As a year ends and a new one begins it is good to reflect on the blessings the Lord has given us. I thought I would share what I am thankful for this past year and hope that you will share your 2009 blessings as well.
Last Sunday our Pastor opened evening service to anyone who wanted to share their praises to the Lord. I shared this.
It is very easy to Praise the Lord when your prayers are answered. However it is not very easy to praise the Lord for your unanswered prayers but that is what I want to do. For it is in those unanswered prayers that character is built and you learn to trust completely in the Lord. My husband and I have a verse together. It's inscribe in our wedding rings. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. " That is easier said then done but the Lord provides a wonderful church, friends and a good husband to help you.
So, the thing that I am most thankful for this past year that I want to share with you is my unanswered prayer. It has been a journey learning to trust and obey. To know that God loves me and if He doesn't answer my prayer it's either not His timing or He has something far better and more wonderful then I can imagine. I learned that I can't make some things happen. I can't fix everything. I can't blame myself or think I am being punished for my sins. I can't be bitter or hurt any longer. This year I've learned how to truly Trust in the Lord and simply let go. I only learned that because God didn't answer my prayer. When I started to let go and trust in Him more He brought so many blessing into my life. Blessing to help fill a void that my unanswered prayer leaves. I am so thankful for what the Lord has done in my life and the lessons He is choosing to teach me. I am blessed to learn them. I am blessed to be His child.
How about you? Do you have an unanswered prayer? Will you sit in the middle of that hurt and pain your unanswered prayer brings you or will you look to the Lord and find out what He trying to teach you?
The other blessing the Lord has given me this year is my Grandpa. He has always been a blessing in my life but this year especially. My Grandpa as you know past away recently. I was with him in some of the last few days of his life. I went to visit him two weeks before he went to be with the Lord. I was at the dinner table the last time he sat at the head of the table. I was there to take him into the hospital with my Grandmother. I was there to pray with and for him before he left in the ambulance. I was there to soak up as much more wisdom, love and lessons I could from him. I was there when he looked at me and said that everynight he asked the Lord to answer my prayer. I was there to witness Proverbs 31:11 in perfect truth. "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil." I praise the Lord that I was there for all of this and so much moreI will carry with me forever. Grandpa may not be with me anylonger in the way I wish he could be but he's with me in a way far better. I know that he is watching over me from heaven. And what a blessing to know that one day I will join him there.
Take the time to reflect on what the Lord has done for you. How has He blessed you in 2009?
Love,
Rebecca
