dailydatewithgod

This  morning as I got I spent time together on our date I felt drawn to read from the Hebrew scriptures.  I looked up what is the reading for this coming Sunday and came to Zephaniah 3:14-18.  It’s funny how one can not know what is right in front of them.  In those words I saw “Be not discouraged.”  So today’s message is just that in a positive way. As I woke to embrace the day I could feel myself dragging a bit and so I shared with God what I do when I feel that way which is I am going to need your help today and to be led then to a piece of writing that not only tells me to be encouraged but to not fear, “the Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior; He will rejoice over you with gladness and renew you in his love, He will sing joyfully because of you, as one sings at festivals.”  WOW!  How is that for a compliment.  I have to say of all the dates I have been on and relationships I have been in, none have sung joyfully because of me–at least not that I know of. 😉  That ladies and gentleman is a day starter!  How can I not be encouraged when someone tells you that I have nothing to fear, that I am loved, I am rejoiced over with gladness? I am not sure I can wrap my head around that so early in the morning but I am open to my heart receiving that message.  More readily I can receive the message that God is in my midst.  To me that means that whatever comes my way this day whether in circumstance or in my thinking about the circumstances–God is there.  I am not alone and I don’t have to act like I have to figure it all out myself.  My notion of God is not one that protects me from things happening but rather is there by my side when things do to help me walk through them, walk through them with my heart intact because I am loved no matter what.  I was created out of love.  Today I woke up–I was given a chance today to live, that is encouraging.  That means that the glorious Creator thinks that I have something to contribute today.  What could that be?  Only the day will tell.  And, the best part is that since I decided to start this day by connecting with Him, he reminds me that He is in my midst, He is rejoicing over me and renews me with love and sings over my presence.  One of the things that I have come to believe with all the spiritual study both scriptural and other references is that God uses who shows up.  And as I shared in one of my other posts, when I do He reminds me that he is so excited that I did.  As I go into this day I will look to see where I can show up, when I feel that I cannot do it, I will be encouraged and know that God is in my midst.  My prayer for you today is that you may know that you are loved this way, that you are encouraged in whatever you have to face today and that you have the sense that God is in your midst.  Make it an encouraging day!  Peace~Colleen