Hemmed in

You hem me in – behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.    Psalm 139.5,6

The thought of being hemmed in by God could raise different emotions in people. One may feel trapped, unable to function in oneself owing to the ever-presence of God, watching, maybe judging, ever critical and ready to condemn.

Or one may see the joy of living always in the divine presence, of knowing that He is ever there – guiding, protecting and loving.

This latter is the choice for me. I do not see God as a threat, hindrance or impediment. God is my liberty. He is my strength and enabling. He is my protection and safety. He is my companion and friend.

We have a choice in how we see God. I know how I have chosen, and I can rest in this choice. Yet, as the psalmist rightly points out, I cannot comprehend why God would go to these lengths for me. It is beyond my understanding. Is it, indeed, some lofty divine ideal that I cannot grasp? I wonder! When I front up and ask God why He would care for me as He does, the answer is both simple and sweet. He says: “It is because I love you.”

O Loving God,

I welcome Your presence behind, before and all over me. I rejoice that You hem me in, that I can’t escape You because, quite simply, I don’t want to.

You are the source of all things to me. I press in. I seek You with all of my being, and I delight to know that You are there. I don’t understand how You can be so caring of me, but I accept. I receive You into all of my life and I ask You to fill every part of me, in Jesus’ Name.

                                                                                                                                            Amen.

Always

David said about him:

“I saw the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.”                                           Acts 2.25

Jesus is the fulfilment of God’s covenant promise to David: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom   (2 Sam. 7.12).

But this present verse talks to me of David’s walk with God. David walked always with the Lord. Wherever he went God was with him, and he knew it. As he walked in this knowledge he was unshakeable.

God’s Word assures us of His perpetual presence (Heb.13.5; Deut.31.6), but we do not always remember this and the lack of this full awareness often robs us of the covering of unshakeability.

Lord God,

I pray that I may always see You before me. I claim Your Word:

            “Never will I leave you;

                        never will I forsake you.”

I hold this word close and pray that its revelation will always be with me.

As I progress with You, knowing that You are constantly, and constant, at my right hand, let me live in unshakeability.

I claim another of Your Words:

            I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

With You alongside me, Lord, nothing is impossible. And I say this is the way it should be for the genuine and committed Christian.

Lord God, lead me forward, unshaken and strong in You, able to do anything and everything in the power of the One who strengthens me.

Hallelujah! Mighty God.

Hallowed be Your Name.                                Amen.

Built on rock

“I will show you what he is like who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice. He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.”      Luke 6.47,48

The person who builds their life on the words of Jesus – hearing them, receiving them, and putting them into practice – builds a firm and sure foundation which will withstand all attacks.

Those who follow Jesus may not have an easy life, but they will live solid in love and in truth; they will live a life of integrity, knowing peace in themselves and peace with others.

The Word of God is a sure footing, a light for the way and an encouragement at all times.

Dear Lord,

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I thank You.

I seek to build my life on this foundation that is You. I seek Your guidance. Let me dig down deep into You and know You intimately. May I hear all that You would say to me. Give me, please, a willingness to accept Your words to me, and to be open to anything that You would have me think, say or do. Give me the courage to follow through, and the peace that comes only when I am obedient to the Father’s will.

I pray for all those who would follow You. May they give themselves to You in unqualified measure. May they ever be led by You.

I thank You and praise Your Name.                                                                Amen.

An open mind

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.                   Luke 24.27

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.    Luke 24.45

In both these cases the reference is to the Old Testament writings. Indeed, at this time the New Testament was not in existence.

I know from my own studies that Jesus “inhabits” the Old Testament Scriptures. They are full of his presence and proclamation. And now, we are privileged to know the New Testament writings and the further, and more overt, revelation of Jesus. I want to know and understand all I can about my Lord and Saviour. And I want to know Him deeply, intimately, lovingly and practically.

Lord Jesus,

I trust I do not misread my heart. I want to know You. I want to live in You and with You, and I want to share You with others in a real and life-changing way.

I can learn much about You from the Holy Scriptures. I ask You to open my mind as You did with those early disciples, and I ask You to explain to me what the Scriptures, all of them – both Old and New Testaments, mean. By Your grace let me understand all I can about You. I ask also that You would draw me close to You in real and intimate union. I ask for a powerful relationship, a true abiding of You in me and me in You.

