On the Seventh Day: REST

THE SUN IS SHINING over Boston...

Sipping coffee, listening to the melodic reggae-ish Brett Dennen singing, "The One Who Loves You the Most." Spring up oh well, of life-giving waters, flowing from the Throne of the One I love; Who LOVES ME THE MOST!

Click to Listen to Song Here.

My soul is still, for I know He is God.

Yesterday brought freedom & peace.

Here is a retelling of it:

"Day 3 to Day 6, I was pretty much completely side-tracked by overwhelming feelings of apathy, despair, and life just coming at me. Today, a friend was praying with me. I felt light breaking in. I shared about feeling "trapped" by expectations of people and bulley-ed by Shame. Felt that I was reacting in pride, (although I was resisting the pride and trying to go low in humility,) it felt like a cloud that would not lift. I hadn't identified the shame bit. Seemed like a blind spot. Wasn't it for freedom He set me free? My friend had insight and began to take authority over the shame and I rallied with faith, too. My heart began to have courage and realize, "I do not have to PERCEIVE this way." Instead, my spirit was free to receive the Light of HIS love and How HE SEES ME. Sounds revolutionary and simple right??? It was a breakthrough six months to a year in the making for me. Expectations of ministry, of career, of relationships, of personality, of goals... all these pressures! In an instant they melted away. I was immediately flooded with joy and the Spirit. I began laughing and sensing the PEACE of God! With understanding that it is not about me making "this season" or the next look like what people think it should or what I think it should... Just free in His love and His will. SO MUCH PEACE!!! My "true reflection." I felt it made the last six months brilliant in the light of clarity. I was letting my courage ebb away by the expectations and weights of man. What is man that Thou Art Mindful of Him, O God?? Hahah, praise God, I am so restored to TRUST & PEACE.

One more piece to this puzzle, I just have to glorify God! The reason why this is so key, this breakthrough PAST Shame, Pride, Condemnaton, into the Righteousness of Jesus, into His freedom, etc.: Lies "MIMIC" the voice of God through Shame, like a bulley. I literally felt that God was "hardened" to me. When I stopped listening to that counterfeit voice; GOD'S SILENT SMILE WAS SO LOUD!!! So VERY LOUD AND CLEAR... HIS DELIGHT WAS RADIANT over my heart!!! His silent truth resounds and echos to the depths of our identities. WE ARE LOVED.

I feel it was an important breakthrough to have early on in this 40 days, as I continue to pray. Even for this place, New England, which is dominated by "religion, humanism, rugged individualism & pride."

Later that night, as I was laying quietly, I felt God's inner-audible speak these verses to me: Psalm 4:2, Matthew 4:2, and Rev. 4:2... A strange string of verses, so I looked them up. This is crazy!

Psalm 4:2-3 (Amplified Bible)
O you sons of men, how long will you turn My honor and glory into shame? How long will you love vanity and futility and seek after lies? Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself [and given distinction to] him who is godly [the man of loving-kindness]. The Lord listens and heeds when I call to Him.

Matthew 4:2 (The Living Translation)
For forty days and nights He fasted, and became very hungry.

Revelation 4:2
At once I came under the [Holy] Spirit's power, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne!

Today, I pray the grace over New England to receive the LOVE of the One who loves them. Let love in. Let Love Win! Today, may we "Be Still and Know He is God!"

Have Your Praise, King of My Heart. Your opinion of me is the only one that matters.