What do you see when you look at the image below?
The semblance of the rhythm of a heartbeat? a voice note? OR even that of a radio wave? The more I consider each possibility, I find that (in essence and to a significant degree) each one is an accurate depiction of what the image represents 😊. That said, whose heartbeat is it? … whose voice note is it? … whose radio wave is it? I dare say that it is that of the Righteous!
The righteous falls seven times BUT rises again (each time).
Proverbs 24:16A
[Contextual Definition] The Righteous is the Man in whom God’s handiwork (or workmanship) is expressed. The one through whom God demonstrates His Righteousness – the one for whom God expressly does what He has done, the Man who lets God do it (what God desires/wants/wills and has done) for him/her. The one who runs into and calls upon the Name of The LORD and is thus saved.
While the above diagram depicts the rise, fall, and rise again of the Righteous, it represents something else – this something else is what I’d like to shed some light on in this blog. This something else is the land that God has given us here on earth –a land of hills and valleys (Deuteronomy 11:11).
The land which you go in to possess is NOT like the land of Egypt where you were once slaves … the land which you enter to possess isa land of hills and valleyswhich drinks Water of the Rain of Heaven – a land for which God cares …
Deuteronomy 11:10A,11,12A
I recently found myself in a valley (a low place) – at first, I did not like it one bit! Not especially having just experienced a peak (a high) moment with God few days prior. I’m not sure how or when I got to the valley but I knew I was there. As always, it did NOT feel good! A few days prior to being in the valley, God had a series of conversations with me about the dawn, sunrise, and morning … it was Our time to meet/commune, and I desired it so. BUT THEN here I was: struggling to get up at dawn to hangout with my GOOD MORNING (Yahweh) just few days after I desirously and excitedly said I will. I wanted to … I wanted to spend IDAJI (the time between dawn and sunrise) with God BUT I didn’t.
It is not of him that willeth nor of the righteous that runneth … it depends NOT on how badly you want it, your own willingness or strenuous exertion (effort) as in one running a race … it does NOT originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat. BUT it is of God Who has the first and last WORD: MERCY (Romans 9:18B MSG, Jeremiah 33:26B MSG)
Romans 9:16 (KJV, TPT, AMPC, MSG)
When I finally got up (which was well past sunrise), I couldn’t help but look at me – Did I not want to spend time with God? What is wrong with me? I couldn’t make sense of why my heart failed … why my desire didn’t result in action. Very quickly, the enemy came in like a flood – the flood of thoughts from the enemy’s camp were down-casting and finger-pointing indications that I’m mostly desire and excitement but not enough action … all talk but not much walk … that I keep failing (falling) … that I keep failing to execute or finish. Each finger pointed at me was a vivid reminder (evidence) of undeniable facts yet zero truth because none of them pointed me to God. To be honest though, considering the facts, I was weary BUT HEY …
Though my flesh and my heart may fail, God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever.
Psalm 73:26
… there He was: The WORD that God is, my Standard (Jehovah Nissi), the Strength of my failing heart. The One Whose rod and staff comfort me. Time and again, The WORD of God encourages and lifts me up. With lovingkindness, He draws me to Himself: The ROCK that is higher than I. This is what He did on the morning in question. Although the enemy came prepared to sift me like chaff (hence his attempt to judge me worthless, unreliable … and unfit for use by God), God was (and continues to be) my Saving Grace – this is God’s banner of Love over me … God’s WORD: MERCY – this is my Story and my Song!Isaiah 12:2, Psalm 118:14💖
I agreed with the HolySpirit that my weakness or shortcoming is NOT reason enough to prevent me from spending time with God … I may not have walked the talk BUT there was no rule against being carried😊. Carried by Grace, I was enabled to still spend some time with God that morning before going about my day.
The next morning was … well, somewhat the same, so let’s just fast forward to later in the evening. During my quiet time with Yahweh (Grace), I opened up to Him about not liking the feeling of being in the valley. His first response was lovely – He said:I AM here in the valley too. Immediately, the scenery changed. Yes, We were still in the valley but it mattered not. I was more engulfed by God-with-me (Immanuel) and less mindful of where We were (the valley). Yahweh indeed saves! I was saved by the Teaching of Grace! Altogether, He responded by teaching (showing and telling) me3 things that make the valley worthwhile… 3 things that make being in the valley worth the while or duration of Our temporary stay.
(1) He is in the valley with me.
(2) He CAN use the valley season for His Glory.
(3) I am more aware of (and in tune with) my need for/of Him in the valley than I am anywhere else. As a result, I call out to and for Him even more, I depend on Him even more. Thus, like the peak, the valley is God-glorifying too 💖.
With this in mind, my dislike and dread of the valley reduced significantly! For the first time in my walk (my being carried by God) with God, I honored (made space for) the valley to be the God-glorifying moment that it really is meant to be. For the first time, I experienced the valley as a blessing (something of value) for me that blesses (speaks good of) God. Resultingly, and as strange as it might sound, I desired it … I desired the valley, which (to me) had become a thing of beauty. What an unexpected turn of events! The enemy meant to use my weakness for evil but God turned it around for good, like the turning of the tides – Psalm 118:15,16(MSG)
The adversary thrust solely at me that I might fall, BUT The LORD helped me.
