It’s a battle down here, Father.

I’m feeling anxious. I feel like I’m always battling. Things seen, things unseen, it feels like a constant struggle just to exist.

You say rest and trust. Why is it so hard sometimes?

When I focus on Truth I see clearly that

I can rest and stop striving when I strive to seek Your face.

{STRIVE: to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something. To do one’s best, to do all one can. Aim, struggle, fight.}

It’s when I aim and struggle to seek Your face that all other struggling ceases.

Deep breaths, soul…

I can breathe You in and breathe anxiety out.

You are the compassionate and merciful Peace-Giver...when You see me struggle You invite me to REST in You.

When You watch anxious thoughts plague my mind You whisper “come, let go of it & cling to Me. Stop clinging so hard to the struggle.”

“Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

You invite me to the holy space where we meet. The place that I love more than any other. A place of soul-quiet. Where pen meets paper, heart meets heaven. Worn pages of Truth crinkle and Your Truth refocuses & reorganizes and reprioritizes ALL of me.

You take my puzzled mess and my puzzledness & begin to piece me back together. Making me whole. You see the WHOLE picture and only in submitting to Your hand does it begin to come back together.

You remind me of things eternal & lovely & I wonder how {once again} the things that are fleeting & decaying have battled to steal, kill, and destroy me.

And they do quick work of destruction.

I have let them run me down because I’ve focused on them, not on the One who is willing to fight for me. I’ve been battling these decaying things instead of battling to seek Your face.

Proverbs 12:25 says that “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.”

Yes, anxiety is heavy.

But.

Your Word IS the “Good Word”…it makes me glad. Your Word is life-giving…sweeter than honey…it is VAST TREASURE and gives ABUNDANT PEACE to those who love it. Yes, Lord, Your Word is sweet and good.

Today, one moment at a time, I will battle. But my battle today will be to seek You. I will struggle against the darkness to find You in each moment. I will charge the destructive powers of hell with praise to You on my lips.

“Because of Your adversaries, You have established praise from the mouths of children and nursing infants to silence the enemy and the avenger.” Psalm 8:2

I praise You Lord! I know that You alone can silence the enemy and the avenger.

“You are my hiding place; You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance.” Psalm 32:7

“You, Lord, bless the righteous one; You surround him (her) with favor like a shield.” Psalm 5:12

Your favor will be my shield today, as I charge forward with praise.

Today, I will choose the better struggle…I will struggle and fight to find You.

Father,

You are the rest giver. You are faithful & trustworthy. I’m so thankful that Your peace surpasses my thoughts. I’m so thankful that Your peace guards my heart and mind, and that You surround me with favor like a shield. I need Your help to stay focused on You and not on fleeting, decaying things. I need You to silence the enemy. I just need You. Thank You for refocusing, reorganizing and reprioritizing me with Your Truth.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Blessings,

Nicole

“Search for the LORD and for His strength; seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4