If it had not been for the Lord..

In a recent study, I was asked this "If it had not been for the Lord..".. the idea is to look at all that the Lord has done for us that we can often skirt over or those big moments that we lose touch with over time. This has truly been a thought altering idea for me, because It has forced me to look every day with the thought in my "If it had not been for the Lord".. it has increased my awareness of his hand in my life and my gratitude for such.

See, we (by we I mean me really, but maybe you can relate) often put a stake in the ground for the events that dig deep. So, we get hurt badly, cut deep, attacked, and man we cling to it. We hold it tight and close. Now, we may let pieces of it go every now and then, so someday we don't even recognize what exactly it is..but it hurts and that is all that matters. I think we can convince ourselves that God is not on our side because evil has happened to us. I mean I am the first to line up there sometimes. I have experienced some of the hardest evils in this world and I am not even that old yet. Those events at times leave me wondering "Where were you God?"... yes I did just write that down.. take a deep breath. It is okay to ask that, it is okay to lay out those woes and be REAL about your hurt. However, the bible says so much more about God's character and our refining process. God promises us that no matter what pain or evil we go through, we are not alone. He will not leave us there to mend alone, He will not let the waters sweep us away.. He is there, never slumbering. This world has nothing to offer but those moments of hurt, however our God has redemption for those hurts, healing, and rejoicing to offer for each one. AND we have to be keenly aware that He protects us from more than we will ever be aware to know.

Psalm 124
Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side— let Israel now say—
2if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us,
3then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;
4then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us;
5then over us would have gone the raging waters.
6Blessed be the LORD,who has not given us as prey to their teeth!
7We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers;the snare is broken,and we have escaped!
8Our help is in the name of the LORD,who made heaven and earth.

Ephesians 6:10-12 (English Standard Version) The Whole Armor of God
10 Finally,be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

I don't know about you, but I KNOW my life would look my different if it had not been for the Lord. I was on a dark path when He came and brought restoration to me. So, my question for you today is two fold:
1) What would you fill in after "If it had not been for the Lord?"
2) Have you thanked Him for that today?

Love ya much!