Hope Chest
As I sit down this morning in my usual spot on the couch with my cup of coffee in hand, I’m listening to an old hymn playing from my phone and I’m brought to tears.
“All to Jesus I surrender, all to him I freely give. I will ever love and trust him, in his presence, I daily live, and I surrender all….” In my mind I picture a hope chest full of boxes. On each box there is a word written. Plans, marriage, career, children, pride, control…that one is a BIG box, mistakes, health, finances, ministry, relationships, anger, eating habits, time, talents, weaknesses, faith, patience, expectations, disappointments. I could go on and on. What is in your hope chest?
I have been on a journey for the last year. It has been exciting….scary….AMAZING…heartbreaking….and precious. Yes that description is all over the place! A lot like my emotions have been! I haven’t reached the end of this journey yet… I will let you in on a secret. If you know me well, it may not be such a secret. I do not have a slow bone in my body! My mind works very quickly. Unfortunately, my mouth is attached to it, so that’s not always good! 😮 Anyway, I do everything with an underlying sense of urgency. What that means is, I hate waiting!!! Maybe you can identify with me. On this journey I have had the Lord prompt me to “Go here” and “Do that” in some areas of my life, while in others, he has prompted me to “Wait” and to “Be still and know that I am God.” So as I said, my life has been all over the place while on this journey. Along the way, I have unpacked some of those boxes from my preverbal hope chest and laid them at the feet of my Savior. Each time I think I have things figured out, I see another box I need to unpack and lay down. Sometimes…..I lay one down at his feet, then go back later and pick it up. Do you ever do that?
Ps. 25:11 “For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great.”
Here it is Lord! I surrender my control. I surrender my expectations…. my timeline. I surrender all….
Ps. 25:12 “Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him, he will instruct in the way he should go.”
Ps. 27:8 “Lord you have said “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”
Ps. 25:13 “His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.”
My friends, I encourage you to unpack your boxes and lay them at his feet and seek his face. In my earlier description of my journey, I used the word “precious.” I have been seeking his face and every now and then, I bump right into him! He will meet me in a very personal and specific way that shows such love and intimacy… I can barely believe it when it happens. When it happens, it reminds me of the scripture where David says “What is man that you are mindful of him?” It also reminds me of the song “His Eye is On The Sparrow”
Ps. 25:14 “The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.”
“I will ever love and trust him, in his presence I daily live, and I surrender all….. I surrender all….. I surrender all, all to thee my blessed Savior, I……surrender……..all. I hope you will be encouraged by these words and seek his face and his presence. It’s a precious place to be…
“
This scripture sums up how I feel right now in my journey. My declaration.
Psalms 26:6-7 ESV
“I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O Lord, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds.”
Real life. Real faith. 
Sharon
Your post today blessed my heart.
In my quiet time in the mornings I often use lyrics from songs. I relate to everything you said today.
Thank you!
It thrills me that you are stepping out and doing this blog.
I’m sure it is a blessing to all who follow you.
Love you❤️🦋
LikeLike
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it 😊
LikeLike
Our Pastor tells us that there is not a Hebrew word for coffin. Instead the word is “hope chest.” My what do we have waiting for us in that “blessed hope chest” when we take our trip to our final home.
LikeLike