Category: Trust

My Shepherd’s Care of Me

Published on by amylinnea5 Comments

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. Psalm 23:2

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He makes me lie down in green pastures.

My Shepherd, who guides me, tells me what to do.

I must listen and obey.

And look where He guides me?

To relax in a sweet safe spot, where there is plenty.

Notice He’s not telling you to lie down in a smelly dump.

He’s instructing you to relax in a peaceful paradise.

Some of us don’t like to be told what to do.

Especially by an authority figure.

But if we trust God, our Shepherd who is leading us, we must listen.

We must listen and submit to Him, because He is God.

He knows the beginning from the end.

He loves us so much and wants to lead us into everlasting life.

So obey, we must.

He leads me beside still waters.

Allow Him to lead you.

Remember, when He is your Shepherd, you do not want.

You do not want anything else, because He has provided for you.

He brings you to green pastures and still water.

Peace and calm.

Will it always be like this on our journey in this life?

No, not even close.

But before we get to a valley, He fills us up with strength for the journey.

He prepares us, because He knows all things.

God began filling me up years before my divorce.

My desire for devotions and prayer became a flame that sustained me during the valley.

When God is leading you beside green pastures and still water, simply enjoy.

He might be filling you up for a valley or to minister to someone else.

Or maybe it’s just time for a rest.

Enjoy, my friend.

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Photos by Daniel Seßler & Martin Sanchez on Unsplash

My Shepherd

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

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 The Lord is my shepherd.

My leader.

My protector.

My defender.

My guide.

The Lord, who created me and all living things, helps me along life’s path.

I can rest, knowing He is guiding me if I put my trust into His capable hands.

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 I shall not want.

When I trust my Shepherd, all of my needs are provided.

All physical, emotional, and spiritual needs are kept within His strength.

I lack nothing. Absolutely nothing.

It’s when I begin to focus on myself or the world that I suddenly become unhappy.

Thoughts pop into my head that breed discontent.

But when I focus on my Savior, I shall not want.

The perfect Provider has anticipated my every need.

And it’s set before me, sooner then my very need arises.

It’s hard to shove the thoughts from your head which bring mistrust.

Lay everything at His feet.

And trust He’ll help you with anything and everything.

Victory is His and He will not fail you.

Because our Lord is our shepherd, we shall not want for anything.

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Trust and Lean

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

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Trust in the Lord.

You mean trust in my own strength, right?

No, trust in the Lord.

But I know what I want.

Need.

So does God.

In fact, He knows best.

He wants your best, sees your future, and will bring all things into fruition if you trust.

Trust in Him, not in yourself.

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With all of your heart.

All of me?

Even that corner that wants to do things my own way?

Yep.

Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart.

And lean not on your own understanding.

I cannot trust my own understanding of my very own life?

But I know me better than God.

You do?

God created the mind with which you think.

He created your heart that beats, producing life.

He understands you more than you understand yourself.

So lean not on your own understanding.

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In all your ways, acknowledge Him.

All my ways?

Even when I want to go my own way, because I feel it’s best?

When I want to go down pity’s path?

When I want to follow my sour mood to worry’s house?

Yes.  In ALL your ways acknowledge Him.

And He will direct your paths.

Well, I do want Him to direct my paths.

When God directs my paths, He brings His perfect peace.

When I follow my own path, not trusting in Him, worry and dread are my companions.

But when I trust in the Lord with my whole heart, and trust not in my own way, God will walk with me and peace will be my companion.

Remind yourself how faithful God has always been to you.

And begin again, trusting Him every step of the way.

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Peace

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

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God wants me to be at peace and rest about everything?

Yes, because He commands us to not be anxious about anything.

Even my children?

Yes.  Even my marriage?

Yes.  Even the uncertain future with our broken world?

Especially, yes.

When God asks us to not be anxious about anything, He knows we are unable to do that in our own strength.

He provides the road map to peace.

With absolutely every piece of your busy life, pray about it.

Seek God’s face about each aspect of your life.

Thank Him for all He has done and will do for you.

When you pray and seek His will with a thankful heart, His peace will wash over you.

His peace, which passes ALL understanding, will arrive.

Not only will His peace arrive, but it will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

He will guard your heart against fear.

He will guard your mind against lies.

When you fully submit your requests to God with a thankful heart,  He will blanket your heart and soul with a peace which passes all understanding.

When you choose to give ALL of your worries to God, thanking Him for all He is, His peace will take over.

His perfect peace, which we cannot possibly understand.

When you give up control,

When you submit your will to His,

When you thank Him from the top of your head to the tip of your toes for all He has graciously given to you,

He will come, bringing His perfect peace.

He will come.

He wants to come.

He cannot wait to give you His peace.

Keep submitting and thanking, following His will for your life.

Every single day.

You will become radiant with His peace and what a witness that will be of Himself.

The world needs peace.

Only the peace of God will last and what if you, reflecting His perfect peace, could literally show the world a glimpse of God’s saving grace?

What a witness you will be.

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Quiet Your Heart

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Psalm 107:29

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Quiet your cluttered mind.

