Dear all, 

Me (Marion) again, I think that the Lord has given me a Word which follows on from abiding under the shadow of His wing, and I would like to share it with you as I believe it to be relevant for the church.

Part of Isaiah 30 V 15

The Lord said to Israel 

In returning and rest shall ye be saved; In quietness and confidence shall be your strength: and you would not.

Is there a significant connection with the scripture in Mathew 23 v 37 where the Lord said that often He would have gathered them as a hen gathered her chickens under her wing, yet they would not. I think there is.

Both times the Lord said they would not, much as His desire was for them to be close and confident in Him, they would not. Was this a deliberate action on their part, or did they get caught up in things that were happening around them?

The Lord wants us to be quiet and confident in Him and to draw near under His wing.

Bobby spoke last Sunday on the importance of us waiting on the Lord, spending time in His presence, to hear His voice.

The Lord spoke to me in a similar way recently in my time with Him, that I was unlikely to hear His voice if there are things raging inside, worries and fears and that I needed to cut out all the noises around me to hear His voice (it can rage outside but not within). I needed to quieten my soul in the secret place, my closet or where I am alone with Him which can be in different places.

1Kings 19 v 11-12
In the account with Elijah, the Lord showed Elijah that He was not in the strong wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire. He was in the still small voice.

Whilst thinking on these things another scripture came to me in order to deal with fears and worries, we need to apply the Word of God, the armour He has given us, to stop the storm on our minds. Once we have cast all our cares upon Him (so often I take them up again!) in order to be able to leave them there we need to apply the Word of God.

2 Corinthians 10 v 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

He loves us and hears our cries, yet often after casting my cares upon Him I find myself going around them again, I have to break this circle to quieten my mind, so what next?

That lovely psalm again 91 v 4 He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings thou shalt trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (A buckler is a shield that surrounds)
We watched a video at church recently where Louie Giglio, a pastor spoke of not letting the enemy have a seat at our table. Basically letting negative thoughts run around our minds contrary to God's Word and His love for us.
Some scriptures I use to stop the storm on my mind:

Phil 4 v 19 But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (All - body, soul and Spirit.) - 1 John 5 v 14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. - And, probably my favourite, Romans 8 v 32 He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him freely give us all things? This scrioture seems to say it all to me. Surely all our needs, body, soul and spirit. Our God, more than us, also delights to give His children presents, not just our needs, but the desires of our hearts. Bless His lovely, lovely name.

We need to encourage ourselves in His love, if His love is not perfect then we are all in trouble, but His love is perfect. He is developing His body which will be strong in Him, this means that sometimes we have to go through hard things to mature and grow in Him. I wonder what circumstances Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego went through before they faced the fiery furnace? God, our Father is in the business of raising sons, He will not permit anything to injure us, how could He be less than a good earthly father? Part of Isaiah 54 v 17 no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper;

We need to stand in the knowledge and truth of the Word and bring our thoughts into line with that.

We all know the incredible unconditional love that the Lord has for us, yet we (I should speak for myself) I have trouble sometimes believing for the smallest things.

The key to spiritual success.
Isaiah 40 v 31
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew (their) strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary; (and) they shall walk and not be faint.

Ps 27 v 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

We know that to get to know Him we have to spend time with Him, but sometimes it's just easier to get caught up with this life. We have the opportunity to draw close, under His wing and know the confidence of His protection, instruction and love.

I hope that the above is a blessing.

Love in Jesus
Marion