In the valley there is a 'SHADOW'

I was reading some key points about this scripture during my devotion...

And I just had to share! It was so inspiring and uplifting to me.  =) 

SHADOW:  a dark figure or image cast by an object or part of an object upon a surface that would otherwise be illuminated by a light source. A shadow forms when something is standing between the source of light and the object the shadow rest upon.

"Even though I walk through... the valley of the shadow... of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

Psalm 23:4 (NASB)

What kind of shadows keep us from Christ beautiful light? What kind of trials, fear, doubt, anxiety or maybe an attack from the enemy himself keeping out the light? What is it that creeps into our thoughts or into our lives to question God's Word, feeling as though we are in the valley of death. Is it your finances, family issues, losing a job [which happened to my husband this last year], the list can go on and on creating shadows blocking out the light. Smothering your faith with worry and anxiety, growling and snapping at your every step. Anxiety can sometimes make you feel as though you cannot breath or at any moments time it will send you over the edge because you feel you've lost your mind. You are in the valley of the shadow, so big and consuming... blocking out His beautiful light... making you lose your faith and giving you a horrible feeling of confusion or a sense of being lost.

It's dark; ominous, bleak, foreboding, sinister, somber, joyless... a very uncomfortable place to be.

"I understand this place."

But we need to remember we have and know an awesome God who has not left us in the dark shadow alone... His light is still there, it has never left. Something has just come between us and the light, giving us a shadow. God has not left but is still there reassuring us that everything will be alright.

The darkness [shadow] is not because there is NO LIGHT, but a result of an object or the enemy of our soul standing between us and the light. It/he is attempting to block out the light that gives us such reassuring comfort. If we allow him to we can feel fearful, alone and abandoned.

the rod and the staff are tools for the trade not only to guide but to PROTECT from danger. Our valley can look very scary, but with eyes of faith we can see that we are in the place of His safety. Do not focus on the shadow but walk with Christ, in His marvelous light!

"No matter how dark it may seem to you His light is still there BEYOND the shadow!!"

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?"

Psalm 27:1 NKJV

Do not fear evil, it is only a shadow. Hold to the Lords hand through your valley experience. Trust Him through it all, it is but a shadow blocked by an object that you will begin to move from, it will not be there forever. Once you begin to walk UP hill you will begin to leave the valley with another victorious testimony of rejoicing! Proclaiming God's goodness and faithfulness...

"...just keep your eyes fixed on Him!!"

God in all His mercy will see you through your darkest times. He has done that on so many occasions in my life, I know He can do the same for you!

Don't give up, fall down and stay in the cold, dark shadow, but put ALL your trust in Jesus, continue to walk through and beyond the shadow with Him...

where there will be refreshing, peace, joy and righteousness!!

"The Lord is MY shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;

He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul:

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake"

Psalm 23:2-3 NKJV

*BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD*

I now can say I'm thankful for His marvelous light that is just beyond the shadow... I will not be afraid of the shadow of the valley of death. For I know my God will comfort me, BECAUSE he has never left me... His light is just beyond the shadow... My eyes are fixed on HIM!!

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;

For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life;

And I will dwell[a] in the house of the LORD Forever.

Psalm 23 NKJV

God's L♥ve Letter to you...

Dear Child,

I am the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands.

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. I demonstrated My own love for you in this: While you were still sinners, I died for you.

For great is My love, reaching to the heavens; My faithfulness reaches to the skies! I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I am faithful to all My promises and loving toward all I have made. I uphold all those who fall and lift up all who are bowed down....I am near to all who call on Me, to all who call on Me in truth. I fulfill the desires of those who fear Me; I hear their cry and save them. I AM LOVE.

Delight yourself in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart. I know the plans that I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Trust in Me with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Me, and I will make your paths straight.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. I Myself will go before you and will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. I am with you; I am your helper. Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken!


Cast your cares on Me and I will sustain you; I will never let the righteous fall. If you listen to Me you will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm. I will watch over your life. I am close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but I will deliver him from them all!

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Cast all your anxiety on Me because I care for you!


Because you love Me, I will rescue you; I will protect you, for you acknowledge My name. You will call upon Me, and I will answer you; I will be with you in trouble, I will deliver you and honor you. With long life I will satisfy you and show you My salvation. If I am for you, who can be against you? Who shall separate you from My love?

Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate you from My love.

My love for you endures forever!

With All My Love,
The Lord


(*paraphrased from these NIV verses: Ex. 34:6-7; John 15:13; Romans 5:8; Ps. 57:10; Jer. 31:3; Ps. 145:13-14, 18-19; 1 John 4:8; Ps. 37:4; Jer. 29:11; Prov. 3:5,6; Ps. 32:8; Deut. 31:8; Ps. 118:7; Is. 54:10; Ps. 55:22; Prov. 1:33; Ps. 121:7; Ps. 34:18,19; Is. 41:10; Matt. 11:28,29; 1 Peter 5:7; Ps. 91:14-16; Rom. 8:31,38; Ps. 118:1)


(**I was looking up scriptures about God's love for us, because of it being February and I found this letter. It touched my heart and I thought it would do the same for you, for God's Word is an encouragement to all who trust in the Words of the Lord. Be blessed)

Who loves you the most??

"When you are happy you want to reach the person you love most. But when you are sad, you want to reach the person who loves you most." Unknown

I was looking through my inspirational quotes when I came across this particular one and it really made me think about who I go to when I am sad. Now it says it would be the person who loves you the most, but who would be that person who loves me the most??
Would it be my husband, who has shown love beyond my wildest dreams. Through all our heartache and struggle, he has brought out the best in me? Or how about my daughter, we have become quite close in the last couple years, because of many things we have had to face together? Maybe it is speaking of my mother who passed away May 12, 2008, she loved me very much as any mother would their child. Me being the youngest of seven children would have made me her baby, right?? 
 
I believe all these are true... at least to some extent, but as I read that and as I was in prayer, I realized that the first 'person' I run to when I am sad is my wonderful Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ♥
 
He has become my very best friend... I have drawn closer to Him in the last couple years than in my entire life time. I have come to know this dear friend of mine... who so loves me like no other... like I have never known Him before. There is no other who compares; not my husband, my daughter nor my mother who has been gone from me since May of 2008.
 

"God knows me with all my faults, failures, and inadequacies. He loves me regardless (and you as well)."

 
"You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways." Psalm 139:2-3
"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you (we) have been saved." Eph. 2:4-5
"How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings." Psalm 36:7
"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." Psalm 86:15
"Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever." Psalm 136:26
 

He has become my EVERYTHING, I could not live without Him...

sadly I've tried and it was during that time that I was crumbling under the weight of my sadness... under my defeat and the yoke of my sin. It was a sad time of not having anyone of great significance to run too when I was in my deepest dispare, because those of human strength could not help, not really, they were being pulled down in the pit of dispare with me. 
 

"YES! Christ is the one I run to when I am sad, who cares for me the MOST!

He looks after me and all my worries, heartaches, and struggles. I am blessed to call Him my friend."

 
"Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." Psalm 73:25,26 (NIV)
 

*GLORY BE TO THE GOD WHO LOVES ME THE MOST*

Karen Clark - God Is Here

♪♫ He is HERE, God is HERE!! To heal the hopeless heart and bless the broken.

O come lay down the burdens you have carried, for in the Sanctuary,

God is HERE!! ♪♫

Psalm 34:18 -The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalm 73:26 - My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever

Psalm 147:3 - He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

1 Peter 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.