"Whatever It Takes..."

I recently found a prayer journal I kept in the summer of 2007. Those brief summer months were a time of intense spiritual growth for me. God led me to Beth Moore's book, "Praying God's Word." He used it to grow me and root my mind and heart in His Word. Each morning, I rose early and went outside and spent time reading, journaling, and talking to my Savior. They were precious, precious times. A few weeks ago, I read through some of my entries in my prayer journal. Each prayer contained a similar theme....""Father today I ask that You would bring me to a better understanding of how powerful and awesome You are. Let me fall more in love with You today Lord Jesus, please have Your way in me." Another entry read "Whatever it takes Father, please accomplish Your will and Your way in my life. Thank You Jesus!" When I wrote "whatever it takes," I meant it with all my heart. I honestly had no idea what that would look like over the course of the next 3 1/2 years. That July, the symptoms of Bipolar disorder manifested themselves with intensity. I have realized since that time that my battle with insomnia, depression, and manic phases were the "whatever it takes" that God used to increase my understanding of and dependency upon Him. I have experienced some of the darkest days of my life over the past 3 1/2 years, and God has shown His lovingkindness, compassion, faithfulness, and mercy over and over and over again. He met me in my darkest hours. His mercies truly are new every morning, His compassions never ever fail, His grace is sufficient, and His power truly is perfected in our weakness. I would never have come to know how personally kind, loving, and faithful my Savior is had I not walked this road. God answered my prayer. He did and is continuing to do "whatever it takes" to accomplish His will and His way in my life, and I love Him all the more for it! Thank you Jesus for loving me as I am, but loving me too much to leave me that way!

The LORD is a Warrior....

I love this verse and song...



"The LORD your God is in your midst,

A victorious warrior,

He will exult over you with joy,

He will be quiet in His love,

He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy."

~ Zephaniah 3:17 (NASB)






The Lord is a warrior

The Lord is mighty in battle

The Lord is a warrior

The Lord of hosts is He



My Lord is a fortress

He is a Sun and a Shield

The Lord is a Deliverer

To those who put their trust in Him



He gives strength unto His people

He guards His own with His Right Hand

The Angel of the Lord camps around the ones who fear Him

And delivers them



The Lord of hosts is He



~ Ark Angel

Godliness:

"The practice of godliness is first of all the cultivation of a relationship with God, and from this the cultivation of a life that is pleasing to God. Our concept of God and our relationship with Him determine our conduct. Devotion to God consists of three essential elements: The fear of God, the love of God, and the desire for God."

"The reverent, godly Christian sees God first in His transcendent glory, majesty, and holiness, before He sees Him in His love, mercy, and grace."

"In our day we seem to have magnified the love of God almost to the exclusion of the fear of God. Because of this preoccupation, we are not honoring God and reverencing Him as we should.

"Only the God-fearing Christian can truly appreciate the love of God. He sees the infinite gulf between a holy God and a sinful creature, and the the love that bridged that gulf through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ."

~ Jerry Bridges ~ The Practice of Godliness