EMBRACING Spiritual Discernment and Being Still

#5 today also is not in the You Version reading plan

{but click on the title below and be linked to read it in full}

#5 "Is This The Right Decision?" Philippians 1:9-10

How many times have I asked this? or worse, how many times did I fail to even ask, and just decided or acted? Embarassing. Shameful. Sinful. Impulsive behavior of my younger life. Just for failing to ask is this right? Should I give more time to processing this decision or choice before acting? My, oh, my ... if I had gone to God first and foremost. If only the Godly principles I believed, I lived and acted by, decided by ...
Lysa states:

"... Find that courageous yes. Fight for that confident no"... and move on. "Know it. State it. Own it."Lysa TerKeurst

What Lysa writes about knowledge, insight and discernment is worth its weight in gold! (page 17)
Trusting the Holy Spirit to do what Jesus promised in John 14:26
As I mature and develop spiritually, I've come to realize the importance of what Lysa ends this devotion with:

"... When we've done what we need to do to acquire knowledge and insight of truth, then the discernment of that truth is there. We must learn to trust and use that discernment because the more we do this, the more wisdom we acquire to make God-honoring decisions." Lysa TerKeurst

This is exactly what I hope to do, as well as those I know & love will do. I desire to make decisions that honor Our Lord Jesus Christ more and more every day. I ask Him not only for Godly wisdom and choices but that I develop spiritual discernment ... oh Lysa, you get me so well
I  EMBRACE Spiritual Discernment and being Spirit-led I pray

I've been saving emails that contain "EMBRACE" from Bible Gateway or any place. I think what Sheri Rose Shepherd wrote in the following certainly applies to this and sense God whispering this today:
EMBRACE BEING STILL

Beloved Princess,

I long to be closer to you. I’m never too busy for you, My beloved. If you will turn off the things around you that drown Me out of your daily life, you will begin to hear Me in your spirit. When you don’t know where to go, you will hear Me give you divine direction. When you are in need of a friend, you will hear Me whisper, “I am here.” When you need comfort, you will hear Me call to you, “Come to Me.” Don’t let your agenda distract you from time with Me. Quiet your spirit. Know that I am your heavenly Father and you are My precious daughter, and I love when you crave time to be still with Me.

Love,
Your King & The Voice Of Heaven

Today's Treasure of Truth
When you are still, I am closest to you. Draw close to me and I will draw close to you.

Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him. 
Psalm 37:7 (NIV)

For more about Sheri Rose’s visit HisRoyalFamily.com

DIRECTION for my next 100 days EMBRACED

Since I finally got around to officially declaring the 2019 One Word as 

EMBRACE

{and its other forms of past and present participles (or gerund)}

Embraced/Embracing

I decided June 1st would be a good time to begin 

Lysa TerKeurst's book*

{that I mentioned back here}

and a

100 day journey

*EMBRACED* 

I began with the YouVersion (sample) 5 day plan, but only for the first three days, then the last two on the appropriate day of her book. I am so blessed to have received the beautiful, hard bound version on Fri. and so glad that I ordered it because it's such a keepsake and as I mentioned so lovely from cover to cover - really a wonderful gift for yourself or someone special {plus I was able to get it under my set limit of $10 and did not have to pay shipping, which is sometimes more than the bargain}. 

Lysa has divided her book into 4 parts

"Part 1: Embracing the Pursuit of Him and His Direction"

devotions 1-26

"Part 2: Embracing the Fullness Found Only in Him"

devotions 27-48

"Part 3: Embracing Him in the Midst of Hurt & Heartache"

devotions 49-75

"Part 4: Embracing His Call to be Transformed"

devotions 76-100
Tempted to begin in Part 3
So, here I am, on June 1st, my mother's birthday, out at her gravesite, cleaning off the headstones of all my family and leaving lilacs from home with one teacup red rose, in remembrance of the dozen that my dad use to bring my mom regularly from her death in 1986 until his in 1998 and while I am able, I hope to at least bring one red rose. I'm accompanied by 1 of my 3 furry friends, who makes herself at home, lying on the grass, where I will be laid as I trim the grass around and clean off the stone. I take out this beautiful turquoise book and begin:

... "Giving My First Moments to God"...

not just reading again the devotion that I had already read  early this morning but allowing myself to actually feel God's EMBRACE meeting me right there, right then
with Psalm 86:11 and 13 then Psalm 84:1 {need to take out my cellphone to read this verse}
however Lysa starts each devotion with a Scripture, the first, and in her devotion, she beautifully pens what two Scriptures remind her of and then beautifully composes a prayer with all of these verses {plus an ending prayer} [you can read these in their entirety in the sample at YouVersion]
I single out this one line from the prayer:

... "Help me to EMBRACE what comes my way as an opportunity ... rather than a personal inconvenience" ...

I have a momentary pause remembering an 'embrace' sadly interrupted  - one my father attempted to give my mother with her final breath. It's been a lasting impression in my mind because of her struggle for air which was the reason for the rejection interruption (in my personal opinion) and until my youngest brother's more peaceful death, I swore I never wanted to be at anyone's death bed because of the fear of having that as the last remembrance of that person. Lament/grief - one lesson yet to be learned, my attitude has changed a little about this but clearly has not been erased. It's remarkable what your mind retains. As my furry friend, Lucky, snaps me back to the current reality ... I gaze up into a beautiful blue sky, as the tear that had welled up in the corner of my eyes disappears and I watch a plane prepare for its landing. Knowing that I, too, will have to prepare for my final landing and I'm so thankful for words like Lysa's that encourage me/you ...
"to know God is Holding You Close" (the rest of her title)
Yes, dear Lord, "teach me Your way ... that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name." Psalm 86:11
as Lysa writes, through His Word, this time alone,  prepares me for what lies ahead, what I need throughout every day as God equips me to handle and strengthens me quietly yet boldly with His loving and aMazing Grace
I depend on this I rely on His EMBRACE I need to 'embrace' the past that prepares me for my future
Yes, Lord I need to EMBRACE Your Pursuit and Your Direction I'm ready to face the rest of today I'm armed with Your truth I'm surrounded by Your love I'm filled with so much gratitude for lessons learned and those I've yet to learn

I can't wait to read the next one:  The Pineapple Principle {I happen to love pineapple. In fact, I even bought a mango-pineapple slush drink  on my way home today}