The past few months have been challenging in more ways than one for me, more so financially that these days I am truly learning what it means to live by faith and obtaining Divine Provision.
I am often reminded of Matthew 6:26 and 27:
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they?
Who out of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?…
Learning to keep my eyes on the positive things and to leave worry that adds nothing extra but its own anxiety to my life is a journey that I undertake every day. Some days I can’t help but ask ‘Lord, I don’t understand why you are taking me through this route and what lessons I am supposed to learn here? Anyway, since you want me to pass through this bumpy side, I guess you have your sandals on to keep me company while I find that way that you’ve designed for me and if I fall, I am trusting you to catch me.’
I share my innermost thoughts to encourage anyone who might be going through rough times.
There are certainly dark days when you wonder what comes next. There are certainly trials that would leave you numb and at loss for words, that all you want to do is to withdraw into your shell and wait out the storm. But, I say to you, it is in these moments that you should hold on to the promises of God.
It is in these moments that you should count your blessings even if you need a microscope to search and find one. It is in these moments that your gratitude must be amplified because the Lord inhabits the praise of His people and silent gratitude is heard by no one. You can interrupt that anxiety with gratitude.
Blessed be.
Jacqueline
If you wish to participate in a gratitude challenge, there are several gratitude/thankful platforms in the blogosphere that you can tune into and get your ithankful going on. I can’t express in words the enormity of Joy and fulfillment that comes from having a heart of gratitude. Please check out Maria’s blog, Colline’s blog and Bernadette’s for thankful/gratitude challenges.
a cooking pot and twisted tales 
Amen!
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Tough times don’t last, tough people do. I share your feelings as expressed in this post. It seems as though the simple truths of yesterday, those tried and true methods of leading one’s life in paths of happiness and success no longer apply and we have to learn new rules to the game as we go along. I too ask for Divine guidance but it seems that it is coming mostly in retrospect. Still we must keep the faith and soldier on. God bless.
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Such true words! Thanks for.the encouragement and Will remember you in prayer as you are dealing with some hard times.
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I don’t have much faith in “faith”, but these are beautiful words:
Who out of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?…
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Nice post
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Yup watch the birds! And use the microscope if you need to! Thanks for sharing
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As you encourage yourself in the Lord, you also encourage us. Thank you. A beautiful prayer. You are in a common valley; I’m with you right now, but we are coming out. I have been in a situation in which some “scoundrels” put a lien on my property. I didn’t even find out about it for about four years. Then I had to pay an attorney to help me. We finally had a court the other day and the “scoundrels” didn’t even show their faces. Of course, I won but I still have to wait for a process of red tape to get the lien off and, hopefully, I will be awarded back my attorney fees. Hope so. I have to keep my eyes on the Lord as the one who can help me. I don’t know the means by which he will do so. The whole situation wrecked my credit score so I haven’t been able to rely on loans. That’s good; relying on Jesus is what I must and want to do. I’m terrible embarrassed by my lousy credit score. I’m becoming humbled. 😀
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Gratitude begets moe gratitude begets Grace – and so it goes on 🙂
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I so relate, but rest assured, he hasn’t left you. In fact, as you described he’s there. Not only that he, the Christ is interceding for you that you will endure like a soldier, for if we suffer with him, we shall reign with him. I hate financial difficulties too. We so want to know the whens and the hows, but God will provide. Hang in there, and yes – “Rejoice in all things and again I say rejoice.” Philippians 4 The operative phrase – In all things.
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You made me smile Jacqueline with your suggestion that we might need a microscope to see the blessings of God in our lives. Just conjuring up that image now makes me want to laugh. Sorry.
I hope God surprises you with abundant provision the way only he knows how.
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