Psalm 118:13 (AMPC)
True to His Word: God’s Grace is sufficient –2 Corinthians 12:9– His Grace (His Name, His PRESENCE) is sufficient enough to turn the tides from a failing heart to a desirous one … to a God-shaped heart(Ezekiel 36:26).
Furthermore, the Spirit that God is inspired me to look up scriptures on valleys – my search led me to Deuteronomy 11:11which was where I saw that the land God has given His people to possess is a land of hills (peaks) and valleys. To mean that the peaks and valleys come with the territory and make up the lay of our God-given land – the place wherein we are to worship God. God purposefully designed it so. Yes, He has the power to level the field(Isaiah 40:4)and He will. In the interim, their God-intended purpose is to glorify God – this is in line with all things made by God (The Potter). He made all things by His WORD (the Message that is Christ – John 1:3), this includes our new (no-longer-slaves) Life – a resurrected Life made possible by the Spirit that God is (Romans 8:11), the very same HolySpirit that every believer receives from God (Ezekiel 36:27).
Did you receivethe HolySpiritby your own works (your own doing or striving)? Was it not by hearing the Message that is Yeshua (Yahweh saves) and, with faith, believing it? Didyour new Lifebegin because you worked hard to please God or by simply responding to God’s Message to you – by trusting in what you heard God say to you and trusting Him to do them in you.
Galatians 3:2,3,5
When you have a moment, consider reading Exodus 23:20 (VOICE) … Ezekiel 36:27-29 … Joel 2:23-24 (APMC,MSG) …Galatians 5:25… and Deuteronomy 11:12-14. These verses underpin the summary of what I’d like to convey through this blog to anyone struggling with navigating the valley or the DOWN after each UP … Don’t lose heart or be weary (devoid of desire for goodness). Instead, let God continue to shape your new heart/Life, like the Vinedresser (HusbandMan) carefully tends His vine/vineyard. God, your Husband (Isaiah 54:5), is not angry with you (Isaiah 54:9).
For your Husband is your Maker, The LORD ALMIGHTY, YAHWEH is His Name, The LORD of Hosts, your Kinsman-Redeemer … He is NOT angry with you. For though the mountain should depart and the hills be shaken or removed(though the peaks crumble or disappear)His Grace, Unfailing Love, Compassion, Lovingkindness will never end. The LORD Who loves you said this.
Isaiah 54:5,9-10
When you fall short and find yourself in a low place like the valley, don’t mistake your contrite heart for guilt. The truth is that you’ve been set free from the power of sin (i.e. guilt) –Romans 8:1-4(AMPC). Don’t give in to guilt or do its dirty little work. Instead, throw yourself at God’s MERCY.
Don’t give sin (anything non-God-glorifying i.e. guilt) a vote in the way you conduct your new life. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run errands that are connected to that old, former dead state (or so called “life”). Remember you’ve been raised from the dead, sin can’t tell you how to live. Wholeheartedly throw yourself into God’s Way of doing things full time(not part-time and only when things are UP, but also when things are DOWN … at all times, including all cares … cast (throw) all of your concerns on God for He cares for you in the same way that He cares for the land that He has given you – 1 Peter 5:7)
Romans 6:12-14 MSG (elaborated)
MERCY is God’s Way of doing things (of setting things right). A God-inspired definition of MERCY that I’ve come to trust and hope in is thatMERCY = God doing it for me (on my behalf). Where Righteousness is what God does (the end, result, or outcome), Mercy is God doing it. MERCY is the means by which Righteousness is given, credited, bestowed, and/or birthed. This Righteousness is fully met in all who believe and accept the sacrifice/blessing of God’s MERCY –Romans 8:3(AMPC). This Righteousness is fully met in those who live and move(Acts 17:28)NOT in the ways of the flesh (the wicked ways) BUT in the ways of the HolySpirit … those who are actively being governed/led by the Standard that God is –Romans 8:4(AMPC).
Don’t try to fix your weakness or shortcoming by yourself … this self-help or break-fix-attempt is the wicked way that God mentioned in2 Chronicles 7:14. Don’t be Ruthless, INSTEAD, be a Babe … humble yourself and pray – call upon the Name of The LORD like Blind Bartimaeus did when He said: Yeshua, SON of David, have mercy on me (Mark 10:46, Luke 18:34). In other words and in alignment with1 Peter 5:6-7, Blind Bartimaeus was saying: God, do it for me. This is the heartbeat of the righteous … a heart that calls upon the Name of The LORD again and again, a heart that beats for MERCY, a heart that hopes in and desires MERCY. God desires Mercy too, He is full of it –Psalm 86:5(GW). He is Righteous. It’s God’s Heartbeat too.