I ask, then, for God-given opportunities to share with others. Out of my relationship with You I desire to reach others and minister to them, leading them into their own relationship with You.

Sweet Lord, know the deep desires of my heart. Hear this, my ardent prayer. And respond, I beg You, for I ask it in Your precious and powerful Name. Hallelujah!                     Amen. 

A touch

She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.                       Luke 8.44

There are several aspects to this story for me which come together in this verse.

The woman had suffered for twelve years. She had found no respite or cure. But she knew that she could be healed by Jesus. Perhaps she was too timid to approach Him directly, or fearful that she might be rebutted. It did not matter. Her faith was strong enough for her to come up behind Him, knowing that the merest touch was all she needed. She touched Jesus, and was instantly cured.

Jesus knew that He had been touched. He knew that someone had come close enough to Him to be affected. When anyone comes to Jesus, He knows instantly. There can be no furtiveness with Jesus. All is clear to Him. Nothing is hidden.

Jesus knew that power had gone out of Him. He was not diminished in any way, but He knew He had touched and impacted someone. He knew and He was not angry. He acknowledged the act of faith in the woman and He blessed her: “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

What applied to this woman so long ago I believe applies equally today. If we come to Jesus in faith, He will know and He will receive us. We will receive power and healing as we touch Him. And we will be affirmed and blessed by Him.

Lord Jesus,

I come to You anew. I come in faith. I come to face You. I seek to touch You and to receive from You. I seek relationship with You. I ask for power to fit me for works of love and grace in Your Name.

I pray for those who need a touch from You. Hear my prayer on their behalf. Reach out, Precious Lord, and touch them with Your healing, release, and the wonderful gift of salvation.

I love You, Lord. I look to walk with You today. Hallelujah! Praise Your Name.       Amen.

Beyond understanding

He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.”         Judges 13.18

Manoah, the father of Samson, has asked the name of the angel of the Lord. His answer is as above. The Hebrew for the phrase “beyond understanding” is “wonderful”. It is the name of the One who would come as Mighty God.

God is as His name. He is wonderful and He is beyond understanding.

What an incredible, yes truly unbelievable truth it is that this wonderful God, who is quite beyond human understanding has chosen me to be His son. Furthermore, in this sonship I receive freely from Him, and familial qualities are available to me as I allow Him to work in me, to prepare me and refine me and make me, more and more, to conform to His image.

Lord God,

I worship You. I adore You. I come to You and say, O Wonderful One, You who are beyond my understanding, I do not need understanding to know that my life can only exist in You. I give myself to You. I ask You to draw me close. Show me something of the wonder of You. Give me more of You.

Lord, wonderful God, I applaud You. I kneel before You a in the fullness of Your grace and ask You to fill me to overflowing,

                                                in Jesus’ name.                                    Amen.

Like David

After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: “I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to.”    Acts 13.22

David certainly had a mixed life. He committed adultery and was responsible for murder, yet God called him a man after my own heart. I think this might be because God knew the true state of David’s heart. David loved God and his heartfelt and heart-rending cry of repentance after his double crime is a clear indication of the true man.

David had many experiences which, on surface value, would seem to deny the existence of God’s blessing in his life. Yet he remained steadfast. God worked for good in David through all the trying experiences, and he did indeed know God’s blessing.

God promised David an everlasting dynasty. In time the sovereignty failed and seemed to have disappeared for all time. Yet a King was to come out of the house of David more glorious than any worldly dream could have imagined. The Saviour of the world, the eternal King, came out of the blessing that God imparted to David.

Lord God,

I give You thanks and praise for David. I rejoice that he was a man after Your own heart, willing to do everything You wanted him to do.

In these respects I seek to be like David. I want to do all that You would have of me. I seek Your help in this for I know I cannot do this in my own strength. But all things are possible with You, and the power of Your Holy Spirit in me will achieve all You would have of me.

I surrender to You. I offer myself, wholly and freely into Your service.

Take me and use me, in Jesus’ name I ask.                                         Amen.