What is this? This weird need to put words somewhere.

This is what took up space in my journal a few days ago:

“This longing to have more of you – I’m suddenly envious of other people’s connections to you… But am I truly seeking after your word in my life? I’m comfortable – not needing to be pushed further or even backwards. I don’t feel 100% open, broken at your feet. I’m allowing my sacred time with you to be focused on what you’re saying for others.

What are you saying to me?

“But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of your sin, yet your Spirit is alive because of righteousness, and if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies – through His spirit, who lives in you.” Romans 8:9-11

“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:24

I believe you are challenging me as a wife, a mother, as a leader. For love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Let my heart’s posture be always toward you.”

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I’ve had this link up for 3 days. Feeling the need to put the words somewhere, and unsure of the purpose. I can write fairly well. I can make my sentences pretty. But this one isn’t supposed to be pretty. It’s supposed to be raw.

And this is where you’ve led me –

“Be strong and courageous, for  you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then  you will be successful in everything that you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9

I read this verse all week. Over and over. Because on the cover of my journal, it says “Be strong and courageous.” But this passage says it THREE times. Woven in and out of the promises and commands, it tells me to be strong and very courageous three times. And even more times in surrounding chapters and books. Why do we focus on the snippets and catchphrases that look pretty on a picture on Pintrest? There is so much more.

Obey, meditate, be strong. Be strong. That’s the order.

You can’t be strong and courageous without the other two steps.

For He is with you.

Obey first.

Then meditate.

THEN. Be strong and courageous

For He is with you.

He’s with me.