Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord**
This particular morning I come to sit at Your feet, weighed down heavy. Insecurities hover over me and memories of recent failings grow like mold within me: the replaying of each one, leads to another, and to another.
Hard to look up, eyes fixed in, I sit sad.
But You. But You promise reprieve for my weak heart. You speak directly to where I lack.
You offer hope, but first call forth hope. Your estate — released — upon my first step. You say move to my dry bones, and, upon my slightest move, You release. Your distribution calls me up, and when I look up, You descend.
When I put forth my weak hope, You strengthen.
Courage infused.
You take my offering of one loaf of bread and multiply it before my very eyes. I am the least likely candidate for a strong heart, but You give me an exchange. Knees buckled, hands shaking, I hold a morsel of hope and one drop of courage — all I could muster — and while I close my eyes in expectation of an even barter, You pour out strength.
Yes, my heart can be strengthened. A new kind of exercise that requires me to sit at Your feet in worship, in adoration, and promises that I will leave stronger.
And my ever-growing-stronger heart, at the hands of adoration of You, is a deposit. If I keep coming back, You keep offering more.
I praise You, oh One who offers to strengthen my depravity. I adore You, God, who gives an uneven exchange, all for my benefit and Your glory. I worship You, God, who says if I hope, I won’t leave hopeless, but heart-strong.
**So what do I do with these posts, you ask, other than just read them? First, if you haven’t yet, read: Why I Adore to give you a context for this little space on my blog. (This post also gives context.)
If you are compelled, I invite you to participate. Set up a space and time in your own life to begin adoring. Over laundry or dinner dishes, on your commute to work, or in the wee morning hours — ten minutes is a great start. You can use the verse I list here every day or two as a launch pad for your own adoration.
Then practice praise.
Add to my adoration here, by posting a comment with your own words back to God about God …or hide it in your heart.
I promise your weary soul won’t regret it.
***You can easily subscribe to these devotional meditations as they are delivered, by using this feed: http://www.EveryBitterThingisSweet.com/posts/chai/feed or by entering your email address in the second box on the right-hand side… (scroll up a bit)
Additionally, all of the Morning Chai Posts can be seen, in the order of posting, by clicking here or adding this address to your reader: http://EveryBitterThingisSweet.com/posts/chai
