The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.
My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (Psalm 28:7 NIV)
As I write this I’m listening to the rain pour down upon our home, grateful that this cold front can pull the temperatures down into a more moderate summer climate. Next week is the arts camp that I direct, and all of us need to have a chance to go outside and get some fresh – not sweltering – air in the course of the week. This is one of those small details that makes a difference. As I’m working through the last projects and details before camp set-up Sunday afternoon, I’m very grateful for the God-given focus and stamina over the last three weeks to do “All the Things” – to conquer all the details – to put this camp together. It is no small undertaking to write devotions, coordinate adult volunteers, order shirts and other supplies for campers, distribute meal information to the Lunch Lady, practice for choir and drama pieces, prepare workshops to lead, prepare name tags with schedules for everyone involved, and organize and print check-in sheets, attendance sheets, volunteer schedules, music, and a whole host of other things. The list seems endless, but it’s coming together.
It’s hard to explain how focused I am right now on all the camp things. My family knows that I’ve barely cooked this week, I’ve only barely kept up with laundry, and I’m grateful that the other drivers in the house could make most of the Mom Taxi trips this week. I’ve spent most of my awake hours of the last three days at church where it was mostly deserted, quiet, and I could use the printing machines and piano keyboard. I cannot (and will not) live in this level of intensity for too long. I know it’s not healthy for me. But I also know that sometimes God calls us to seasons of pushing forward with everything we have. “Everything” has looked different to me in different seasons of my life or within different projects, but the strength that God gives us to do what we need to do is real.
One of my daily declarations comes from an adaptation of a verse in Proverbs 31: “I am girded with spiritual, mental, and physical strength and fitness to work vigorously at my God-given tasks.” (Proverbs 31:17 TPT). I didn’t dream it up; God gave me this “task” – this camp – to do. It has his fingerprints and Spirit all over it. Even after a stressful school year, some physical challenges in the past six months, and a wedding a month ago, he is giving me strength to do my God-given tasks. For that I am grateful.
If you’re in a space where you need strength, ask God for it. When you are working vigorously at your God-given tasks, he will give you the strength you need. Nehemiah told the people of his day, “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” and that is a truth.
One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit within us is joy. Joy is not the “happiness” the world give us, but something far, far beyond. It’s not simply being in a good mood because life is going well, but choosing that Spirit-led feeling no matter the circumstances or challenges. The Bible Project defines “Joy” as this:
“Biblical joy is more than a happy feeling. It’s a lasting emotion that comes from the choice to trust that God will fulfill his promises.”
This Holy-Spirit infused JOY will be our strength in our individual lives and at camp this week.
For me and all the other adult volunteers working with the kids this week, would you please pray for our strength and endurance? There are plenty of moving parts in this camp, but my most fervent prayer is that these campers will understand that they are God’s masterpieces, know the calling and purpose for their lives, will catch a vision for using their artistic gifts to tell God’s story with excellence, and have a great deal of fun!! In the next week I plan to share with you some posts from the devotions I lead each day. In the meantime, I covet your prayers over this week. May God mark each of these campers and volunteers for his glory!
I love you, Lord, my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I have been saved from my enemies.
In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and keeps my way secure.
The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!*
Splendor and majesty are yours; you give us strength and joy when we dwell in you. Pour out your Spirit of JOY and STRENGTH upon this camp this week, we ask in Jesus’s name, AMEN.
Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. (1 Chronicles 16:27 NIV)
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10 NIV)
*(Psalm 18: 1-3, 6, 19, 46 NIV)