How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Psalm 139:17.

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33.

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will be exalted by His justice. The holiness of God will be displayed by His righteousness. Isaiah 5:16.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 37: Not a bone of Him broken. Numbers 9:12: They shall leave none of it until morning, nor break a bone of it; according to all the statute of the Passover they shall observe it. And, John 19:31-36: Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him; but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe. For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.”

There comes a time in our lives when internal struggles can no longer be dismissed easily. What needs to be exposed keeps pushing itself into our consciousness. For myself, I keep thinking it’s what’s wrong with our world impacting me. But when those thoughts I struggle with are front and center every morning, even before coffee, I realize God is helping me see clearly my own anger coloring the way I see everything. As I was praying this morning, I thought of the word Shalom. Looking it up: “Shalom is a Hebrew word primarily translated as “peace”. However, its deeper, truer meaning extends far beyond the absence of conflict. Rooted in the word shalem (which means “complete” or “whole”), shalom encompasses harmony, completeness, prosperity, welfare, and spiritual well-being.” I know our world is in anything but harmony right now, but I long for the harmony only Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, can bring to us in Him, and not just collectively but within my own heart and mind. Is my anger part of our fallen world? Absolutely. Do I want to keep feeding that anger? Yes and no – and therein lies my struggle. But one thing I know, when I turn to God and ask for His help He doesn’t turn away. I love His patience borne in His love that is greater than my anger because He wants His Shalom for me and not just for me but for all of us. The absence of conflict means by definition that conflict is. And far above and beyond the absence of conflict – is God’s love. So I will keep turning to Him so the light of His love can show me the better way that is with Him – the kingdom of God is the kingdom of His love and His truth for our good always. After being with Him in prayer I can honestly say, How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! What are all these things added to us as we seek His kingdom? Creator God Himself dwelling with us and helping us! How can we put a price on that? How could anything begin to compare with knowing Him? His love softens us because all of the pain of this life hardens our hearts and minds and robs us of His peace. But the light of His love pierces that darkness we are so bound in and brings His Shalom! I am not ashamed to say I need Him every day! I rejoice in my need for Him for then I am looking to Him and not to myself or this world. My need directs me right to Him and I am beyond grateful. Spiritual well-being is our deepest need and greatest understanding God Himself brings and that impacts everything! He helps me see my anger for what it is, conflict. And a lot of my anger is fueled by conversations I only imagine happening that never take place! Can you imagine or do you do that too? And He reminds me that is not real. I don’t want to keep living in that not real, so, I need His help daily. And He is here. Always. He reminds me of His love that is real.