I love the scriptures that tell us the Lord can make things more obvious for us – if we just pay attention to our deep gut feelings. There are things and notions and directions that we get torn between but when we settle down and just pray, He shows us the Way!!! Maybe that’s why we often must sleep on decisions, so He can sort out our thoughts. (Classic example is me editing this in the morning when I am fresh and not falling asleep, but this pertains and includes major decisions today about weighing travel concerns and family things,  honestly I can’t think of a better time to hone our hearing for trusting the Lord)…

I came across this old devotion I wrote about taking big and little steps and trusting the Lord – especially since I was riding a motorcycle that day (now years ago!). Riding any motorcycle is foolish to some, adventurous to many and a basic need to a few.

Decisions in life, with big and small steps should have considerations before we make a choice. Sometimes decisions will affect our peace, sometimes they will affect others, always Jesus wants us to put others before our own wants.  Decisions we may make, about what we say or do, can involve putting other people’s calmness first even if you think they are overreacting. 

It’s ALWAYS a good time to simplify the choices and give our burdens of decisions to the Lord.  “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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

When we look to Him, we get clarity (sometimes we wait for that) and ALWAYS PEACE (sometimes that waits for us). “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:7

See it’s not peace in a vacuum, we shouldn’t be searching for neatly tucked away problems, we really should significantly stuff our stress further out than we place the peace of Jesus nearer in. It can feel like we are pressing that jar of clay stronger and filling our souls with Spirit. 

Can you know Jesus? Yes. Is He always there? Yes.

Then press on… (Amen)

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Here is an excerpt of the motorcycle devotion (and the whole thing) So totally fitting for more than just that day’s ride:

Clarity of mind and balance of life…We pray: Clarify for us, oh Lord, the path… Clarify your WILL… so that we can loosen our fear of this world and walk in line with your LIGHT. Clear the fog from our lines of sight Lord, to see ourselves – actually so that we can see YOU in us. To balance us Lord, we need YOU ahead of our steps, we need to rest our fears in YOUR precious gentle hands. We need to hear YOUR voice inside, please quiet the clamor…

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the whole blog about my motorcycle ride that day:

https://debbieupper.blog/2017/03/13/clarity-of-mind-balance-of-life-04-nov-291/

Clarity of mind, balance of life… 

1 John 4:4, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

So, yes I am ever blessed…. I had a sweet motorcycle ride today… only the fourth in my life.

It’s a balance between faith that you won’t get hurt and the thrill of life on the edge… And I mean that for BOTH riding the bike and loving life… Honestly, I knew and trusted the safe care of my wonderful generous friend (who knew I just needed to clear my mind that day)… I felt very little fear… I was likely more safe on that bike than some other thrill situations I could have put myself in… I was being taken care of the best I could be, and we rode a sweet fifteen minutes thru beautiful fall foliage over back roads, past flowing water, into the valleys, and warmed by the Sun… Yes, I went from initially gripping tightly for my life to soon feeling the balance. I was nestled on this massive (and new) Harley and my fear dissipated… but as ALWAYS my respect remained for I was being held in the balance of life by both the bike and by the firm hands of God’s faithfulness…. I do respectfully fear the Lord, I trust in HIM, and because of that, I found how (both in life and on the bike) I was able to loosen my gripping fear of death, relax and enjoyed the ride…. Life is for enjoying the ride…

With God, we will overcome. We will overcome this world and the evil ways of torment because God blesses our journeys when we walk with HIM… We have the One who overcame in our souls – that’s Jesus… Yes it is… Yes HE is… He is right there, homegrown in our hearts, ready to lead us home.

Clarity of mind and balance of life…We pray: Clarify for us, oh Lord, the path… Clarify your WILL… so that we can loosen our fear of this world and walk in line with your LIGHT. Clear the fog from our lines of sight Lord, to see ourselves – actually so that we can see YOU in us. To balance us Lord, we need YOU ahead of our steps, we need to rest our fears in YOUR precious gentle hands. We need to hear YOUR voice inside, please quiet the clamor… Oh our precious Lord, rise us above this world… when we overcome fear to find peace IN YOU, then we will know we are made OF YOU…

I will wait on YOU, Lord, and trust in your WILL. I will return myself back to YOU, and then I will be balanced and whole.

Amen