Breathe, Pause, Reorient

Another day in wait, in pause, in limbo… And yet, the RIPPLE EFFECTS of what this pause could be doing in our lives. Have you considered that this pause, this boulder in the road, could be a “gift” to help reorient our lives? A time to help us see what’s really most important and how to set our focus back in the right place.

I am NOT saying the Lord is behind the Coronovirus and the carnage/the death that lays behind it. My heart breaks for those who have lost loved ones in this fight, for those who lay behind the walls of isolation in the efforts to starve this virus and keep the most vulnerable safe. I am grateful for each man and woman who is on the front lines battling to keep the healthy well and the sick tended to and fought for.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 NIV

I DO believe the Father is good and that His reign has not been usurped. And I do know He is a God who wastes nothing and can turn all things around for the good of those who love Him.

So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 AMPC

Today reminded me of an important truth about God…he wastes nothing…then and now…for them…for me…for you! Looking back at the way that God has used circumstances, and people and mistakes and failures and misguided intentions and relationships and timing…He wasn’t thrown off or caught off guard or surprised. He is constantly leveraging all that we are, all that we choose and all that we mess up to make His Name great!
-Justin & Trisha Davis, RefineUs, “God Wastes Nothing”

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV

As I look out my window this morning, the fog is thick. I can only see clearly a few houses down. It’s similar to how I have felt in this past week. I have felt like a woman on a boat out at sea – with no glimpse of land and no navigation.

Isn’t that true of this season? The visual of what lies ahead is unclear. There is no instruction manual on how to do social distancing or how to quarantine. This “day” is unlike any other in history. But God…

What is He up to? What is He speaking to your heart? What is He speaking to the Church? Where is He calling us to rise up? Where is He calling us to be still?

If your heart is at all like mine, you don’t want to miss the word He is speaking, you don’t want to miss what He is teaching. And yet, how many of us are still trying to “fix” our today to “look normal”. How many of us are filling our time with still too many stuff? The beauty of technology today is that we can stay connected – and EVERYONE has something they want to say in the midst of this. We can watch a full day of news or podcasts or prophetic words or…

But, are you making time to BE STILL? It’s in the stillness that you will hear His voice most clearly. It’s in the newly “quiet” and “unhindered” life that we slow down enough to see where our ship has strayed off course and allow Him to direct the wind to where HE wants to steer the boat.

Trust me, my house is anything but quiet. It’s noisier than it’s been for sometime with four kids at home – teenagers and littles. And yet, my calendar is empty of all the many places to be. In many ways, my need to “be on” has magnified, and yet the “simplicity” of today creates moments to breathe, moments to steal away and be still.

I was on a prayer call this morning and the words of truth spoken pierced my soul. “Maybe it’s ok that the kids be on ‘summer’ until September”.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:34 MSG

“Find moments to organically pour into your kids spiritually – this is your legacy”.

So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Matthew 6:33 TPT™

I have no idea how long this season of pause will last. And as much as I want life to return back to “normal”, I would hate to miss the lesson the Lord wants to teach. This season of “wait and see” was probably as much needed for ourselves as it was for the Church. And quite possibly, “normal” has been in desperate need to be “redefined”.

Breathe. Tomorrow has enough worry for itself. Be present today and look for the opportunities the Lord brings before you. For it’s HIS Kingdom that deserves the forefront of our focus. Treasure the gift of TODAY. Treasure the pause of this season.

PRAYER: Pray for clarity for today. Pray for HIS plans and HIS agenda for your hours and minutes today. Pause, where you are able. Be still. Listen. Breathe.