His House, His Way

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

Psalm 91:1 NLT

What does it look like to dwell in God's protection, in His hiding place, in His house? Sometimes I think I must wait until heaven to find out what that's like, but the truth is that I can live there now. In the midst of the evil and chaos that swirls around me, I can rest in His wonderful home.

To live in the protection of His presence is where I'm meant to be.  But I don't automatically dwell there.  Just because I'm made in His image doesn't mean I'm ushered through the foyer of His mansion and into His living quarters. Simply due to the fact that I accepted Jesus as my Savior doesn't guarantee me a ticket there either.  In order to find my place in His home, it is necessary for me to let Him rule me, to allow Him to be my Lord instead of me taking control of my own life.  To live in my Father's house, I must agree that it's His House so things go His way.

What are the benefits of such an arrangement?

Deliverance.  "For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease.  He will cover you with his feathers.  He will shelter you with his wings.  His faithful promises are your armor and protection." (Psalm 91:3-4 NLT)  

Living in my Father's house means I'll be liberated from the destructive ways I cope with life.  I could use alcohol to numb my aching heart, to enable me to endure another day of the hurts I hold deep inside.  Or I may try drugs to anesthetize my mind so I don't have to think about my present circumstances and my past failures.  Or it could be that even though the abuse I receive is bad, I've convinced myself that it's better than being alone, so I accept it as normal.  Or my body could be taken over by one who hates me and wants to destroy me, giving me no choice but to do his bidding.

Whatever my mode of survival, my Father will deliver me from such captivity, drawing me close to His breast as his precious child.  When I surrender to Him, He'll rescue me from the snare that holds me captive or the deadly pestilence that is slowly killing me.  He sent Jesus to rescue such prisoners as I (Isaiah 61:1-3).

When I surrender to my loving Father's will for my life, I will find deliverance from all that holds me captive.

Protection.  I can't sleep.  When the sun goes down my terror rises up like a beacon, calling me to pay homage to her.  All that plagues me keeps me up at night, pacing, worrying, fretting.  So much could happen, my life hangs by a thread, balancing precariously on the edge of a cliff.  One wrong move and I'm a goner (Psalm 91:5-8).

Even though there is much to fear in this world, I need not be afraid.  Why?  How could I possibly live at peace when there is so much to threaten me?  I can be at rest no matter where I am because I have a Father who protects me.  He has me hemmed in, going before me like a guide and following behind me like a guard (Psalm 139:5).  My loving Father also has His hand of blessing on my head, constantly releasing a flow of goodness into my life.  Under such protection as this, I need not fear, no matter what I see around me (2 Corinthians 5:7)! 

When I surrender to my loving Father's will for my life, I will find protection from all that threatens me.

Security Detail.  The President of the United States has men constantly at his side, making sure no threat can get to him.  He also has a crew of personnel who go before him, sweeping an area of danger, giving him a clear path to walk and move about in that day's planned activities.  Backgrounds are checked of all that will come into contact with him, the physical surroundings are wiped clean of any and every possible hazard, and any risky obstacles are removed before his arrival.  In short, the Secret Service is there to preserve the life of their charge.

As a child of God through faith in Jesus Christ who has decided to abide in my Father's will for my life, I also have such a security detail who protects me wherever I go (Psalm 91:9-13).  Who knows how many times in my life that attacks against me have been thwarted or threats have been removed?  I bet I've had dozens of close calls where God's angel warriors and protective spirits have shielded me from harm.  To think that God has an entire battalion of angels ready to jump into action on my behalf gives me great comfort.

When I surrender to my loving Father's will for my life, I will find a security detail that keeps me safe from all that threatens.

I don't automatically live in my Father's House, but I can dwell there if I give up trying to control my own life and let Him have His way.  When I do, I'll find that I am delivered from my destructive patterns, protected from the harshness of this world, and given my very own security detail as I walk unscathed through the battles of life.  In these ways I'll discover my Father's attentive love for me, but only if I choose His way over mine.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God with every detail of my life.

When do I fear what God is already protecting me from?

How am I failing to trust God in the midst of the threats, instead choosing to fear?

It Only Takes a Taste

"O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good!

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) 

is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him."

Psalm 34:8 AMP

"How will I know he's the one?"  It's a question asked through the ages by young women yearning for their prince, their knight in shining armor, their future husband.  This sentiment also has been applied to God.  People throughout time have wondered, How do I know what the Bible says is true?  How can I be sure God really is good?  What if I put my trust in Him and it's all proved to be a sham, a big cosmic joke?

There is always a certain risk when it comes to matters of faith.  After all, that's what faith is: Believing something is true in the absence of evidence.  While I can see plenty of proof all around of a good God who loves us; the complexity of His creation, so-called coincidences that are just too good to be mere happenstance, a marriage between two people who love each other through thick and thin, it can be argued that I see these things because I know God for myself.  I love Him and have committed my life to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.  I believe so it could be said I only have eyes for Him.  I'm brainwashed, so to speak.

If this is true, then all I can say is what David expressed in today's passage.  "Try God out for yourself and then see all the ways He makes your life better.  You'll never know for sure until You give Him a chance in your own life!"  

What can I expect if I give Him a chance?

Deliverance.  Not from my problems.  Not from hardships.  Not from difficulties.  Submitting myself to God through faith in Jesus Christ will offer another kind of deliverance.  I will find freedom from fear as I begin to relate to God as a child to a loving, powerful and sovereign Father.  If He is my refuge and strength, bigger than any problem or crisis I face, what do I have to fear (Psalm 46:1- 3)?

