He's Got Us Surrounded!

🎶 Worship Leader Grace Balint sings "Surrounded" 🎶

Before our daughter Grace graduated from Brenau University in Gainesville, GA,  she had been researching schools on the west coast where she wanted to earn her Masters Degree. She discovered Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA, to be the perfect place for her to receive the Masters of Divinity in Worship Arts.

With that news, I began to be concerned for her safety and well-being. It was unfamiliar territory far from home for her and for us as her parents. Look, not one of us in this family knew anyone in CA. Nope. No relatives. No friends. No business associates in the Hollywood/Pasadena/Los Angeles area.

I began to fret. Yeah, I did.  I'm her mom. Who would protect her? Who could she call? We had a few conversations about all this and it was obvious Grace had done her homework. Grace had been praying about it for a while, too. She found her own housing, registered for classes at Fuller and found part time work. I knew Grace sought God daily and knew she listened when He spoke to her heart. And if she was convinced God was telling her to go, I am not going to argue with God about it.

At the same time, here in GA, I would share the prayer request with the ladies in our neighborhood Bible study and the marketplace studies I was hosting, that I was concerned about Grace's safety on the west coast.

 Finally one day, God wanted to rescue me from my sinful fretting. He reminded me of my devastating miscarriage between the births of Grace and her younger sister, Mary. That dreadful loss of our baby was .... well, heartbreaking.

God reminded me that the baby I lost was inside me, so close to me at all times and I could not protect my child. Nope. So why did I think that I could keep Grace safe if she would stay in GA, near us? That's what God was asking me. He said to my heart, "You do not  and cannot keep Grace safe. I do! I am the One who watches over her! And you can't keep Mary safe in Woodstock, GA, either. I do! I watch over her, too!"

I wasn't trusting God. I thought I could protect my grown daughters better than God. Sorry. But I'm confessing here. It's called pride and unbelief. I knew and still know God is sovereign and a Good Father, but...? I don't have an excuse.

Well, guess what? My prayers for my family dramatically changed after that encounter with my loving Father several years ago. Now I pray the Scriptures over my whole family that include God "surrounding" them/us.

Psalm 5:12 -- "Surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; You surround them with your favor as with a shield."

Psalm 32:7 -- "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

Psalm 32:10 -- "Many are the woes of the wicked but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in Him."

Psalm 34:7 -- "The angel of the LORD encompasses those who fear Him and He delivers them."

Psalm 125:2 -- "As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people both now and forever more."

As of today, Grace has been living full time in Los Angeles for more than 10 years. She received her M.A. in Worship Arts,  is a worship leader for two churches, initiating a children's worship ministry, and hosts small groups in her high rise apartment. And yes, Grace is singing in the video on this post. I have not backed down in my constant prayers for her life, and for her to glorify God. In fact, if anything I am more fervent. 

Mary married a godly young man, Matt, and our prayers have been exceeded as he joined our family!  Their first child, Jesse, was born two days ago. His sonogram is at the top of this post. Jesse is our first grandchild. He's a delight to our hearts already! (Notice his "peace sign?") God is far exceeding our desires! I'm not backing down in my constant, specific prayers for their newly established, growing household. They're shining brightly for the glory of God, too. Just like I pray for Grace, I'm praying fervently for God to surround Matt, Mary, and Jesse... and lead them...all for His glory.

This life here on planet earth is often hard and the days are evil as spiritual warfare has revved up more than ever. And then each of us have our own personal struggles and issues. So we pray. We forgive. We believe. We love God. We are worshipers. We love to worship Him with our songs and praises every day. We love people. And when we pray it is God who produces the outcome of our prayers. It's all God in every way. 

Don and I pray specific, fervent prayers for all of our family members. Look, there is no where else to go, but to God. He is everything. No one can do what He can do and we know He promises, "If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Him you can do nothing" (John 15:5).

Troubled? Run to God. That's what our family does. Pray. Ask God to fight for you against the evils of this world. Don't stop believing. Don't stop singing His praises.Don't stop being thankful. Don't stop praying. Believe God. Believe He is who He says He is. 

God has added another gift to our family. We give Him glory!

Our great God offers this powerful promise for His people but we have to bend the knee:

"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Who wants to be surrounded with the glorious promise of the healing of a nation/land/relationship/people? God says it's ours... IF.

💖Polly

Matthew 5:16