My Treasure

I know I have written about being persecuted or under spiritual attack before... and even though I know there is a lot of that happening right now, that's not entirely what I want to share with you.

I had the opportunity to watch something extraordinary.

"Forgotten Stories"... "The Invitation" focused on people who are living in Sitio Veterans, a community of over 14,000 who live in extreme poverty. And there was a young lady and her story that caught my attention and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

I don't remember her name, but I'll never forget her eyes. You need to see it... the look in this young woman's eyes as she told her story of her want for an education... her faith in God... her prayers to Him and how they were answered. The story is amazing - but more amazing to me was her heart. The battle she was (is) fighting I know I will never truly comprehend. The poverty and oppression... all that she had gone through... and you know what she said? She said she "treasured" all that she had gone through. She went on talking about God's provision and I was stuck... stuck back on "treasured".

Whoa... really? She treasured all that pain she'd gone through?

I just couldn't grasp it... I couldn't move past it...

So I asked God... "Why is this on my heart?" And I listened... and listened... and then...

He led me to Psalm 10:17-18

"O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more."

I am helpless... I am living in a broken world that wants to devour me. It wants to strip me of my joy. But He who holds me... the one who saved me... He hears me and protects me. He equips me, gives me wisdom and holds me when I am too weak to stand.

I do not have victory because of what I've done... but because of what He has done! He deserves all the glory.

"...as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies —in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."
~1 Peter 4:10-11

That's what this young woman means. She is where she is because of her Heavenly Father. She would endure it all again - if it meant that He would be glorified.

Amazing... I want that heart!