I spent this past weekend at a women's retreat. These events are not really my thing. Huge groups of women. A Western Hoedown. Do-see-doeing. Cowboy hats?! Needless to say I was a bit skeptical. But I thought of the good things.... I would be near the beach, at a resort hotel, learning more about Jesus.
The three sessions topic consisted of transforming loneliness, rejection, and fear to fulfill God's purpose. Ummm yea... haven't experienced any of those lately have I??
We all have weak moments. David was the one to defeat Goliath. Yet he also was found himself trembling with fear and crying out to God in many of the Psalms.
In Psalm 55, David appeals to God: "Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me...". He is crying out for God to listen. The speaker at the retreat caught my attention when she said that many times people just tell us to count our blessings when we are having a hard time. Many times, however, that is the last thing we want to hear. Like David, we need some time to mourn. To cry out. To feel bad. The speaker went on to say, "sometimes you just need someone to validate your pain". It is okay to say, "I just need you to hear the hurt in my heart." That is what David was doing in this Psalm. And that is what I was dealing with last week.
The topic of rejection spoke right to my heart as I am dealing with that friend who is no longer talking to me now that she is part of the "mommy club". In the talk, the speaker said that no one can reject you when you're in God's plan". WOW. So true.
Another key point revolved around Psalm 55:16-17: "But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice."
When the enemy or troubles come at you evening, morning and noon, you have to seek God evening, morning and noon. A few minutes in the morning and evening is not going to cut it. I have been proud of myself for still reading the Word each morning but it has not been sinking in. While it is good that I have not given up, I need to be fervent in my time to battle all that comes at me. Important to remember is that the enemy is for a season, but God is forever.
Another important reminder: I am the royal daughter of a king. THE KING. This should be determining how I live my life.
One of the key verses of the weekend was found in Psalm 16:8: "I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."
What a wonderful and powerful comfort.
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