joy in not being "moved"

I wrote this post last night for www.whateverhesays.blogspot.com. It came out in a dry way, I felt, and I was unsatisfied with it, but had to put it on because Saturday is usually a day on which I am committed to write. I even wrote to that blog's administrator to say that she could put something else up if she liked. But as I read it this morning, and the comment from an encouraged early morning reader, I realize it was probably a good thing that it was dry for me, because it is about having a rock based faith that is immovable, that dwells below our circumstances and emotions. So I am encouraged today by my own post, by my own words. And I remember a prophetic word spoken over me, unsought, a week ago last night. Part of it was about God developing a strength in me that would enable me to survive all the storms coming my way. I feel as if I have been in some more emotional storms this week, and my response to them has been to quiet down, batten down my inner hatches, and weather the storm, kind of grimly at first, but now with more of that deep joy of knowing that God is in charge, will bring me through, and is using the storm to develop my strength and resilience.

Here's the post:

Let Nothing Move You

This week I have been pondering these words from 1 Corinthians 15:58. They jumped off the page for me a few days ago and have been dwelling in the back of my mind and heart ever since. I assume God is trying to say something to me personally, give me a rhema word, a special message for me. And of course He's right on, when I give myself time to be still and let Him be God.

I go through my days, trying to sit back from myself and ask if I am being "moved". Now of course I believe that He wants us to be moved, to care deeply, about many people and situations, to weep with those who weep, to rejoice with those who are rejoicing. So I don't think He's talking about that.

I believe He's talking about developing that quality of inner stillness that is not dismayed, that deep trust in God's faithfulness that holds on no matter what, that capacity of knowing and dwelling in the depths of His spirit, far beneath the ever changing forces moving all around us.

I have to say that is the only way for me. That deep place of quietness is the only place to be, the only way to be truly at home in God and in myself. Otherwise I will always be pulled out of myself, tossed here and there, reacting to each stimulus,and often over-reacting.

That deep balance comes only from His presence deep within my being. As I look back on my life, as I look within myself from the vantage point of many years of walking with God, I understand more fully why He gave me that life verse when I was only 11 years old, from my dear grandmother: "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." (Isaiah 30:15)