Part Three to my last blogs: Father of Lights and Giver of Good Gifts
“Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights who does not change like shifting shadows.” – James 1:17
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” – Psalm 23:4
Shifting shadows represent death, constant change, restlessness, fear, lack of substance, and lack of peace.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” – Psalm 23:1-3
Still waters, steady streams, or water springs represent life, stillness, rest, abundance, and peace.
Anxious shifting shadows versus peaceful steady streams…
If both are present, which would you rather focus on?
The enemy is constantly trying to get us in a place of restlessness by looking at all of the shifting shadows around us like God is ignoring or not doing anything about them. He knows our inheritance from Jesus is a steady stream of JOY, PEACE, and HOPE throughout all circumstances so the enemy does everything he can to try and get us to accuse God of wrongdoing and forfeit ourselves of what Jesus died on the cross to give us…
R E S T .
But why let the enemy of your soul or your circumstances steal that from you?
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” – Psalm 42:11
God wants us to know that He is the God of HOPE, so we therefore can be HOPE-FULL. Full of hope.
But if you’ve heard that before, and don’t feel hopeful, take heart that in the midst of shifting shadows, you are not solely responsible for your hope.
“Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.” – Zechariah 4:6
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” – Romans 15:13
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” – Psalm 23:1-3
The God of hope fills you with joy and peace when you trust Him.
He causes you to overflow with hope by the power of His Holy Spirit, not your own power.
He MAKES you lie down in abundance of hope, peace, and righteousness FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE.
So in the midst of this season, this trial, or whatever you’re going through, instead of listening to the lies of the enemy, the father of lies, who’s trying to convince you that God, the Father of lights, has forgotten you or isn’t for you, why not set the case straight and declare the truth out loud:
God, You have never, ever done a single thing wrong towards me in my entire life.
Put yourself in the position of thanking God for His goodness and grace, and you will be able to take your eyes off of the shifting shadows and enjoy Him, as well as the joy, hope, and peace He gives you.
No more focusing on the shadows.
No more restlessness or succumbing to the valley of the shadow of death.
That spirit is not of God, so as a child of God, it doesn’t have to be a part of you.
God wants you to focus on His goodness, so you can thrive in it as a steady stream.
You might as well praise Him for it now. 🙂
“The LORD will always guide you; He will satisfy you in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” – Isaiah 58:11
“But when I considered how to understand this (my situation), it was too great an effort for me and too painful until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I understood…for my heart was grieved, embittered, and in a state of ferment, and I was pricked in my heart [as with the sharp fang of an adder]. So foolish, stupid, and brutish was I, and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless, I am continually with You; You do hold my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to honor and glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever…it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God and made Him my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works.” – Psalm 73:16-28
“Deep calls to deep at the roar of Your waterfalls.” – Psalm 42:7
“Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, Who turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of waters.” – Psalm 114:8
“The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the rose and the autumn crocus. It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice even with joy and singing…for waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. And the burning sand and the mirage shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water…and the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” – Isaiah 35:1-10
“He turns a wilderness into a pool of water and a dry ground into water springs.” – Psalm 107:35
Amanda Rassamni 