Take Heart

"But the Lord is righteous." Psalm 129:4

The word righteous means: Perfectly Wonderful.

Perfectly wonderful. Full of great wonder, perfect wonder. Too great to even imagine. So often we forget this simple phrase. "But the Lord is righteous." Before summer of last year began, this verse really hit home for me. In every situation He is righteous. In the good, the bad, the ugly, the pretty, He is righteous.

I had almost forgotten, when tonight as I was looking around my room, my eyes fell on this lovely painting. Mallory Bascom painted this for me to give to me when I got back from Africa. As I continue to lay my eyes on it periodically, I am reminded of just how righteous He is.

Situations arise, whether it be about Maria, or a friend conflict, or a family dispute, or a work problem, or a tragedy, and I see God there, even through the midst of that 'storm.'

Repeating this simple phrase to myself has brought me closer to Him. It has been the one thing that I can hold on to when all hope seems to be lost. Saying it to myself over and over again--reminding myself of the greatness of MY God. He is righteous. But at the same time, I adore Him. I am uttering simple "breath-prayers" to the Almighty. Acknowledging His goodness, and wonder, and Sovereignty; and I  C L I N G  to that. I hold so tightly to that because, believe it or not, people fail us. "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

What comfort. It is already done, finished, completed. He already has overcome it! All the "problems" you and I face everyday that threaten to tear us down and trample us beneath their feet have no power. Because the very same power that placed Jesus on the cross and rose Him from the dead just 3 meager days later lives-has a HOME-inside my/hopefully your heart. What more could we ask for? If our ultimate goal has already been achieved, then why stress and worry when we already know that HE is righteous, and that He has overcome, and that HE sits enthroned in HIS majesty and HIS glory?

This is my challenge: I hate to say it, but you're going to have a problem tomorrow. I don't know how big, or how small, but there will be one. However, you can let that problem trample you down until you are nothing, OR you can remember that "He is righteous" and in every situation--yes even the one you're in--He has ultimate control. Repeat that truth to yourself. Dwell on it, let it take over your thoughts.

And, take heart. For He has already overcome this world.

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