Day 20: Kristina Campbell
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
At the beginning of 2024 the Lord put the word OBEDIENCE on my heart. I committed to spend the year in the Word truly seeking His face, and to step out in obedience when I felt the Spirit lead. No matter how difficult, no matter the sacrifice, no matter the cost. I committed to obey.
For some reason I believed it meant that although obedience may be hard in the moment, instantly the Lord would wave a wand and reward me for doing the hard things. The comical thing, and my closest friends could tell you, is the more I stepped out in obedience, the more things to my natural eyes appeared to be falling apart. And I mean in all areas of life!
My husband’s job situations suffered, my business took pretty big hits, our children were struggling, our finances were hurting, the IRS messed up at our expense, my knee surgery failed and I needed a replacement, and Keith’s other Achilles was causing him blinding pain. It began to feel like every time Keith and I stepped out in obedience, we would get sucker-punched with more bad news that set us back one way or the other. The Lord began to ask me, “Are you still going to praise me? Are you still going to give thanks?” I decided in my heart.. YES, Lord!! I will!!! So when we would step out in obedience and something would comically go wrong, I would say out loud “I AM STILL GOING TO PRAISE YOU!!!” And I would repeat songs of gratitude and thanksgiving.
You see, God is soooo good and His goodness is NOT only evident when He does something we think He should do. He is good when we lose the job. He is good when there’s death. He is good when there’s sickness. He is good when there’s loss. Because goodness is His character! He is worthy of our praise and Thanksgiving.
I will tell you this, 2024 on paper looked like a train wreck for Keith and I. Oh but what the Lord did in my heart! I know He is moving. I know He is faithful. I’m excited for what is to come. I don’t speak the way I did in 2023. I don’t think the way I did. I trust Him more than ever, and the joy and peace that surrounds me, I want for everyone!
So my encouragement is this; when times feel overwhelming and you feel like you can’t get a breath or a break, PRAISE HIM!! GIVE THANKS TO HIM! REJOICE IN HIM! NEVER stop praying to the One who goes before you and makes a way. I am praising Him for what He is doing that I have not seen yet. Because God NEVER asks us to do something to harm us. It is for our good and HIS glory. That’s a promise I’m taking to the bank!
Prayer
Lord, may we never lose sight of how worthy You are of our praise. May we continue to boast in You, praising You till our situations change or You change us! Then may we praise You more for what You have done. You are always good and worthy of it all. In Jesus precious name, Amen.
At the beginning of 2024 the Lord put the word OBEDIENCE on my heart. I committed to spend the year in the Word truly seeking His face, and to step out in obedience when I felt the Spirit lead. No matter how difficult, no matter the sacrifice, no matter the cost. I committed to obey.
For some reason I believed it meant that although obedience may be hard in the moment, instantly the Lord would wave a wand and reward me for doing the hard things. The comical thing, and my closest friends could tell you, is the more I stepped out in obedience, the more things to my natural eyes appeared to be falling apart. And I mean in all areas of life!
My husband’s job situations suffered, my business took pretty big hits, our children were struggling, our finances were hurting, the IRS messed up at our expense, my knee surgery failed and I needed a replacement, and Keith’s other Achilles was causing him blinding pain. It began to feel like every time Keith and I stepped out in obedience, we would get sucker-punched with more bad news that set us back one way or the other. The Lord began to ask me, “Are you still going to praise me? Are you still going to give thanks?” I decided in my heart.. YES, Lord!! I will!!! So when we would step out in obedience and something would comically go wrong, I would say out loud “I AM STILL GOING TO PRAISE YOU!!!” And I would repeat songs of gratitude and thanksgiving.
You see, God is soooo good and His goodness is NOT only evident when He does something we think He should do. He is good when we lose the job. He is good when there’s death. He is good when there’s sickness. He is good when there’s loss. Because goodness is His character! He is worthy of our praise and Thanksgiving.
I will tell you this, 2024 on paper looked like a train wreck for Keith and I. Oh but what the Lord did in my heart! I know He is moving. I know He is faithful. I’m excited for what is to come. I don’t speak the way I did in 2023. I don’t think the way I did. I trust Him more than ever, and the joy and peace that surrounds me, I want for everyone!
So my encouragement is this; when times feel overwhelming and you feel like you can’t get a breath or a break, PRAISE HIM!! GIVE THANKS TO HIM! REJOICE IN HIM! NEVER stop praying to the One who goes before you and makes a way. I am praising Him for what He is doing that I have not seen yet. Because God NEVER asks us to do something to harm us. It is for our good and HIS glory. That’s a promise I’m taking to the bank!
Prayer
Lord, may we never lose sight of how worthy You are of our praise. May we continue to boast in You, praising You till our situations change or You change us! Then may we praise You more for what You have done. You are always good and worthy of it all. In Jesus precious name, Amen.
Posted in Boast in the Lord \\\'25
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