Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways  acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.--Proverbs 3:5-6, KJV

"Comfortable or Covenant?" the Holy Spirit asked me in my heart a few weeks ago.  I understood immediately that He was calling me to take a leap of faith and I decided to be open to that change. A week or two later, He made clear to me a very surprising, but right, direction about that. 

He revealed to me that I was to move in with my elderly, very crippled widowed mother, so she would not have to leave the house she and Dad built over 50 years ago, and be put in a nursing home.

A few days before this deep and sudden revelation, she’d fallen yet again, lying on the floor for hours, ,and had refused to call anyone. She’d not wanted to pay for 24/7 care, having been very independent and strong-willed during her life. She was quite a leader, very talented and creative in many ways, the oldest of many kids, and used to having to take care of things.

The visiting nurse had not been able to get her to the door over Labor Day weekend, and had called the emergency people, who found Mom on the floor, bleeding and hurting and scared.

They discovered two cracked ribs, and more problems with her little twisted, diseased feet.

So, after my husband going with me to the emergency room that night, and me grieving for all the suffering she’d done—and knowing that none of it was from God, but that He was the reason why she was still alive, after almost dying many times through the decades. 

So, although it would mean me giving up a lot of freedom, and having a radical life style change, I knew it was right.  It was, as I said, something God just dropped deeply into my heart, and I had a lot of peace and even joy with it.

That is the Grace and leading of God!

Often, when God leads us to do something, it does not (and often never will!) make sense to our minds, nor to other people, but obeying God is always worth it. It may be hard but there are great blessings that come from obedience, and most of them can never be measured in earthly terms.

So at that moment, I understood more deeply what He meant by “Comfortable, or Covenant?”  God is a Covenant God, and we praise Him for it! That means, when He makes a promise to us, He will never break it! Hallelujah, glory, glory, amen!

God is also the One Who created the family, and as one wise preacher pointed out, He created marriage and the family (Genesis) before He created human civil government, etc.

It's always a win-win with our Heavenly Father. When He is in something--and as only the true God, Jesus Christ can do--it's not just you and I who benefit from His direction; many others do as well!

The LORD forever leads us in paths of righteousness; right paths, to help us and others and to bring Him glory. He is good, and all good!

Before I made the physical move, of course, I prayed about it, and that confirmation, that rightness, stayed in my heart. Then I told my husband, and although he was a bit surprised, he was in immediate agreement. 

(Often, that may not be the case, because God may direct us to do something--like He has MANY times in my life, when I knew that I knew that I knew it was Him, but even those closest to me did NOT agree. However, when I obeyed, God did miracles, and the others realized in hindsight (usually, not always, but only I will answer to God for my life, not them)

My brother, my cousin who lived next to my mom, and other prayer warriors at church to whom I spoke were all in agreement, and started praying for God to put His Grace all over everything, which He has.

The one hardest to convince, of course, has been my mom, who first insisted she did not need help, except for a few days. However, as I told her, I've already officially moved in, and my husband will be fully moved in within a couple months. Most of our stuff will be in storage, but as the LORD has also showed me, life does not consist in the abundance of things. 

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the  abundance of the things which he possesseth.—Luke 12:15, KJV

If you believe the LORD is leading you to do something that makes NO sense to your mind, but that you KNOW is right in your heart, then wait on Him, and get agreement from prayer warriors, your pastor, your spouse….the LORD will make a way, and it will benefit all involved.

When we are weak (and I’ve felt really weak, but things are finally smoothing out, and Mom is sleeping better, and has been getting up on her own, navigating with her walker, which makes both of us!)

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD.--Psalm 4:5, KJV

God is the Covenant God. Thank goodness, once we receive His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ, Who died on the cross for us over 2,000 years ago, shedding every drop of His pure blood to cleanse us from all our sins, God the Father adopts us and will never leave you nor forsake you!

Even when we don't feel Him, He is with us, and loves us with an everlasting love! 

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.--Jeremiah 31:3, KJV

Another thing that comforts me greatly is that, wherever He leads us and whatever happens (Be clear about this: all the GOOD is from GOD, and all the bad is from the enemy! Period!), Father God sees it all at once and knows every detail (that is what "omniscience" means), and will work it all out for your best and His glory, and all the more as you trust Him, love Him, respect and worship Him, and obey Him. 

But as for you (enemy/satan/devil), ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to  bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.--Genesis 50:20, KJV. parenthetical words mine

Hallelujah, amen!

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called  according to his purpose.--Romans 8:28, KJV

As the LORD--the everlasting God Who is Love (I John 4:8)--told me years ago, He's always got our backs!

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.--I John 4:8, KJV

Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel.