first, a bit of housekeeping.  I have a form over in the sidebar for signing up to receive my posts in your e-mail, but it seems that whenever i reply to a comment i personally am receiving a confirmation e-mail as though i’d filled out that form (except that i didn’t).  I’m confused by that-so if you left a comment and then found yourself signed up for the e-mails, i apologize for that.  it will probably take me some time to figure out why and correct the problem-thank you for grace.

Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.  -Deuteronomy 4:39

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. -Revelation 1:3

To take to heart is to move from concept into reality…how do i know if [my understanding of God] has moved from merely a concept to reality?  i have joy and persevere.  -Chris Ritsma

i read a lot of biographies* of those who’ve gone before me on this journey of faith.  in their stories i find so very many examples of this principle of moving from concept into reality.  moving from the concept of the Lord as provider, into acting on the reality of Him as provider and then the real experience of Him as provider.  Him as victor, as strength-giver, comforter, wonder of a counselor,  on and on and on.  every time i am encouraged profoundly in my own life that i can take Jesus at His word.

on Sunday i went forward for prayer.  before our car even left the parking lot, i experienced the exact opposite of what i prayed for.  don’t you know the enemy loved to make a mockery of me and of God.  still i persevered and throughout the week had sweet times of prayer with my attentive Father.

i’ve written here a bit about my struggles with prayer, both in last year’s 31 day series, and most recently  waiting through the dark night.  yesterday was a bit of a ‘dark night’ wrestle.  there was this heaviness, a struggle to pray, to think, to process.  i knew i was tired from a long week, but still it was discouraging.  early in the afternoon i received a phone call with a real and glorious victory undertaken by my God who is Mighty.  and don’t you know that joy flooded the depths of my soul and perseverance overtook the struggle.  still today the mocking voices have silenced against the One who’s voice is like the sound of rushing waters.

i don’t see victory every time-and neither did those men and women of old.  but the victories He does give cause me to rejoice.  remembering the victories He gives cause me to persevere.

little compares to the joy of knowing that my God is real.

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*most recent biographies:   A Retrospect by Hudson Taylor; To a Different Drum by Pauline Hamilton; Mountain Rain by Eileen Fraser Crossman (story of J.O. Fraser)