I Celebrate Life with the Words of God

Day three

I celebrate life with God’s words, those words that created life, that created the sky, that create light. Those words that give wisdom and correction, and give hope and comfort. The words of God, when I can hear them in my spirit, sustain me. They cause me to celebrate life, to celebrate truth, they give light in dark places and they open my eyes to the beauty around me. They are more precious to me than gold. 

Psalms 19 said this:

The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the LORD are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. 

Psalm 19:7-11

Along with the written words of God are the words of God whispered in my heart. That is where the name of my blog, “Chairs on the porch”, came to be. There on my porch he told me to come, there in my heart. “Come to me and I will get you rest.”  Along with that, a habit happened.  Every day since that day, I went on my porch to meet God. 

I have always been told how important it is to set aside some time for God. To do your devotions. And I always tried to do that, but it was hard for me to find time in my busy life for God. But now I have a quiet time every day with God. It is new for me. One of the benefits of having a stroke is that it has given me space in my life for God.

I didn’t choose it, it chose me. I feel sort of guilty about that. This discipline, that I should have done but didn’t, was just given to me. I can remember early on after my stroke sitting every morning on my porch. That was all I could do. At that time I couldn’t read, I couldn’t really talk, all I could do was sit, sitting there with my thoughts. And God showed up. And I started to sit there every morning. Not because I had to, it wasn’t something I was striving for, but it happened.  I can remember going to bed not in a state of depression, but in a state of anticipation. I was looking forward to a new morning and I was yearning to hear his words. Those written words, those words he whispered in my heart. That was three years ago. A lot has changed, now I can read, I can pray, and I have a routine of sorts,  but what happens every morning hasn’t changed. 

Every day, early in the morning I sit on my porch with my bible and my coffee and have a quiet time with God.  I read the bible, and I pray.  But mainly what I do is just sit there. Sit there in the presence of God.  It is a quiet time, and it is pretty profound for me.