podcast link below:
https://anchor.fm/beth-madison/episodes/S-T-A-Y–in-2022-e1d42mr
Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Luke 12:35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning”
S.T.A.Y.
Steadily.
Trusting.
Almighty.
Yahweh.
Stay – my word for this year. Doesn’t sound like much, does it? Not even stay close, stay strong, stay quiet, or stay true. Just stay. Yet for this hard to sit still, always something that needs doing soil scientist, stay can be one of the toughest words to obey.
To stay = to abide in this moment, this place trusting that this God will bring to completion the good work He has begun in me (without my help or suggestions) (see Philippians 1:6).
To stay = to know with confidence and a fullness of faith that with God nothing is impossible (even if I can’t understand or see an answer) (see Luke 1:37).
To stay = to carefully, consistently, consciously take every thought captive as unto Christ, the One Who holds all things together (while actively rejecting fears and doubts that I am not enough) (see 2 Corinthians 10:5 and Colossians 1:17).
Four little letters that can shape an entire life. One little word that can transform a day.
Stay seems simpler than it really is.
Yet, in reality, stay is simpler than it seems.
For when I stay, then His peace remains there with me.
Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
And in staying there with Him, I’m:
Not torn up or apart with the what-if’s. Not burdened or beaten by the what-are-they-thinking. Not constrained or restrained by the what’s next.
Stay.
Steadily.
Trusting.
Almighty.
Yahweh.
To stay is to trust.
Knowing He has all firmly in hand. For this moment and every one to come (and every one already passed).
Believing He has a plan. For the present, person, and path that lies before me (whether or not I can see the next step).
Stay.
For me, stay is the next step in a journey our Good God has been leading me these past few years.
Words for the past two years have been receive and remain, respectively. Where receive was “releasing every control everyday in victorious expectation” *. And remain was “receiving every moment abiding in nearness” as a follow-up word in the year after receive.
Looking back, I now see that these two words were not just appropriate, but greatly needed. And I’m sure that I’ll see the same for stay in days to come.
Stay.
Steadily.
Trusting.
Almighty.
Yahweh.
And to me, to stay also means this:
Stay.
Simply.
Taking.
Another.
Yes.
For when I stay, I am saying Yes to the now He has put before me.
And to stay means this – Yes, Lord, yes! I trust You that all of Your promises are made Yes and Amen in Jesus for this moment.
I choose to stay.
Please help me to choose to stay in the rest of today and then all over again, to choose to stay, tomorrow. You know that staying isn’t my first choice, logical, or reasonable for me. But I choose Your way.
I choose to stay.
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.
If you’re interested in more on the ideas of receive and remain, see the following:
- “the receiving way”, https://soulscientistblog.com/2021/09/30/the-receiving-way/
- “part 2 of the receiving way”, https://soulscientistblog.com/2021/10/04/part-2-of-the-receiving-way/
- my other website, www.bethmadison.net.
Click on the link below to sign up to follow the blog:
https://soulscientistblog.com/blog/
written by and copyrighted to Beth Madison, Ph.D., 2022.
Soul Scientist 
Thanks so much for finding me here, Tina! Most gladly will add you back on the verse text list!
LikeLike
This message spoke to me today. Thank you. In retirement I have had trouble learning to adjust to a new life after my teaching career. I love acronyms, so STAY works for me! My mother was told by her former pastor that she was “driven” and she was. She was always busy doing the Lord’s work, whether that meant creating and setting up an amazing library at her church or baking homemade loaf bread to give away to her elderly neighbors and friends. Then she got SHINGLES. She was put flat on her back and God taught her to “abide in Me.” She learned so many lessons from that illness and from other things that God used to bring her even closer to his heart, his mind, his PLAN. So, for today, I will try to learn how to S.T.A.Y. as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing this today! Chronic illness did the same with me that shingles did for your mom. Grateful for how God uses every bit and piece to teach us of HIs goodness, if I choose to listen. and yes, I’m all about acronyms too!
LikeLiked by 1 person