WITH

There are many four letters words that can change the meaning or things. Like when you've watched a wonderful movie and then...suddenly, there it is...that four letter word that just messed it all up! And you think, "Now why did they do that?! It was a GREAT movie and they had to go and put that in there! That word didn't make the movie better! It made it bad! What a way to ruin a good movie!"

I hate when that happens. And to think, it was over a very small four letter word.

We often seem to look over the little things like that in our lives, don't we? I know I do! I'm always waiting for and looking for God to "give me a sign". I'm always looking for the parting of the Red Sea in a difficult situation or the pillar of cloud by day to follow and a pillar of fire by night to comfort and protect me in my fears.

"And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Him they asked Him to show them a sign from Heaven. He answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. And evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah."
~ Matthew 16:1-4

In this passage, the Pharisees and Sadducees were testing Jesus and wanting Him to prove that He truly is the Messiah and they can trust everything He says. Jesus' response to them was that they were evil and adulterous to even ask Him such a thing. And here, dear sisters is where I found myself this morning. Evil and adulterous. Evil by asking God to do something that would only make me feel better, but would not necessarily be beneficial to anyone in the situation nor with the focus of pleasing Him or bringing Him glory. And adulterous because I choose to worship what my eyes can see over believing and trusting in all that He has said and I know to be true.

Jesus knows when we're most tempted to sin...it's often when we can't "see" the outcome. It's the "not knowing" that causes us to fear instead of trusting God and standing firm upon His truth - His spoken Word. And sometimes, it's just that we're just skimming through His Word, and not really meditating on it...so we miss this simple, teeny, tiny, four letter word that changes EVERYTHING! And what is this word? It's WITH.

"Then He said to them, 'My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with Me."....And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And He said to Peter, 'So, could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
~ Matthew 26:38 & 40-41

Can you imagine? The King of kings, the LORD of lords, the Alpha and Omega invites us to watch WITH Him, to pray WITH Him. And why does He give us such an incredible honor? So that we do not fall into temptation. Jesus didn't command His disciples to pray for Him, He said, "pray for yourselves". I often forget this simple truth: God does not need me or anything from me. He is God, I am not. But He's given us a powerful gift -- prayer -- the ability to be WITH Him, abide IN Him and live THROUGH Him.

So today, I'm committed to be abundantly satisfied to be WITH my Savior, without requiring any signs or miracles to prove that He is worthy of my trust, devotion and love. After all, He IS, the Great I AM. Besides, is there truly any better place in all creation to be, than WITH JESUS? I know for certain there is not.

Will you join me dear sweet sisters and be WITH Jesus today? Just be, nothing more. For God calls us human-beings, not human-doings.



in awe to be WITH Jesus,

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