Guest Post: "Psalm Study: Day Five" by Oliveah

     This post is written by a sweet young lady, Nathan's second cousin, and our very own flower girl in our wedding, Oliveah Friesen.   As well as being a student, working, and enjoying family time, she has a hobby business overhauling old pieces of furniture, giving it a new look, and renewed purpose.  She loves Jesus Christ.  As you read this post, may it speak truth to your heart, and urge you to seek Christ more, spend time in His Word, and prayer, and be intentional about your own faith journey.  This is part 5 in a series, be sure to check out her blog to get all her thoughtful insights from the Psalms;                         https://oliveahfriesen.wordpress.com/

Psalm Study: Day Five

Posted on 2015-11-10 by oliveahfriesen

Psalm 63:1, 63:8 – “O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you…my soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me”

You know that feeling of extreme thirst on the hottest day of summer? Or that uncontrollable desire to be hydrated after exercising? Moreover, that feeling where you know your body needs something, and you cannot and will not stop thinking about it and pursuing it until you have it? What if this was the type of longing we continually had for Christ? What if our souls literally ached and started to shut down if we didn’t get our daily dose of His word?

The problem that we face is that we can very easily recognize our thirst, but we often turn to the wrong source for satisfaction. Our souls do experience the dehydration of not enough Lord, but we never associate our pain with the lack of our own faith.

For a very long time, I was in a bad habit of getting way too comfortable with my own routine. I had all the things I thought I really wanted in life, with some goals to work towards. I was comfortable. And, as I have recently been learning, as soon as God knows that we are too comfortable, He often chooses to take away our nice, relaxing lounge chair, and instead puts us in the middle of a boxing ring with lots of punches to embrace, and lots of bruises to learn from. But why does a compassionate, loving, and kind God do this? Why does He allow us to experience discouraging battles and heartbreaking circumstances?

The answer is simple:

1. God pursues us
2. God longs for us
3. God desires our love
4. God wants what is best for us, and,
5. God loves us

We are purposefully and lovingly removed from our own comfort because God knows how it is only through those situations that we will truly be drawn back to Him. How overwhelmed, ashamed, and disappointed do I feel in myself that it took a series of major events for me to place my full dependency back on the Lord who saved me.

It’s times like these where I am reminded of how naturally human, sinful, and selfish we are. I know I’m not perfect, but the things that I have had to start working through have definitely opened my eyes. I’ve learned that no person on earth, no educational degree, no material item, no relationship, no friendship, nothing… nothing can be a stronger tower than the Lord our God.

“My soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you… my soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me”

I am slowly, but steadily, returning to my 16 year-old self. A young, maturing girl, who placed her entire life in the hands of her Lord and received many blessings for it. She found a best friend, who helped her learn more than she could imagine for two amazing years. She experienced yet blessing after blessing throughout these times, but now, at 18, she was called to refocus her faith and spirit on the one who created her life in the first place.

I don’t know what my future holds, and I am okay with that. Maybe some broken pieces will be mended back together, or maybe they won’t. But, as long as my soul constantly thirsts for the Lord, as long as my flesh faints every moment for Him, as long as my soul clings to Him, I will be content. For the right hand of the Lord upholds me, and for that, I will praise Him forevermore.

Guest Post:"Fishing For Answers" by Katie

Here's a wonderful blog post written by a WOLBI Canada Alumnus, and sweet sister in Christ.   

Praying the Scriptures, her thoughts, and Biblical perspective, encourage you in your own set of circumstances to wait on the Lord.  

If you'd like to check out Katie's own blog, here's the link;  https://girlforgodsite.wordpress.com/2015/11/07/fishing-for-answers/

  

FISHING FOR ANSWERS

November 7, 2015

As a kid, my dad was a huge fan of fishing. Therefore from a young age, I was taught how to bait a hook and cast the line out. I grew to love the relaxing activity and sitting watching the still water, feeling the sway of the boat with the current, while spending time with my father and soaking up the sun. But shortly after we got out on the water my heart grew impatient, I attempted to reel in my line many times without exercising patience and giving a chance to allow my bait to attract the fish I longed to catch.

As I got older and learned more, I finally started to realize that the type of bait I had been using was specifically designed to sit in the water and move along with the current, to catch the eye of the fish below the surface. When I was younger, I did not understand why my dad urged me to be patient and wait for that tug on the line. But looking back, I understand and I can see why it was wise for me to heed my Dad’s advice to wait and be patient. Although at the time it seemed foolish, as I grew older I learned  and grew, and a small thing like fishing taught me about patience and now I can say that I learned how to properly handle the specific bait that my Dad had given me.

Thinking about my fishing experiences I was reminded of my impatient heart in life. I so anxiously want to be in control of all facets of my life and receive the answers I am looking for now. I am constantly tempted to look at the things that are stirring in my heart and question God and have an attitude of discontentment and impatience, reflecting my heart lacking a trust in God and selfishness. Sometimes there are trials I face that I do not understand, and there are questions I have about where I should go and what I should do in life. My heart is constantly impatient and I want to have the answers, and be control of all the details and facets of my life.

But tied with my lack of understanding and answers, is the amazing truth that our heavenly father has the answers we are searching for. Like my dad constantly urging me and guiding me to be patient and trust his words. I can trust him knowing that he knows the reason and purpose for the long and mundane process of fishing. God knows the long and troublesome process of the trials of our life. God is constantly reminding me, that we are all called to trust in him and be patient. His word tells us in Psalms 37:7 “be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” (ESV) For he knows all the things that are going on in my heart and he also knows the purpose for it, and in the end, I will learn and grow more and God will shape me more into the image of Christ through it. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us “do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus.” (NIV). We can be encouraged that God says we do not need to be anxious about anything, and that we are able to turn to him with any and everything, but note we need to recognize and be thankful for all the Lord is doing and has done. And he promises peace, why? Not because of our circumstances changing because we are learning to trust what the Lord has said.