, and touched my heart so very much. I am so amazed at your faithfulness and trust in Jesus. You are a beautiful, strong, amazing woman of God!!!!!!!
Love,
Monica <3

Sara said...

Stacy,
Wow, I am praising God for His faithfulness to you. I know he is always faithful, but it such an encouragement and testimony to hear of it amidst your surgery this week. Thank you so much for sharing that.

I am praying for the Lord's healing touch on your body as you heal and move forward! May you feel his love surrounding you each step of the way.

Thanks so much for sharing your journey!
Sara

Emily said...

Continuing to lift you and your family up in prayer. God's will for your life is because of His perfect love for you. You are such an inspiration!

diary of a suburban momma said...

I so needed to hear this and to hear it from you, in the midst of your trial is such a gift. Thanking God for you and your willingness to bear witness to His love at a time when it would be totally reasonable to have a different posture. So thankful that you can point us to God's divine path for us and the good that comes, even in the hard.