4 WriteStuff

Contemplating prayer, as I process all that is on my heart. The problem is that often words get in the way. There are times when the most poignant prayer is a sigh, a silence, a groan…

In the silence, in the sigh, in the groans, God answers… sometimes in words, sometimes in pictures, but usually through the presence of the Holy Spirit pouring out peace and healing on our hearts.

My visual today is here, in this place where I often go to spend time in His presence. His presence washes across my spirit like the wind rippling the flowers… when I reach out for God, He reaches down and fills the gap between where I am and where He is….

I know this place, this place of trials, of testing, of refining… it is difficult to keep firm footing in these stormy places. But, I know this place… Because God is present in the storm, even when I cannot see Him, He is there reaching out and patiently waiting for me to take His hand.

Groans become sighs, sighs become silence, silence become filled with breathing in the fragrance and presence of God’s majesty, HIs healing. God’s got this… He’s got the answers… He’s got me… He’s got my hand and is holding me tight through the journey.

When I stumble, He steadies me; when I fall, He washes my wounds and sets me back on the path; when I am in the pit, He lifts me out; when I am walking along the precipice, He walks me back to safety.

I do not fear the storms, I do not fear becoming lost in the storms, I know what the backside of the storm feels like. My spirit embraces, experiences the storm, and the cleansings brought by storms. My spirit rises from rest from breathing in His presence, to singing His praises again. The fresh smell of the earth after the storm, is the fragrance I inhale now… washed, renewed, refreshed by the storm. New growth, new life springs up after storms.

Deeper Still
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8

Therefore the strong people will glorify You;
The city of the terrible nations will fear You.
4 For You have been a strength to the poor,
A strength to the needy in his distress,
A refuge from the storm,
A shade from the heat;
For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Isaiah 25

28 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He brings them out of their distresses.
29 He calms the storm,
So that its waves are still.
30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;
So He guides them to their desired haven.
31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people,
And praise Him in the company of the elders. Psalm 107

26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. Matthew 8

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord,
Than great treasure with trouble. Proverbs 15:16
22 Without counsel, plans go awry,
But in the multitude of counselors they are established.
23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,
And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
24 The way of life winds upward for the wise,
That he may turn away from hell below. Proverbs 15

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8 NKJV