Whereas we fall, God does NOT. He, however, is the safe place into which we fall and/or run (Proverbs 18:10). He comes to our aid … He stoops low to meet us where we are and draws us to Himself in compassion. He carries and bears us up as He prays for us in alignment with His Heart –Romans 8:26-27(AMPC, TPT). MERCY is His Heart’s cry too. MERCY (not anger) is God’s Wavelength and it endures forever.
The next time you find yourself in the valley – be it the valley of the shadow of death(Psalm 23:5)or the valley of Achor(Hosea 2:15)or the valley of dry and disjointed bones(Ezekiel 37:1-3)– keep your wavelength short; your wavelength is the time between getting knocked down and you calling on God for MERCY.
Do NOT lean on your own understanding of the dark, troubling shadow from your past “life”. Don’t get blindsided by the staggering facts of the quack doctor’s report or go down the rabbit hole of trying to make sense of why you are still selfish with God even when you don’t want to be and especially considering that He has been nothing but GOOD to you. Do NOT fear, panic, or rage … this is what the enemy wants (1) so that he can distract you from the truthful reality of where you are: with God, Yahweh, your Righteousness, and (2) so that he can tempt you into the filthiness and futility of self-righteousness, which is what happens when we panic – we tend to want to fix things ourselves. Instead, know God. He is the ONLY understanding you need –Proverbs 9:10B(AMPC). As opposed to fixating on the fact that you have a weak, failing, or broken heart, be still and actively know the Way, the Truth, and the Life: Yahweh (God with you). Unlike the quack doctor that the enemy is, God does not use your weakness against you. He does not despise your broken heart (Psalm 51:17). He will help you navigate the valley and direct your path – He wants to. Trust Him to do it for you. Keep the wavelength short by crying out for MERCY. Call upon on the Name of The LORD and be saved.
Keep the wavelength short by prayerfully moving forward with and in God –Galatians 5:25(AMPC). They say fail-forward … I say: LET yourself fall in GOD with God. To mean do NOT be afraid of failing, let yourself fall in God and see where you land (with God, DOWN tends to lead UP) … LET yourself fall in LOVE with God 😊. This is one perspective of the gift and blessing that the valley is – it is an opportunity to fall in LOVE (in GOD) with God Who is with you. Heretoforward, do NOT let your weakness stop you … it is NOT a show-stopper (the show being God’s Glory, a display that can NOT be stopped). God can use your weakness for His Glory … let Him. Let God use every part of you (including your shortcoming) for His Glory. Let God use every moment of your life in the land of the living that He has given you for His Glory – this includes times when you fall short and find yourself in the valley. He is the God of the living … the hills … and the valleys. Therefore, let God use not only the UPs for His Glory, give Him the DOWNs too … give God the valley, give God your I-want-to-but-I-can’t-help-myself, give God your weaknesses, give God your shortcomings, and let Him love you (show you Himself) through each one … let God love Him for you with all of your heart, with every part of the land of the living that He has given you and the threshing floor that you are. Let God love Him for you with your entire being –Deuteronomy 11:13 Deuteronomy 6:5– Let God do it for you. Choose Life –Proverbs 21:21 (AMPC) … choose MERCY.
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Oaks of Righteousness, you are the planting of The LORD. Indeed, JEZREEL! God planted you into this Land of the living. He transplanted you from that old dead state to this new resurrected state (Psalm 80:8) by His Spirit – your new (resurrected) life in God is through the HolySpirit. It started when you were awakened to Christ, at which point sin became dead to you and you too became dead to it; you were made alive in Christ. This new life can ONLY be lived by the HolySpirit (Zechariah 4:6). He is the Water and Rain from Heaven that you drink. Yes, you are the Land of the living (here on earth) that God has given you – a land of hills and valleys. Don’t despise the valley, it is God-Glorifying too. Like the Waters cover the sea, it too shall be filled with Water (2 Kings 3:17 CJB) … drinking Water! The HolySpirit is the early and latter Rain that God (Our Father) gives/sends (Joel 2:23 AMPC, MSG). He is the Heavenly Messenger from The Father Who goes before you to protect you during your journey with Him and to lead you to the place prepared by God for you (Exodus 23:20). He will enable you to hear The Father’s Message of Christ, pay attention to all that He shows you and respond to what He tells you for He carries the Father’s Name and Message: Yeshua (Yahweh saves) – it is the Message of Salvation. By the hearing that comes by The WORD of God (Romans 10:17 AMPC) and thus by Faith (the knowledge of God), keep responding to The Father’s Message to you via His Spirit (John 16:13). Respond to the Rain that the HolySpirit is so that the Threshing Floor and Land that you are may yield abundant grain, new wine, and fresh oil … like the abundant offspring of the sand and sea (Isaiah 48:18-19) … and sky (Genesis 15:5). Let your response be God (Who God IS: LOVE, His Banner … His WORD: MERCY). Let your response be MERCY: Yahweh, do it for me.
Rivers in the Desert 
Well crafted and thought – provoking .
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