Remove the noise of life.

Stop running around with your endless lists.

Be quiet and be still…

Focus on God.

Look back at His faithfulness to you.

Read your list of details or blessings.

Believe in your heart the truth.

That beyond a shadow of a doubt, God is real.

Then you will know..

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God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

He was and is and is to come.

He created all things.

He holds the world and all of you in His hands.

That He is God…

So, be still and know that He is God.

Rest and trust.

Be.

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Bless Your Mommy Heart

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He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Psalm 113:9

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As mothers, we wear our emotions on our sleeve.

We break our backs for our children, desperately crying out to God for their redemption.

Even if that’s not you and instead you have nieces or nephews or care deeply for other children, we all deeply love.

Sometimes, as soldiers, we become solitary, holding all the burdens in our tired hands.God wants to walk alongside you, helping you every step of the way.You can trust Him completely.

A gentle reminder from God for you this day:

I love your children even more than you can possibly imagine.  

They are mine.

I see them.

I know them.

I know their deepest sorrows and greatest joys.

I recognize their desires in life and I am present with them always.

Letting go of them is not easy, but as you do, remember I am God and I am their Father.

I hold them in the palm of My hand.

I will never leave them or forsake them.

When you lift them up before Me in prayer, rejoice that I am already working.

Rest, knowing I love them even more than you are able.

Their joys and sorrows are mine.

And as their future unfolds, I am already there.

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Layers of Trust

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in You I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8

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Every time a new experience confirms a truth you already know, a layer of trust is laid.

Layer upon layer, trust is built over time and these layers cushion us from the blows of life.

New relationships create layers of trust every time you interact, confirming how they feel about you.

Picture a feather falling down, cradling upon a pile.

Or a thin page gently falling and resting on top of another, creating a gentle pile of layers.

The layers are built over time.

They are used as a cushion to defeat the whispers of doubt or lies that sometimes pop into your head.

Babies begin to place their layers of trust when they are born.

They cry, a need is met, and they feel safe and secure.

Or a child falls down and runs to mommy to kiss the tears away.

The child’s cushion of trust helps to soften the bumps of life.

As adults, we place our trust into the hands of Almighty God.

Layer upon layer, year by year, He fills our lives with details.

Blessings which are personal to our precious hearts.

Trust is built.

Then when the blows of life hit us, we fall back into the cushion of our faith.

Our layers of trust hold us and keep us in the tender arms of God.

Layers of trust.

Every relationship has them.

They grow with time and unfold into strong roots which anchor us in life.

Resist the urge to ignore them, listening to lies instead.

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Faithful Companion

Published on by amylinnea4 Comments

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14:27

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 I lifted my tear stained eyes and looked upon my sweet Lord’s face.

Compassion dripped from His eyes as He scooped me into His arms.

My child, I love you.

I cover you this day with My peace.

May you lay every worry at My feet and allow Me to take it for you.

May you be filled with joy, knowing My sovereign power is flowing through your precious soul.

May you share this love with others, so all of My children can live with abundant life.  

I know the beginning from the end.

I will order your steps and you will not falter if you trust Me to lead you.

You may not always get your way, but your heart will remain in peace when you trust Me.

I have never failed you and I will not start now.

I long to be your constant companion.

There are so many amazing and profound things I want to share with you.

But you have to come to Me.

I am here, always ready and waiting for you.

I will never leave, because I love you with everything I have.

I created you.

And I never make mistakes.

Photos by Ave Calvar & Lina Trochez on Unsplash

 

Your Precious Little Heart

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1

I find this funny.

Funny like haha, yea, right.

Oh wait – is God serious?

How can I possibly ignore life’s troubles?

Well, God didn’t say ignore life’s troubles…

Just don’t let my heart become overwhelmed with them.

Oh.

How in the world can I do this?

I’m still searching for a job.

My child’s faith is lost.

Sometimes my heart still mourns the child in heaven.

My……… (insert anything you could possibly worry and fret over).

