Pastor Jim Randas has given me permission to share an encouraging post he placed on a Yahoo group site of which I am a member.

Although this was recently posted to those of us struggling with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), it applies to anyone struggling with any trial in life. I trust this will bless you and speak to you wherever you are in life.

Put confidence in God's Presence. To help deal with the (OCD) Trials of Life

Ps.16: 11. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. NKJ

I remember as a little boy I walked with my father and reached up to take his hand and he would take hold of mine and I would walk with him and be afraid of nothing. Why? Because, to me my dad was the greatest, he was the biggest, he was strongest, when I was with him nothing could ever heard me. And walking with him let me know that I was in the presence of a man who was watching over me and would never let anything happened to me while I was in his presence. And that is the most wonderful feeling you can have knowing that your Heavenly Father is present with you to take care of all of your needs and to protect you.

Isn't that what every father does, just like it says in the verse above. The Lord is always with us, guiding us and directing us in a way that we should go for Him. He keeps his hand upon us in everything that we do. He will never leave us or forsake us. That is the promise in His Holy word.

As we travel through this live in our journey with (OCD) and GOD please remember that we are always in the Presence of the Living God. And where ever we go "their we are and God is Present with us."

It is my prayer that Scriptures below will bring comfort and strength to us each day as we deal with our particular (OCD) trial that we are going through. I truly do believe that our Lord wants us to be aware of His presence each moment of the day. I read a book many years ago called "Practicing their presence of God." And as we can do that a little at a time each day we begin to grow stronger in His Presence and the Trials of (OCD) Life will begin to grow weaker in His Presence.

Col. 3: 1. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

We are God's children and I believe He wants us to become so strong and His Presents that the Trials of (OCD) Life will not be able to hurt us as much as it does at times. I understand that except for a divine miracle to happen some Trials may never go away, but we can ask the Lord to help us to be stronger each day in His Presence.

Let's ask the Lord to help us to memorize scriptures below so thoroughly that we can say them easily and repeat them often without hesitation each time a Trial (OCD) rises up.
As we can get the meaning out of these Scriptures fixed in our hearts we will be able to slow down the effects any (OCD) Trial just a little at a time as we practice the Presence of God.

One suggestion, please allow lots and lots of time for the meaning the Scriptures to become part of our conscious minds and the meanings to sink deeply into our hearts. Do not strain to concentrate. Do not try to prevent your mind from straying to other thoughts but go gently back to the Scriptures knowing we are in His Presence in who "Our life is hid with Christ in God"


THE DIVINE PRESENCE OF GOD BRINGS COMFORT TO GOD'S PEOPLE A.Divine Presence in life's Travels.
Gen. 28:15. "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.'' NKJ B.Divine Presence Affords Rest in your Heart.
Ex. 33:14 And He said, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.'' NKJ

C.Divine Presence Gives Courage in Life's Battles.
Deut. 20:1. "When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the Lord your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. NKJ

D.Divine Presence is a comfort in Trials.
Isaiah 43: 1. But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
2. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
3.For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; NKJ

E.Divine Presence in small groups.
Matt. 18: 20. "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.'' NKJ


F.Divine Presence unto the end.
Matt. 28: 20. "teaching them to observe all things that I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age.'' Amen. NKJ

God Bless, Jim
_________________
John 8: 32. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.''

I pray you will remember that God is always with you in every trial you face.
Penny Haynes, Encouraging Audiobooks

In the process of self-discovery, the good that comes from it can be overshadowed by the overwhelm from all that we find.

In my personal journey through facing my fears and learning self-acceptance, I am also re-discovering my extremism. Now that I've found out what's wrong with me, I want to fix it all - NOW! Learning to pace myself in my quest for healing has become an issue in itself.

What happens when I fail - AGAIN?

In the midst of the overwhelm, which always challenges my hope of being completely healthy, I tend to lose perspective. I mess up, I fail to move forward, and it makes me afraid that I will never "get it right". But then I found a quote that helped me tremendously, and when combined with the scripture from this Sunday's sermon, it was a powerful one-two punch.

Tis Not Too Late Tomorrow To Be Brave / Be strong and of good courage

Even if I fail today, and have given in to fearful responses again, it doesn't mean all is lost. I still have tomorrow to be brave and of good courage. Better a live dog than a dead lion, because while there is life, there is still hope.

So I get up and try again, finding the strength to go on, and the ability to trust that God will complete what He has started in me.

I was even able to worship with an old favorite worship CD this morning - something I hadn't felt worthy to do in 4 years. So I am living proof that, although the journey may be hard, it is a journey well-worth making. And with the Holy Spirit in me, I can eventually experience the healing already won for me by Christ.

I pray you will continue to face your fears and pursue all that God has for you today and in your life.
Penny Haynes, Encouraging Audiobooks