Our trust, our hope

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save...

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.

      Psalm 146.3,5

God’s Word reveals truth and the reality of His amazing presence and working in our lives. It is often difficult to resist or ignore the ways of humanity. How easy it is, and how many times it seems necessary, to look to fellow humans for affirmation, indeed to place trust and hope in them.

This is not the way. The only way is with God. I may feel at times that God has all but deserted me. Yet this is false, it generates from my weak emotions rather than from a strong faith. In such moments, I need to remind myself that God is for me (Rom. 8.31). He will strengthen me as I need it. He will direct and guide me as I allow Him – even through the most ungodly-seeming circumstances.

I note a verse from the psalm that follows this present one:

            The LORD delights in those who fear him,

who put their hope in his unfailing love.       (Psalm 147.11)

Whatever circumstances may surround me, may I ever put my hope in the unfailing love of my loving God and Father. May I continue to grow daily in holy fear of Him. Hallelujah!

Lord God, Holy Father,

I thank You for Your constancy. I love and adore You. I commit to the fullness of Your ways for me – whatever they may be and wherever they might lead.

I place my full hope in You. You are my strength and my shield. You are my life and my destiny. Have Your way in me and with me. Lead me, I pray, into a holy fear of You that grows greater with every passing day. Receive my prayer, in Jesus’ Name I ask.      Amen.

Sword of praise

May the praise of God be in their mouths

and a double-edged sword in their hands.                         Psalm  149.6

Praise from the mouths of the people gives glory to God. It exalts the Lord Most High through the singing of His children in adoration and worship,.

But there is more! Praising God empowers His people. The Lord inhabits the praises offered to Him. He is there, strengthening and empowering those who praise Him, in the act of praising him. As we sing out to Him, it is as though a weapon, a double-edged sword is placed in our hands.

I understand a double-edged sword to be a powerful and effective weapon. Yet, apart from the reality of the two sharpened edges to the sword, I see also an analogy here.

I see two separate cutting edges in terms of the effect of wielding the sword of praise. Whilst both edges of the sword swing fearlessly in praise, exalt the Lord God and draw us to Him, I see the one cutting edge as working for our own protection and empowerment. My praise to God cloaks me in Him. It assures me that I am safe in Him. I am provided for, and I am strengthened against any assault.

The other cutting edge of the sword I use in the fight for, and on behalf of, other people. I can reach people with the love of God and salvation through Christ as I wield the sword of praise. I am empowered, through the Holy Spirit of the living God, to reach out in witness and godly ministry to those who desperately need Him – even those who don’t yet know it!

Lord God,

I thank You for the power that is in my praise to You. I lift my voice today in highest praise. You are wonderful. You are glorious. I praise You. I honour You. I worship and adore You. Receive my praise. Inhabit my praise, in Jesus’ Name I ask.                                              Amen.

Priority

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”                                           Mark 6.31

The disciples were busy. One might say they were “rushed off their feet” – a phrase that is, perhaps, more readily associated with the fast pace of modern life. Yet the disciples also experienced it, and there is something strangely gratifying about this. It gives us much hope.

The disciples were too busy to eat. Eating is most certainly a priority. Sadly, we may not always see the priority in spending time quietly with God in resting in Him. To the Christian, and the fulfilled Christian life, time with God – resting in Him, is every bit as important as the basic acts required to sustain physical life.

Jesus knew this, and He offered the disciples that opportunity. Jesus is the way. He is the key to resting in the arms of the Father, in love, peace and blessing.

Jesus calls us today. I hear Him now saying, “Come with me by yourself to a quiet place and get some rest.” Am I ready to say, “Lord Jesus, I come?”

Dear Jesus,

I thank You that You invite me to that special place where I may rest in God. I come. I lay aside any other concerns for I know my priority is to rest in You. As I do this, everything else will fall into place.

Your presence brings comfort. Right now, it is not difficult to release all other concerns and simply rest in You.

Receive me, my Lord. Sit with me. Speak to me. Let me be rested and strengthened in You. You are all I need, all I want.

Yes, I want You – with a passion! Receive me, make me wholly yours,

                        In Your precious Name I ask.                                                                 Amen.

His will

Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God;

may your good Spirit

lead me on level ground.

                                                                                                         Psalm 143.10

These words of the psalmist are most encouraging. I might struggle within myself, even strive to seek out God’s will for me. I might anguish, daily, to be sure that I am living in His will. Yet none of this is necessary. For, just like the psalmist, all I need do is to surrender myself to the Almighty and say, simply:

Lord, teach me to do Your will. You are my God. You are almighty and I choose to live in Your will. You will teach me and I rejoice in this.

I am grateful to have come to the place of trusting God for His will, and believing that I live in it from moment to moment. I repeatedly tell Him that my desire is to live in the fullness of His will. Having done this, and continuing to do it, I believe that God’s will is not some future event that I must await, but that it’s with me right at this moment. For, as surely as I’ve asked, He has responded and I live in His will in the here and now.

The psalmist further asks for God’s Spirit to lead him on level ground. Again, I want always to be led by the Holy Spirit. It would be most desirable if life were lived at all times ‘on level ground’, but sometimes the journey takes us into mountainous terrain. We travel through valleys; we are challenged by dark shadows and steep ascents. Yes, it would be nice if the journey was always on level ground but this does not always happen. Yet, with the Holy Spirit as our travel companion, we need not fear the undulations of life. Living in God’s will, I know that God is always there. Indeed, His Word assures me of this. And ultimately, despite what might arise along the way, God will come through. He will have His way and the result will be peace and blessing. Level ground is desirable but not necessary to my walk of faith with a righteous and faithful God.

