2 Thessalonians 2:15–17 “15Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 16Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17Comfort your hearts, and (e)stablish you in every good word and work.”
As I write this post, my daughter is in ICU due to complications after delivering my beautiful first grandchild. Due to COVID restrictions, I am unable to be by her side. Do I cry, wring my hands, call everyone in a panic? Or do I stop, breathe, feel my emotions, and pray? I chose the latter.
Afterwards, I turned to God’s Word, turning to What. I. Already. Know.
I know that He is Jehovah Rapha (God is Healer). I know that He has brought me, my family (just my mother last week out of ICU, after a massive stroke) through…
Once I was a little black girl
Swinging in a tree asking my self,
Why doesn’t everybody recognize
How special it is to be me?
Why do I tame my hair?
Modify my speech
Altering the natural free ways of being
An ethnically charged princess
Soon to be queen of the Diaspora
Impending a sense of dread
Whenever my appearance is made —
What the heck is the matter with these people?
Don’t they realize I’m no danger to an ill society?
Already twisted and bent by its own ideology
Nonsensical beliefs
Idiosyncratic phrases
Oxymoronically placed
A contradiction of words
…
’Twas the week before Christmas and all through the world
A pandemic changed lives of men and women
Of every boy and each girl
Months of sickness and job loss
Families quarantined
Hope for the hopeless
Remained to be seen
What about presents for family, gifts for the kids?
Parents fretted
There were no surprises normally hid
God above looked at all
Shaking his head
Does no one remember Christ Jesus,
Who rose from the dead?
I, as the Father, became Immanuel The Son
Through birth, death and resurrection
The battle is already won
Jesus ultimate sacrifice
through shed blood…
Bursting
Inside
Concept un-rare
As ideas
Expel
An era unfolding on hatred
Displayed
Flag on pole
Unfurled understanding
(No miss to it)
We heard what they said
Knew how they felt
Newly exposed
Technology helped
Spread ideas old as civil wrongs
It’s over
It’s over
It’s over
The jig is up
Maybe
I venture outside
Today, tomorrow and the next
Pray differently
Instead of protection from police
Prayers for peace
Instead of bated breath
Prayers for rest
Stress, animosity behind
Pasted smile
“It’s all right”
Hope held up by aging hands
Underlying
Sorrow
Tears
Bursting
For a country I thought…
Luke 6: 12 “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”
Several times throughout the New Testament, Jesus goes away from everyone to pray alone. His solitude in prayer usually follows a time when He has ministered to multitudes through healing and preaching. As children of the Most High, we often minister — to our loved ones, those in need, etc. If Jesus needed to take time out to pray in solitude, what might we need in addition? Sleep, exercise, healthy food?
Rather than look at prayer simply as a way of asking God for a favor, now more than ever, prayer is needed as a relationship lifeline to God. …
1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
There are struggles in life which are bigger than mankind. Generational curses, such as alcoholism, abuse, pedophilia often remain in families and stay unaddressed due to silence, shame and guilt. As people we can always opt to fight against these family secrets on our own, or we can give it to God and let Him abolish it. The Word of God tells us that we have “victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Before you get too excited and ask, Well, why do these exist in the first place, you must remember that Jesus came to reinstate man’s relationship to God…
Psalms 16:7 “I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.”
God provides us with instruction and direction through various means. Whether it is through His Word, a timely sermon or a simple text message sent from a friend — He knows how to reach us, even when we are paying the least attention. During times of crisis — our night seasons — it is important that we know to draw from our reins, which is translated as “kidneys” or “loins.” When we heed God’s guidance, holding it deep within, it becomes a never-ending resource from which we draw during the most difficult times. …
Psalms 16:11 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
In each of the Psalms there is praise. Praise for God’s goodness, His mercy, His love — the list goes on. The phrase “in thy presence” is open to interpretation. I like to think of it as taking Him everywhere I go. Whether it is a song, a scripture or a positive thought, it is thoughts of God and His love towards me — ever present in His Word — which bring me joy. Outward circumstances are unable to disturb the inner calm, as we abide in His presence. …
Nehemiah 8:10 “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
In today’s world, it is easy to believe that life is meant to be hardship-filled. Thankfully, that is not God’s intention for us. God desires that we enjoy the bounty of His provision in our lives. If we allow it, covetousness can distract us from seeing our blessings, as we focus on the lives of others. Deception has the power to fool us into believing that a social media post is representative of all we are missing — FOMO — while the snapshot crops out any pain, grief, loss that an Instagram pic is unable to capture.
If you are…
Myla Grier
Myla is the author of God’s Daughter (as Myla Jones), an inspirational text written to encourage those impacted by abuse and addiction.
