In the Valley of Baca Journal #20

March 8, 2019: “We have this assurance: Those who belong to God will live; their bodies will rise again! Those who sleep in the earth will rise up and sing for joy!” (Isaiah 26:19 NLT)

Such a hope we have, we who belong to God!

March 9, 2019: “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise renews my life.”  (Ps. 119:50)  I have learned  over my years of trusting Him, of seeing His promises to me fulfilled, that I really can trust Him. His promise renews my life.

March 30, 2019: “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” (I Peter 5:7 Amplified Bible)

The key word in this scripture passage for me this morning is “casting.” As I am approaching my next round of tests—blood work, CT scan and dr. appointments, I have found myself thinking anxiously about them—what if the cancer has come back?

I can tell myself not to worry; I can wrestle it down until it submits, but then, in my quiet moments, find those anxious thoughts and feelings creeping back and haunting me.

But if I CAST them on Him—letting go of them and releasing them to Jesus—I’m handing control of my life and of what happens to me over to Him. And He is Lord of my life. What happens to me is under His control. And I have learned that I can trust Him Who “cares for me affectionately and cares about me watchfully.”

“CAST your burden on the Lord [releasing the weight of it] and He will sustain you.”  (Ps. 55:22 Amplified)

In the Valley of Baca Journal #5

May 22, 2018: “You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You and hopes confidently in You.

“So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever, for the LORD God is an everlasting Rock (the Rock of Ages).”

~ Isaiah 26:3

All the prayers of so many friends and family for me to have peace are being answered as I stay my mind on Him.

 

May 24, 2018: I find this thought deeply comforting: “There is no circumstance, no trouble, no testing, that can touch me until first of all, it has gone past God and past Christ, right through to me. If it has come that far, it has come with great purpose.”~ Joni Erickson Tada, Joni and Ken, An Untold Love Story

God promises He is working in this situation concerning my disease, my treatment and healing, and He is working it together for good—for me, for my family and for His Kingdom (Romans 8:28). Joni Tada adds: “The fact is, if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.” I’m looking forward to all that He is doing and wanting to accomplish through me.

“I trust in You, LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in Your hands.” ~Psalm 31:14-15

The Secret Place

Psalm 91

The one who dwells in the secret place,
Near the heart of the Most High God,
This one shall surely abide and remain
‘Neath the shadow of God in that holy terrain
Where no foe can enter, nor ill power sustain—
Near the heart of the Most High God.

I will say of the Lord, He’s my Refuge, my God,
He’s my Fortress, on Him I rely;
In Him do I put my confidence,
For then I will find deliverance
From fowler’s snare and pestilence,
He’s my Fortress, on Him I rely.

With His pinions He will cover you,
‘Neath His wings, your refuge you’ll find.
A buckler and shield His Truth shall be,
And His faithfulness will guard you continually.
The fears and terror of night shall flee.
‘Neath His wings, your refuge you’ll find.

You shall not be afraid of destruction at noonday—
Sin’s judgment shall not come near you.
A thousand may fall, yea ten thousand may die
At your right hand, but it shall not come nigh
To you, who in the secret place hide;
Sin’s judgment shall not come near you.

A spectator only shall you be;
You shall witness the wickeds’ reward.
Because the Lord is your refuge safe,
The Most High God your dwelling place,
You shall not fear calamity’s embrace,
Though you shall witness the wickeds’ reward.

There shall no evil, nor calamity fall—
No plague shall come near your tent.
For especial charge to His angel’s He’ll give
To preserve you all the days that you live;
Of your obedient ways they’ll be protective.
No plague shall come near your tent.

Angels will keep you in all of your ways.
On their hands you will be borne up.
Young lion and serpent you’ll trample and tread.
“Because he has loved Me,” God has said,
“Therefore I’ll deliver him—shield his head.”
On angel’s hands you will be borne up,

“Because he knows Me and understands,
Because he trusts in Me,
In mercy and love I will set him on high.
I’ll never forsake him; no, never will I
Turn away from his call, or help deny,
Because he trusts in Me.

“He shall call upon Me and I’ll answer him;
In trouble I’ll be at his side.
I’ll deliver and honor him in troubled days.
With long life I’ll satisfy him now and always;
And in his life My salvation display.
In trouble I’ll be at his side.

The one who dwells in the secret place,
Near the heart of the Most High God,
This one shall surely abide and remain
‘Neath the shadow of God, in that holy terrain
Where no foe can enter, nor ill power sustain—
Near the heart of the Most High God.