{"id":12785,"date":"2013-06-29T00:30:07","date_gmt":"2013-06-29T04:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/?p=12785"},"modified":"2013-06-27T23:06:32","modified_gmt":"2013-06-28T03:06:32","slug":"i-need-thee-every-hour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/girlfriendscoffeehour.com\/wordpress\/2013\/06\/29\/i-need-thee-every-hour\/","title":{"rendered":"I Need Thee Every Hour"},"content":{"rendered":"

I received an email the other day from Dear Friend<\/em> <\/span>who was checking in to see how I am doing and sharing about the current joys in her heart and life.\u00a0 \u2018Why an email\u2019 <you might be thinking>, \u2018when she could connect with me much quicker with a Facebook\u00a0<\/i><\/b>message?\u2019\u00a0 Yes, I surely understand your query…I mean if she did that…my iPad would sound out that I had a message and, perhaps<\/i>, I would run right over and check it out…plop down in my chair…and immediately respond to her!\u00a0 (Been there?\u00a0 Done that?\u00a0 Me, too…many, many, many times over!)\u00a0 But, see, right now I am having a mutiny against the excess of media <\/i>in my life.\u00a0 So, I am severely limiting my Facebook<\/i><\/b>\u00a0time which includes messaging as well as cutting out any texting along with eliminating other media influence<\/span> (television, radio, iPad apps, Pinterest, online games).<\/p>\n

May I share with you what I wrote to Dear Friend<\/span><\/em>?<\/p>\n

“To answer your query about how I am doing…well, this is quite the ride! \u00a0Just sayin’! \u00a0Oh, the things that God is choosing to unearth…oh my.\u00a0 He is showing me a thing or two (or twelve or twenty!) about some issues in my little heart.\u00a0 Like what I do\u2014or<\/span> at least am tempted<\/i> to do\u2014when my little heart is distressed. \u00a0It appears that I try to assuage those feelings. Not good…. It has been brought to my attention that I do NOT consistently run to Him with my worries, my fears, my doubts, my hurts, and my pain.”<\/p>\n

Yes…there it is.\u00a0 This is where God has really gotten my attention!\u00a0 He has unveiled my eyes to see that I allow other things to take His place as my Father, Provider, Protector, Healer.\u00a0 He has promised to be my Stronghold, to help me, to deliver me, to save me…if<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/strong> I take refuge in Him\u2014rather than trying to deal with it on my own.<\/p>\n

\n

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!
\nFor they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.
\nTrust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
\nDelight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
\nCommit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.
\nHe will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
\nBe still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him;
\nFret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
\nOver<\/span> the man who carries out evil devices!
\nRefrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
\nFor the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
\nThe salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
\nThe Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them
\nfrom<\/span> the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him.
\nPsalms 37:1-9, 39 and 40<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

There is a word I used in my note to Dear Friend<\/em><\/span>\u2014\u2018assuage<\/strong>.\u2019\u00a0 And when I wrote it I wasn\u2019t quite sure it communicated just what the Lord had been reproving<\/span> and correcting me about.\u00a0 So I checked the dictionary (yes…online) and here\u2019s what I found:<\/p>\n

assuage<\/span><\/strong>, verb <\/i>
\npronunciation<\/span><\/span>: [uh-sweyj<\/span>]
\ndefinition<\/span><\/span>: soothe, relieve
\nsynonyms<\/span><\/span>: allay, alleviate, appease, calm, compose<\/span>, conciliate,
\nease<\/span>, fill, lessen, lighten, lull, make nice, mitigate, moderate,
\nmollify<\/span>, pacify, palliate, placate, pour oil on, propitiate,
\nquench<\/span>, quiet, sate, satisfy, soften, still, surfeit, sweeten,
\ntake<\/span> the edge off, take the sting out, temper, tranquilize<\/p>\n

Ouch!\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 Did that ever set me back in my seat!\u00a0 And then the tears came…and I repented.\u00a0 Because I surely do NOT ever want to be taking over where my heavenly Father wants to take care of me!\u00a0 He is so much better at it than I; His care is perfect and meets my every need!<\/p>\n

\n

Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity.
\nI said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.”
\nAnd You forgave the guilt of my sin.
\nTherefore let all the faithful pray to You while You may be found;
\nsurely<\/span> the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them.
\nYou are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble
\nand<\/span> surround me with songs of deliverance.
\n\u2018I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
\nI will counsel you with My loving eye on you.\u2019
\nDo not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding
\nbut<\/span> must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.
\nMany are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord\u2019s unfailing love
\nsurrounds<\/span> the one who trusts in Him.
\nRejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
\nsing<\/span>, all you who are upright in heart!
\nPsalms 32:5-11<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

AND, I must be honest, this has not all been light and easy!\u00a0 But some good and encouraging things have surfaced, too!\u00a0 One thing, for example, I realize that I am disciplined and not easily tempted ALL of the time.\u00a0 Like my morning quiet time…just no way that I am allowing<\/span> \u2018you-know-who\u2019 (satan) to steal that from me and my God!<\/p>\n

And so I am encouraged!\u00a0 With God’s help and by His grace…maybe His mercies that are renewed every morning, too…these things CAN be changed in my little heart!\u00a0 I am a thankful girl for the purging and cleansing and purifying and sanctifying that my heavenly Father is choosing to do in<\/span> me!\u00a0 He is the Potter…I am the clay.\u00a0 And thankfully I am getting molded more and more into the image of my Lord!<\/p>\n

May I encourage you also?\u00a0 \u00a0\u2665\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God\u2019s mighty Hand,
\nthat<\/span> He may lift you up in due time.
\nCast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
\n1 Peter 5:6 and 7<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Praying for each of you!\u00a0 \u2665\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2665\u00a0<\/span> coleen<\/span><\/p>\n