Beauty for Ashes

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High.  -Psalm 92:1 There are so many things I want to thank you for today, but what is on my heart this morning is VICTORY.  Victory over our hurts, over our addictions, victory over those wounds that have us chained to our past.  Victory over those mountains that are standing in front of us; leaving us overwhelmed and uncertain of what to do or where to go from here.  Lord, you are bigger than our hurts and addictions.  You are bigger than those old wounds that have left us chained to our past-you are bigger than these mountains standing in front of us today.  Lord, I thank you for moving these mountains and binding up old wounds; I thank you for the Victory in our lives that come from you.  

In the midst of this heartache, I praise you, Lord.  I thank you for the gentle reminder through disappointment that it is in your timing, not mine.  That through pain and discouragement and even longing for something to come to pass, you are always faithful to your word.  You are always right on time.   With these storms that are swirling around my family, I keep my eyes focused on you and you alone.  If I allow my eyes to focus on the storms, I’ll drown because I walk by faith, not by sight.  So today, and every day, I celebrate each and every one of these storms.  I celebrate because you can see the entire picture.  I celebrate because what is meant to harm me, you use for good.  I celebrate because you have walked with me before and you will continue to do so until this storm has passed.  I celebrate because I know that these storms are not what they appear to be.  So thank you, Lord, for all that you do.  I stand here with arms held high, ready to receive your rain.