What is that in your hand?

God gave Moses a mission and Moses worried that people would not believe that the LORD had spoken to him.  God asks Moses “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2) That is God’s way of showing that when He gives us an assignment, He’ll give us all that is needed to fulfill it.

Do you ever wonder if who you’re hearing is really the LORD?  Or a time of thinking you should be hearing from Him and He is seemingly silent?

I think of the question, “What is that in your hand?”, and I look at mine and see empty.  At first glance I found that discouraging, disappointing but as I stopped and answered the question with an honest, “Nothing”, some thoughts quickly occurred to me.

First off with Jesus our hands are never empty.  There’s work to be done and sometimes it is only the life stuff, the day to day.  Second, the quietness of God is not a bad thing, He may seem quiet but rest assured He’s working on something for you.  Third, a shorter "to do" list is a blessing, a time of rest, a time to immerse in and into the peace of the Holy One.

“Wait patiently for the LORD.  Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)

“Be still and know that I am God!  I will be honored by every nation; I will be honored throughout the world.” (Psalm 46:10)

“How can a young person stay pure?  By obeying your word.  I have tried hard to find You— don’t let me wander from Your commands.  I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. I praise You, O Lord; teach me Your decrees.” (Psalm 119:9-12)

And it began to make sense, I inhale one of those breaths that seemingly fill every cell of my body and I see myself at an airport gate, waiting for the call of my flight, sitting there doing what I do while waiting, read.  Seemingly empty hands are the perfect setting and I pick up the Bible and wait, patiently, still and knowing, hiding His word in my heart and praising Him for what is in my hand.

What is that in your hand?
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(Bible verses from the New Living Translation)

Transparency

It may sound crazy to say one should be transparent with God when God knows us better than we know ourselves.

Yet as I sat with Him this morning, ending (or so I thought) our time (before the day took off running) at Psalm 38.  I found myself voicing things I’ve kept placing under the umbrella of “You know…” , things that for a while I’ve wondered why I didn’t really feel He knew...

Things poured out of me like a much needed rain on a dry land, no umbrella to cover my words, no “You know”, just an opening up of things that I know He knows but that He needed me to say. 

The transparency needed was me to Him and to me, a very needed and transparent conversation with my Father.

As David said in Psalm 38:9

All my longings lie open before you LORD;

my sighing is not hidden from you.  

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FORWARD....

Psalm 143:10 (NLT)

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.

May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

First read His Words, then
Offer Him praise and pray,
Rest in His promises
Wait expectantly
Always trusting Him and being
Revived by His constant presence.
Daily, forward.

First, read His Words, then....forward, it won't be easy, but it is my word for the year.