Where Do You Turn?
We all go somewhere.
A favorite dessert, reality television, a good friend or trusted family member. When the road gets rocky we all turn to something or someone.
For her, it’s me.
My little girl runs to Mama. She sneaks between Mom’s sheets in the middle of the night. She runs to my arms and lays her weary head on my shoulder. She crawls in my lap when something hurts. She asks for my song as she settles in for the night.
When her world feels unstable, she finds peace in my presence.
Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” Psalm 62:1-2 (NIV)
Where do you go?
Sometimes it’s easy to say I run to God. But when I dig deeper and force myself to examine the evidence I see a trail that takes me places anywhere but God.
After a long day of demands I sink into the arms of my rocking chair. The television remote dulls my fatigue and the treat in my hand feeds my need for a smile … Then I grab my Bible as my eyes grow heavy.
When my boy turns up sick I grab the phone to call my sis. We attempt to diagnose and decide what to do next … Then I pray.
I want my life to tell this story of trust. To shout, my soul finds rest in God! But I guess, if that’s my desire, I’ll have to try it out. Stand on The Rock instead of substituting with shifting sands.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25 (NIV)
Seems simple enough, but to keep in step with the Spirit means we need a new pair of shoes. Every. Day. Because every day our flesh gets up with us. Every day our instincts point us in the wrong direction. Every. Day.
When I imagine the shoes on the feet of someone “in step with the Spirit” I think running shoes. I see feet climbing mountains and crossing rugged terrain. I see strong soles on a mission.
I recently heard a secret of one of the greatest evangelists of our day, Billy Graham. And it’s really no secret at all. When asked about his spiritual disciplines Billy Graham said: search Scripture and pray without ceasing.
Search for 5 minutes or 2 hours. Search over lunch or in the closet. Flip the pages, read the words, ask questions, seek answers.
When uncertainties swirl around you, steady your soul with Scripture.
And pray all the time. During conversations pray about what you’ll say next. While you drive pray for the people in your car or the people you’re driving to meet.
When distractions threaten to undo you, invite peace into that place with prayer.
I want to turn to Jesus. I know if I do I will never be shaken … if I do.
Lord help me turn to You. When my world feels unstable or life surprises me, let me keep in step with the Spirit and point my feet towards You, my Rock and my Fortress.
Do you want to turn to Jesus? What is one way you can choose to steady your soul or invite peace into your place today? Leave a Comment!
Good Morning Katy,
“search scripture and pray without ceasing”. That is a tall order but a beautiful one. It is helping me so much in getting through and I feel like I am finally coming out the other side. The first prayer I remember learning, my Mom calls, the “Siren Prayer”. It’s a good one to practice to get into the habit and helped me learn to begin to talk to God the way you mentioned above; pray all the time, when you are coming and when you are going and when you are talking and driving and cooking. The siren prayer is simple, every time you hear a siren, you pray, “bless them father”. That’s it. Simple, but you are acknowledging his presence and any time there is a siren, someone has trouble…….it doesn’t matter the kind. When I first began to learn to pray as an adult I learned it and I taught it to my daughter by doing it out loud. I will never forget the first time she said it before me. she was only 2 years old, and we were driving and the siren came and in her tiny adorable little 2 year voice, she said with so much heart, Bless them Father!!! I cried. LOL. She had been listening. The 2nd prayer I learned……..just as simple………”help me please”. When I am too distraught to find the words, this one goes straight to the heart of the matter. I don’t have difficulty talking with God anymore but when I did, the simple prayers were the one’s that got my motor running. Thank you so much for all you share. I am praying for you and yours right now. Have a blessed day!
Thank you, April! Your simple prayers are a beautiful tool to share. Sometimes we make talking to God out to be such a big deal, with so many rules, that we keep ourselves from going to Him at all. Thank you for sharing your story, and I pray we all dare to utter a simple prayer!
Great blog Katy. I usually have a couple of scriptures I keep on my phone for easy access. That way when the enemy does his best to mess with my mind I combat it with truth. And then I begin to pray to God by reminding myself of what his word says and who He is!!
Hi Katy… Really weird how God works sometimes. We were sorority sisters in college and I happened to come across your blog recently. I have already signed up and have completely fallen in love with your messages. I have been doing Jesus Calling for several years now and your blog has definitely spoken to my heart. I have begun introducing it to several of my friends. WE daily need to be lifted by the spirit and take hold of God’s message and will for our lives. I just wanted to say thank you for sharing… Super proud of you. and hope you continue this journey!
Hi Allison! It’s so great to “see” you here! 🙂 Thank you for your sweet words & inviting others to join us. Such a blessing to know I’m on this journey with friends. Bless you, friend.
This was so good to me today Katy! it made me really examine who/what I turn to, and in most cases, God is not the 1ST one I Acknowledge. I am on a mission to change this! Thank you so much for your messages!
I’m on the mission with you, Shonda! Thanks for your honesty. I know exactly what you mean. I will pray for you as I pray for my own heart, that God is all our hearts desire & more than enough! Thank you so much for your words! Love you, girl!