I Glory In My Jesus: 2020-08-30

Matthew 7
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

I have had an interesting year so far, to put it mildly. The virus has made everyone have an interesting year I believe. I was let go of my job of 14 years teaching at a local University. It was my dream job. Because of the virus, cuts had to be made. I have had a few good cries over that. Even now I am wiping the tears. My teaching job was unique in that it was a class to help people wanting to improve their life situation and learn skills in communication and forgiveness that would help move them forward in obtaining the life they want. Although it was a University job, I snuck Jesus into every lesson. And what's interesting is that the Lord prepared me for this change a year in advance. So when it came, I mourned the loss but didn't feel the sting.

This year I struggled at times with depression and resentment towards the Lord for not "answering my prayers" regarding important things in my life. At times I felt frustrated towards Him for "giving me the prompting" to do certain things only to have those things hang in the balance as though the prompting I'd followed was incorrect. And then the lesson came as I struggled for air in the crushing weight of potential loss..."Ruth, if you lose everything, will you still love Me? Will you still Trust me? Even if I don't 'answer' your prayers in the way you think they should be answered...can you still Believe?"

The fog lifted, the prize won: "I know my Father lives...and loves me too...the Spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true. And tells me it is true..."

So I share this simple pearl of great price, with you (if anyone even reads this, that is). And you probably already learned this a LONG time ago, but for me it was pure revelation that could only be learned through loss and "unanswered prayers".

God loves me. He loves you. He loves all His Son's and Daughters. And so when you pray and ask for His help, know that your Father knows what you need before you even ask Him (Matthew 6:8). He is a Good Father...if you ask Him for bread, He won't give you a stone. And if that "bread" comes in the form of barren ground or a pile of seeds or a grain mill grinder or a wild thunderstorm that sets the field ablaze...it may be the very gift that will bring you to Him.

The Lord has proved His love to us. He loved us so much, He died for us. I can't think of anything more humbling and overwhelming. All we can do is live in gratitude because He knows what you need before you ask it and so all you can do is Thank Him for giving you exactly what you need.