Stick With It

Here we are!  It's already week five of OBS!  I have to be honest...this week I have not been very good at "sticking with it"...the Bible Study that is.  Yes, I finished my chapters which is fantastic, but the week was not as inspirational and encouraging as I wanted it to be for one reason and one reason only...me!  I was not opening myself up to be inspired and encouraged by the wonderful messages we receive daily from our leaders and from God.  
My life has had a bit of change over the last couple of months.  My husband and I found out that we will be blessed with another baby, which we are totally thankful for.  But let me tell you...this precious unborn angel has left me zapped.  We also have a three and a half year old who has been zapping my energy as well, God love her.  Both of these angels are nothing but blessings, but I've been allowing myself to get beat down by all the negative stuff...nausea, exhaustion, hormones, exhaustion, insane-frequently changing cravings...and of course, there's exhaustion.  But I have been allowing myself to be so consumed with all the negative that I completely closed my fist to the positive...and that includes getting all I can get out of this awesome online Bible Study!
Today, as I was catching up on my Bible Study questions and sitting down to finally do my blog hop, I was reviewing the previous few posts on the OBS website, and of course, wouldn't you know it...God spoke right to me.  I opened the page to yesterday's post and right there, big, bold, and beautiful declared this awesome verse out of 1 Chronicles 28:20:

"Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Don't be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you."

I mean could God have said it any clearer to me?  He is saying, "Be strong, Jenny!  Don't get scared and discouraged!  Stick with it!  I'm right here!"  
How awesome is that?  Then, it got me thinking about good old Joshua when God expected him to carry on in Moses' place in leading the people into the Promised Land.  Talk about scared and discouraged!  I love this story, it is the place where God always leads my heart and my mind when I start to get just the way Joshua did at first.  Just like all the other fearful times in my life, God leads me to this verse:

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

Once again, could he be anymore clear to me...to us?  Did He say "well, I'll be with you when it starts getting really tough."  Nope.  Did He say "well, ok. You're scared, so I'll hold your hand this time, but next time you're on your own."  Not even close.  God says that He will be with us wherever we go.  Good times...bad times...sad times...and silly times.  He's there for everything.  He's here to help me not just get through this pregnancy, but to get through it with joy in my heart so that there is not doubt of the blessing He has given to us again!  It's the same with this study.  These studies have been such an inspiration to me since I started them about a year ago.  They have changed my life and made me so much closer with God!  My love for Him is so much deeper and my concept of Him is so crystal clear.  He brought me here.  He opened the door to this awesome study and these awesome leaders and Bible study members!  And He didn't get me this far to drop the ball.  He's going to continue leading me in the right direction...His direction.  I just have to wake up and STICK WITH IT!!!  Which means I need to get with it.  Head up, eyes up, palms open.  This week is going to be an awesome week.  I am once again, prioritizing my relationship with God over sleeping in late, household chores, favorite tv shows, and anything else that tries to get in my way.  First thing in the morning is generally when I get my great big cup of God.  Coffee used to be in there too, but nausea has replaced that with gingerale.  But if I don't have that time with God first thing in the morning, I'm lost for the rest of the day.  I'm like a dog chasing my tail, going round and round in circles getting absolutely nowhere fast.  Of course, in order to get that much needed time with God, I have to get myself up before the rest of the house.  I don't know about you, but I can't really spend my much needed quiet, concentrating time with God when my loved ones are awake and moving around. So with God's help, I will start this week right and keep it that way!
Gracious and Heavenly Father, 
Thank you so much for the blessings You continue to give me.  I know I have been lacking and tired this week.  Please, Lord, help me to rise above the fear, discouragement, and exhaustion, and help me to open my heart, my mind, and my palms completely to Your Word and Your guidance.  I don't want to miss any of the blessings you have for me.  Thank you, Father, for being with me wherever I go.