lent lately

"so, how's lent going?" you ask.

it's going okay. i have done better than i truly thought i would. i am really focusing on not freaking out and blowing things up. that's when i stir the pot, and get angry, which leads to bitterness because i don't enjoy confrontation but can't rest until things are solved.

a situation happened the other day, and i was really proud of how i handled it. i didn't freak out, i just kept on doing what i was doing. i knew i would have to handle it later, but there were more important things at hand. last year, heck, a month ago, i would not have been able to do that! i have changed for the better and it's because of my relationship with the Lord. he has taught me to trust him and rely on the fact that he is my protector and will take care of me as long as i am following after him.

which leads me to my next point.

Psalm 118 comes into my mind a lot. it's funny how this happened because i hadn't read this chapter of Psalms in a long time. i was really looking for a verse to calm me down last weekend when i was feeling stressed and this popped into my head!

it's a long one, so i won't post it all. but here are the parts that are speaking to my heart at the moment:

1 [1]Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

5 [5]When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
    he brought me into a spacious place.
6 [6]The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?
7 [7]The Lord is with me; he is my helper.

i look in trump on my enemies.

[8]It is better to take refuge in the Lord

    than to trust in humans.

[10]All the nations surrounded me,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
11 [11]They surrounded me on every side,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
12 [12]They swarmed around me like bees,
    but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
13 [13]I was pushed back and about to fall,
    but the Lord helped me.

[17]I will not die but live, 

   and will proclaim what the Lord has done.

[18]The Lord has chastened me severely,

   but he has not given me over to death

[26]Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

    From the house of the Lord we bless you. 

[27]The Lord is God,

    and he has made his light shine on us.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession

    up to the horns of the altar.

[28]You are my God, and I will praise you

    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

[29]Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

    his love endures forever.

when i get upset/stressed/start to freak out, this is what i think of- especially verses 6-7, 13, & 27-29. 

so, lent is going so far so good. not without struggles and temptations. i have only met success because i am now relying on God when those tough moments come.

when i was talking to my friends ay bible study tuesday night, i was telling them to pray for God's perspective on all this. that's the best thing i can do. focus on Him and His will. 

"my heart remains sure in the wind, sure in the rain."
-michael w smith, you won't let go