Sitting with the Lord and praying, “Lord what message are you sending us? What is it that we should be doing besides thinking about do we have enough supplies and being fearful of this virus? What should we do with this time of being still and being somewhat isolated from the world. Lord is this a time to spend with family and those we love? Is this a time to clean up all our clutter around the house? Is this a time to stew over the media and obsess about what is happening? Is this a time of personal consecration to you? What would you have us to do?” 

In that moment I was led to read the book of Zephaniah in the Bible. I’ve read it many moons ago but can’t say that I’ve really studied it. I remembered a verse or two in Chap. 3 but that was it. So when I turned to it and saw it was 3 short chapters I decided to read it all in one sitting. As I read it I couldn’t help but apply it to what we are experiencing now. I have to be honest it’s hard to wrap my brain around God’s wrath to that degree. Zephaniah, the prophet paints Him as an angry and jealous God who allows a plague to sweep over the land in most of the book. Why would a loving God allow such devastation? Then these passages caught my attention…

“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder …because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord. They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”

God’s heart’s desire is that we turn back to Him more than anything. There’s nothing wrong with us doing some of the things we’ve been doing but His desire is also for us to search our hearts and turn to Him. Our great creator who has our best interest at heart! Whose intent is for our hearts to be purified and unafraid. Our hearts will trust in Him only! That we have no other idols before Him. It’s personal at this point. It truly is a time of repentance and refining! It’s a time of allowing God to search our hearts and rid us of ego and arrogance. A time for our motives to be tested. A time to reassess what has been claiming our attention. A time to decrease so that He may increase. A time to truly discern where our loyalties lie. A time to return to the One who loves us most! He doesn’t ask that we grovel. He only wants us to trust in Him! Then we will not fear. I read more…

“The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm. Do not fear, Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing…At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you. I will rescue the lame; I will gather the exiles. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they have suffered shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes,” says the Lord.”‭‭

The Holy Spirit said to my heart that “repentance leads to refining and refining leads to rejoicing.”

Whatever happens, my heart can trust the Lord and I do not have to cower in fear of anything. He will save us for Himself. I often think about how God allowed Stephen to not have to suffer through this time in light of how much he’d already suffered! I’m grieved for my loss but I’m happy for his gain. He is free and because I trust the Lord I am free too. Different realities but same God of deliverance! Thank you Lord! I will turn to you and I will trust you. I repent therefore I am refined and I rejoice in the God of my salvation! 

Just sharing my morning musings. Repentance, Refining, Rejoicing! It’s deeper than I am articulating. Search it out for yourself! Ask God to reveal Himself to you and He will prove His love to you, I promise!