Have you noticed the quiet?  I have.  I have noticed that the world outside is quieter.  Please, find a moment this week and close your eyes and listen, beyond the screaming in your own head or the hollering of the kids stuck in the house….listen to the quieter world.

God has allowed a halting of the grinding gears in our world, of our society, of our homes, of our work lives, of our schedules.  In a very short period of time, He has given us the blessing of a quiet moment in time if we will only hear it.

This situation is not pleasant for all and there are sick and hurting people, tired and discouraged fighters on the front line, and there are those who are dying.  And the truth is, every day before and every day after, these unpleasant realities will still be true.

But my prayer is that in the middle of this mess, you learn or gain a new appreciation of the JOY of the Lord.  Not the fear, not the anxiety and not the stress, but His holy JOY.  I hope you an see the good and remind yourself of God’s promises to His people.

Here are a few things I have reminded myself of these last few weeks:

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”  James 1:17

When Joseph was dying, he spoke to his brothers, and with a hand on one hip and my finger pointing, I speak this to our Enemy –

“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”  Genesis 50:20

And again, to the Enemy I say –

“What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?”  Romans 8:31

Why would I think that? Because –

“We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”  Romans 8:28

 

And that is you and me.  You and me, we are called, for right here and for right now.  And when you are feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, get out of your head and speak the scriptures above directly to the enemy.

And if you need help to getting riled up in a new direction, turn up your volume and learn this song:

When I only see in part, I will prophesy your promise.  I believe you GOD.

Because you finish what you start.  I will trust you in the process.  I believe you God.

And fear can go to hell.  Shame can go there too.

‘Cuz I know whose I am.  I belong to YOU!

 

It is in the quiet that we hear God’s voice.  And never has our world been quieter.  When has so much of our lives come to a standstill?

The world around us will begin again.  See this time as a sweet gift that God has given us.  Use these found and quiet moments to seek the Lord.  What does He want to say to you?  What does He have for you moving forward?

Embrace the quiet and allow God to do a work in you and your family.  Get prepared for what is to come next in the Kingdom