Now take a breath and listen.

~~~~~

God knows.

He really does.

He knows and He is above all of it.

He will lead you down the right path.

He will pour wisdom over your brain and quiet your soul.

He will fill every corner of your body with peace.

But you have to decide something.

To let not your heart be troubled.

Trust God will take care of it and you.

Trust, and God will be faithful to fill your mind with His perfect peace.

Ready?

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Photos by freestocks & Joice Kelly on Unsplash

Seeing God

Published on by amylinnea11 Comments

You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me cup again. Psalm 71:20

Ever see God work?

Witness His marvelous plan unfold?

Take a breath and look around.

He’s working in your children’s hearts.

He’s organizing your thoughts.

He’s ordering your steps.

He’s revealing nuggets of wisdom just when you need them.

He’s providing a way through life.

He’s solving your mini issues which can overwhelm any person.

Your precious life is in His hands and He’s actively showing you the way.

You knew He would.

Come through.

Deep down, you knew.

Yet you still allow stress to step into your mind, completely distracting you.

Did you catch that?

We allow stress to literally step inside our mind and take over.

Completely distracting.

Hmmmmm…….

Oswald Chambers is one of my favorite authors.

Been reading his devotional for years.

His words are steeped with truth:

Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything.  Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret. and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.

I want my family to be stamped with the presence of God.

Imagine if we all submitted to God and asked Him to work through us each and every day.

How blessed we and our families would be.

Not to mention everyone else God places in your path.

I’m in.

Are you?

Photos by Johannes Plenio, Ameen Fahmy, Riccardo Annandale, & Bernard Hermant on Unsplash

Unseen Footprints

Published on by amylinnea2 Comments

Your way way was through the sea, Your path through the great waters; Yet your footprints were unseen. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. Psalm 77:19-20

God guides us by His hand using His plan.

His plan isn’t always what we think He should do, yet He is with us every step of the way.

He guides us and is not seen – but His miracles are.

He works through us to redeem ugly situations.

He guides us through the most unlikely places and leads us safely to the other side.

Imagine the Red Sea and the Israelites standing there, trapped.

Impossible situation in the world’s eyes.

But God is all about doing the impossible.

Step into their shoes and imagine the panic – the fear that would have gripped them,

doubting that God really knew what He was doing when He brought them out of Egypt.

Then, at the last minute, God delivered a miracle we still talk about today.

Life is like that.

Our situation may seem completely impossible – no options, doors all tightly closed.

But God comes through in a mighty way.

We simply must trust He is here with us, going before us.

That’s what trust is – believing in the unseen.  The unknown.

God’s fingerprints are on your life.  His footprints are next to you.

And He has your back as you trust in His unfailing love for you.

Look for Him today.  He’s here.

Photos by Michelle Francisca Lee, Bruno Nascimento, & Hugues de BUYER-MIMEURE on Unsplash

Waiting

Published on by amylinnea6 Comments

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, ensures forever. Psalm 138:8

Ugh. I really don’t like even the word.

Who does?

Wait.

Our children detest the word.

When they ask us something and we say ‘wait’, their faces usually fall, because they just know.

Society buys cars with loans, we buy things on credit, and we don’t bat an eyelash.

Why?  Because we want things now.

We simply cannot wait to save up the money.

Really?

 It’s similar when we need to wait for life.

Pregnancy comes to mind – 9 LONG months of waiting.

Anticipation.

Or when you’re waiting for a planned vacation.

Or, sigh, your wedding day.

 It’s one thing to wait when you have an end in sight – a date in the future when things will change.

Your baby’s due date.

Your vacation date.

Your wedding date.

It’s an entirely different matter when waiting involves the unknown.

You want a baby, but you’re still waiting on God.

You want to marry, but God has not brought the right person, or He has and you’re waiting for God’s perfect timing.

You want a new job, but it hasn’t found you yet.

You want life to change…you want to accomplish His will for your life, but you are still waiting.

The wait can seem simply unbearable.

You are waiting….for what?  When?

Life can almost come to a standstill.

 Don’t let it.

Go back to trust.

Rest in the truth of His Word.

Keep surrendering your dreams to Him and allow Him to reveal them in His timing.

His perfect timing.

Force yourself to remember God has a plan.

Not just any plan,but one just perfect for you and you alone.

 Meanwhile, we must wait.

Ugh, I know, still not crazy about that word at all.

But think about this: God loves you and you are on His mind.

Wait with a smile on your face knowing He has great things planned for you.

Lean back into His arms and smile.

Before long, the wait will be a distant memory.

My family recently waited hours (yes, I did say hours) for my Mother’s Day lunch.

Won’t pick that restaurant again.  But you know what?

We now all laugh and roll our eyeballs at the ridiculous situation!

It’s funny NOW – because we’re no longer waiting.

It’s over.

That’s how it will be with what you’re waiting for.

Soon, your wait will be a distant memory.

And all of the worry in the world won’t have made a bit of difference.

Take your peace and wait.

And remember – each day you wait, you are one day closer to your precious answer.

Photos by Zwaddi, Stefano Intintoli, Todd Quackenbush, Liane Metzler, Derek Thomson, & Unsplash Photo by Kristaps Ungurs on Unsplash

Security

Published on by amylinnea1 Comment

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1

Don’t you just love snuggling up with a cozy soft blanket?

Especially when you are feeling ill or a bit glum, wrapping up in a blanket seems so comforting.

It’s almost like we are wrapped up in safety and peace.

An escape.

God wants to wrap you in His arms of love.

Secure under His wings.

Psalm 91:4 also declares He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge.

Isn’t that comforting?

You are free to snuggle in under God’s protection.

Cozy and safe.

He wants you there, safe and sound.

You might be surrounded by disaster and drama, but when you abide in Him, your heart will stay at peace.

Why?

Because He has your back.

Your soul finds refuge in Him.

Your focus on the drama is clouded by His presence.

Look to God for your security.

Talk about feeling safe.

He holds you in the palm of His hand.

There’s no place I’d rather be.

Smile. He’s got you.

Photos by Ray Hennessy & Chris Linnett on Unsplash