A Morning Message -- Not a Victim of Circumstance
/Mug of coffee in hand, I walk out into the early morning air, ready to commune with my Lord as I walk the circuitous path outside my home.
No one is stirring so I quietly sing my prayer-filled greeting to the Lover of my soul:
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart.
Naught be all else to me save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy Presence my Light.
And on through the verses…Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word… Thou mine Inheritance now and always…High King of heaven , my Victory won…
But today, there is a decision to be made, and we don’t know which way to go. So in the presence of my Lord, I’m thinking and praying as I walk along.
What is your will, O God. Do we go to visit or stay in place during this pandemic time?
As I continue on my way thinking/praying, the familiar VOICE I have come to know so well:
Jan, whether you go to Illinois or stay here, I go with you!
I don’t guarantee you won’t get COVID either way.
COVID may be the way I take you home
OR
COVID may be the way I teach you a greater dependence on Me.
The circumstances of your life are in My Hands — You aren’t a victim.
So just trust ME!
And joy and peace have come because HE Who is my JOY and PEACE has spoken.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. . . . Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise . . . Then the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:6-9 NLT
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight
Be thou my armor, and be thou my might
Thou my soul’s shelter, and thou my high tow’r
Raise thou me heav’nward, o pow’r of my pow’r
Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven's joys, O bright Heav’n's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
