Stronger

Do you ever read something, consider it, pass it by, look at it later, contemplate it more, and then finally apply it? Are you sometimes slow to pick up on an important point? Do you sometimes have to reread something to get the point? Do you sometimes have to ask someone to repeat what they said so you understand it? Many of these situations can make us feel inadequate or inferior. 

One day I found myself laying on my bed in a sad state of mind. Life's negative pressures were a little strong that day. As I lay on my bed, I looked at the wall opposite the foot of our bed. There was a picture Tim had gotten for me. The wall was empty when he came home with the picture, so we hung it there. I'd often read the verse on the picture, but didn't give it much thought. We have several pieces of wall art that have a verse of scripture, and this was one of them. As I lay there, my eyes kept being drawn to the verse. I read it over, and over, and over again (remember the question earlier about having to reread something?). I'd read this verse many times since we first hung it on the wall. Today it took on new meaning. My eyes seemed glued. Our room has 'stuff' in it, so there was plenty of other things that could have gotten my attention. This picture, on this day, at this moment was what my soul was needing. It's what my soul was hungry to hear. It had hung on our wall for a couple years, and here on this day was when it finally sunk in. It's simple. It's life changing. It's encouraging. It's an attitude changer. 

Be Strong in the Lord. Ephesians 6:10

There it is. That's all. Five little words. Powerful. 

To my feelings of inadequacy.....'Be Strong in the Lord'
To my feelings of inferiority......'Be Strong in the Lord'
In my stress......'Be Strong in the Lord'
In my doubt......'Be Strong in the Lord'
When I'm sad......'Be Strong in the Lord'
When misunderstood.......'Be Strong in the Lord'
When standing for what is right......'Be Strong in the Lord'
Praying for a sick loved one......'Be Strong in the Lord'
When my attitude stinks......'Be Strong in the Lord'

On that day, Jesus and I had a 'come to Jesus' meeting, right there on the bed. I finally took time to slow down and see what I'd been missing for a couple years. I reread it over and over again. I felt God was repeating himself over and over, each time I read it. Scripture has been around for thousands of years. The bible has been written in many translations. The words are ancient, but each time I read them they come to life. Each time I read, they take on new meaning for me depending upon my life's circumstances. God's word is alive, changing and evolving, yet remaining the same. Days like this day, when a verse that has been hanging on my wall for a couple years suddenly comes alive for me, it's like I've seen it for the first time. It's just what I needed, this day. 

After a little while, I picked myself up off the bed. My path in life doesn't always go where I want it to, or how I want it to. God met me right where I was on this day, and gave this to me......'Be Strong in the Lord'.