By: Heather Patenaude
I have set the LORD always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Ps. 16:8
An unexpected diagnosis, a rebellious teen, the deep hurt of a close friend, rejection of a family member, the sudden loss of someone close, a church division over the scandal of one of its leaders, long term health issue, or the breakdown of your marriage are the harsh reality for many of us.
The question isn’t if we’ll experience heartache in life, the question is how will we respond?
When we think of someone with unshakable faith who comes to mind? What makes that person “unshakable”?
Does this mean they don’t mourn, cry, or lament their situation? I don’t think so!
An unshakable person means they know the One in control. They have a deep sense that, although they would have not chosen this path, they choose to walk it with in full confidence in the goodness of God.
But how do we get to that place of being “unshakable”?
As Psalms 16:8 says, “I have set the LORD always before me…I shall not be shaken”
In other words: “I kept my eyes on Him, I was intentional to set Him before me, I thought about Him, I thought about His promises, I know and am known by Him, therefore nothing will shake me from this place.”
This God-confidence shatters any type of self-confidence we may be striving to obtain!
This doesn’t come only to those “super spiritual” Christians, but this applies to all of us who will always set the Lord before us.
These 30 days of intentionally setting aside spiritual junk food to focus on Him can be the start or continuation of “setting the Lord before us”. It’s putting aside other things so our minds and hearts are free to pursue Him with more focus.
My prayer is that we are becoming women who are unshakable, not because we are doing this in our own strength, but in the power of His Spirit who lives in us, enabling us to be solid and unshakable, even in life’s most difficult situations!
HEATHER PATENAUDE is passionate about living a Christ-centered life. This passion flows over to being a wife to John and a homeschool mom to: Miles 8, Luke 7, and Clark 4. Heather is “doing” motherhood right along the side of most of you and hopes that she can encourage you to look beyond your “bath time” challenges and embrace the beautiful calling of motherhood!