Lord God,

How wonderful it is to echo a voice of long ago and say, in unison with this ancient writer: teach me to do Your will. You know how I long to please You, how I desire to live in the fullness of Your will – right now and for every moment of life. I rejoice because I have brought this plea before You many times, and I believe You have heard and answered. I choose to believe that I live in Your will right now and for every minute that I continue to keep my eyes fixed on You.

I seek the constant leading of Your Spirit. I do not wish to go anywhere or do anything without your Holy Spirit leading me. Let me be led by the Spirit as my Lord Jesus was led in all that He did on this earth. Lord, hear my prayer. May I also live a Godly life, pleasing to You in every respect and fulfilling the specific plan and purposes You have for me. I come to You in love and obedience. I’m Yours. Hallelujah!                                                    Amen.

His shelter

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91.1

What is it to dwell in the shelter of the Most High? The dwelling place connotes “refuge”. Firstly, then, the Most High, God Almighty, is the refuge of those who seek Him. In Him they will find peace and comfort, security and strength.

But this “refuge” is not for occasional visits as adverse circumstances demand. It is a place of abiding, a daily living with Him, seeking His shelter as a practiced way of life. It is also letting go to Him, and believing for His full and perfect will in all things – a complete trusting in Him. When this trust is extended to God in fullest measure then, I believe, rest in him will flow, freely and abundantly. And what a wonderful place it will be. O, to dwell in His shelter, and rest in his shadow!

Lord God,

I confess You truly as my Lord and my God. I affirm my commitment to You, sinner as I am. I repent of my sins and seek Your forgiveness.

I choose to come to You. I seek to dwell in Your shelter and to rest in You shadow. I look to You in every need and situation. You are my provider and my guide. I am not reluctant to do whatever needs to be done, but I seek always to be and to do in accordance with Your will for me.

I ask You to show me the way. May there be no mistaking in the path I am to take and whatever I am to do. I earnestly desire to follow Jesus and live in, and for, the will of my Father in heaven.

Heavenly Father, hear my cry. Receive me today and lead me on. Have Your way in me. I look to You. May I dwell always in the shelter of the Most High. May I ever rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I commit myself anew to You with this prayer, in Jesus’ Name.         

                                                                                                                                         Amen.

Home again

The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.        Psalm 121.8

It is very early in the morning of Wednesday, 3rd July. I am up at this early hour because my body clock is somewhat awry. It took between 30 and 40 hours to travel from Madrid to Sydney. The journey comprised three stages with extended waiting periods between each flight. My body is understandably confused.

But, all is well. I am home. Apart from tiredness, I am well. God has protected me, and looked after my home whilst I was away. Furthermore, I have a host more of wonderful memories in my treasure chest.

I might well reflect on the last six weeks and the events thereof, and wonder if it really happened. Did I really meet all those lovely people? Did I get to see such a variety of places, of sights and scenes? And did I truly experience God walking with me and sharing with me the wonders of life? Yes I did, most definitely I did!

But the amazing reality is that these precious experiences are not consigned to the past. My life in Him is ongoing. I can daily experience interaction with the loveliest people. I can enjoy the variety in the habitat and places that are close to home. And I can give myself to Him, to walk with Him every step of the way, and every minute of the day.

I believe I need to act in this. God has assured me that He will never leave me nor forsake me. He is with me always. Yet, I sense I have the choice of accepting His presence. I can live fully in the reality of relationship with Him, or I can muddle through life on my own and call out to Him only when things get too difficult or too desperate for me.

I know the choice for me, and I make that choice wholeheartedly. I want God, every moment of every day, with me, leading me, encouraging me, loving me.

And so, I leave Spain, but I do not let go of God. I am grateful for the special times I experienced on the Iberian Peninsula, days when I set aside time specifically to walk with Him and talk with Him. The walking and the talking continue. They may not be quite as focused as in these recent weeks yet, nevertheless, they will be. I find I will act in what I determine to be a priority. My clear priority is to walk with Him.

Farewell Spain, for the moment. Adios!

Adios, the Spanish for farewell or goodbye, compares directly with the French "Adieu". In both cases, the literal translation is "to God". And so, in respect to this country of Spain and the wonderful sojourn there that has just ended, I turn to God.






Almighty God,

I come again to You in thankfulness, in the fullness of heartiest thanksgiving.

I thank You for the journey that You have led me on in recent weeks. I thank You for Spain, and for Portugal where my walking began. I thank You for the countries and their peoples, the many who hosted me and served me along the way. I thank You for the wonderful peregrinos and peregrinas You brought to me, to walk alongside me and share a part of life with me. I thank You for the many who were not physically with me but who followed my progress, and maybe prayed for me.

I thank You for the fine weather, the arrangements that worked out so smoothly, and the joys of discovery in new places.

I thank You especially for those wonderful, breathtaking encounters with You, for the "suddenlies" You surprised me with.

I thank You for a safe return home and the continuing walk with You, which is as thrilling in everyday life as it is in exotic, foreign settings.

I say "A Dios" as I remember the countires I've visited, their peoples, the new friends I've made, and the exisitng friends who have supported me. I commit all of this to You, with the prayer, a Dios, to God, Dear God, I ask You to protect and prosper the aforesaid. I pray You will lead more people on "Caminos" where they will experience the reality of walking with You.

I give myself to the ongoing walk with You. Whatever You have for me, Lord, may I receive it in ready willingness and humble obedience.

         Lead on, I am Yours, Lord,
                                              in life, in love.
                                                                  Amen.