In addition, shame will be gone as I realize the forgiveness Jesus has secured through His blood sacrifice (Hebrews 9:22), giving me the opportunity to live with the confidence that my sins have not condemned me.  Not only that, but I have hope, even when it seems there is none.  In Christ, the Conqueror, I can possess an optimistic expectation of what is to come.

When I taste and see that the Lord is good I will find true deliverance.

Abundance.  I often wonder what it would be like to grow up in a wealthy home, to have a father with power and influence, resources beyond comprehension, who loved me unconditionally and had the clout to pull strings to provide the best life has to offer.  Then I remember:  I do have a Father like that!

God is as fatherly as they come, doting on His children and lavishing them with gifts beyond compare (1 John 3:1, Matthew 7:9-11, Ephesians 1:3).  His brand of spoiling is best since He tempers it with discipline, giving me the best of both worlds.  I have all that I need and more, plus the benefit of a firm hand when necessary.  In this way I won't be ruined with getting things my way but am secure in His love as a legitimate child (Hebrews 12:7-8).

When I taste and see that the Lord is good I will discover His abundant gifts flowing throughout my life.

Redemption.  There's something special about the love of God.  He has this power to take that which was meant for my destruction, the very thing that was meant to bring me down, what was introduced into my life to hurt me, and transform it.  God's redemptive power is life-altering (Isaiah 61:3).  

Sin, which came into the world through the disobedience of one man, Adam, spread throughout all the earth, corrupting it and twisting it into something unrecognizable from it's original design.  Still, God is able to take me as a sinful being and redeem my life, transforming it from a downward spiral that ends in death to a beautiful journey that takes me to life eternal (Ephesians 1:8, John 3:16).  

Sin was supposed to be the end of all the good that God made, but God had a plan.  Through Jesus, He was able to buy it back with His blood, giving us the power to live as one who is righteous by faith and the hope of it all returning to it's pre-sin state when Jesus returns (Romans 3:22, Revelation 21) .  His resurrection is proof.  

Not only do I have this salvation from the punishment my sins earned me, but even the weakness of my sinful body can be used for good(Romans 6:13)!  How could anything decent or wholesome come from my heart that is corrupted by sin?  Through Christ, it is made new and I can fulfill the good plan He has for me (Ephesians 2:10)!

When I taste and see that the Lord is good I will know His redemptive power for myself.

It may be hard to believe without some kind of physical, tangible confirmation that God exists.  I can't see Him.  I can't touch Him.  I can't hear Him.  How do I know He's not some figment of my imagination?  If I take a risk and try Him out for myself, putting my full weight on Him and testing Him out, I'll find deliverance, abundance, and redemption.  It only takes a taste, and then there is no going back!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to take Him at His word.

When do I demand physical evidence before I'll try God on for myself?

How has God changed my life in ways I can't otherwise explain? 

  

Trouble with a Capital "T"

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

but the LORD delivers him out of them all."

Psalm 34:19 ESV

"I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden, along with the sunshine; there's gotta be a little rain sometime!"  I remember singing along to this catchy 1973 hit by Lynn Anderson.  As a child, I didn't really pay attention to the lyrics, but as an adult I think this first line could have been penned by God Himself.  

Committing my life to following Jesus does not mean my life will be trouble-free.  It's quite the contrary, really, as I live in enemy territory in a body that can be my greatest adversary until I'm called home (John 16:33, 1 Peter 2:11-12).  This sounds like a recipe for difficulty, if you ask me!  I'm not promised a life free of hard times but an abundant life in the midst of the mess (John 10:10).

But.  If the first part of today's scripture passage was the whole message, life would be hopeless indeed!  Thankfully, there is a "but."  The "but" means there is something more; an Overcomer who has vanquished death and has authority over sin and evil!  

Through Jesus, my Champion, I can live without fear of death.  It is no longer the end, but only the beginning of an eternity of bliss in the presence of the One who loves me perfectly!  I can trust Him that the everlasting home that is promised me will be one that fulfills me perfectly, giving me complete contentment as things return to how they were meant to be (John 14:2-3).  

I can also live a life free from the bondage of sin where temptation is not my slave driver but I can choose to take the out He's provided and walk a new way that is contrary to my fleshly desires (1 Corinthians 10:13, Romans 6:6).

Furthermore, Satan has no license to operate freely in my life.  Instead, through Jesus I have authority over him, giving him no leeway except for what I allow.  When I recognize his evil plot, my Warrior has given me armor and weapons with which to fight him off (Ephesians 6:13-18).

Jesus is who I need to withstand the trouble I face in this world.

Deliverance.  It was like nothing anyone had ever seen before.  The men walked in the fiery furnace that was hot enough to melt iron yet emerged unscathed, without even the smell of smoke upon them (Daniel 3:19-30).  How could this be?  God delivered them!

The same is promised for me as His child through faith in Jesus Christ. Even though the waters may rise up until I may fear drowning, He will be with me keeping my head above the waters.  When rapids rush around me, threatening to take me back from where I came, I won't succumb to the current.  While I may not escape the fire, the flames will not destroy me (Isaiah 43:1-3).

In the same way that Jesus was there with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they walked in Nebuchadnezzar's deadly furnace, He has promised to never leave me nor forsake me (Daniel 3:25, Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5).  With Him at my side, what weapon can prevail, what trouble can overcome me (Romans 8:31, Isaiah 54:17 )?

Jesus is my deliverer who will stand with me through the trial, delivering me through it unscathed.

Complete.  Ever present.  Always ready. Very present.  Well-proved.  God is my refuge and strength.  Always, without fail, never to let me down in my time of need (Psalm 46:1).  With such a God as this at my side, what do I have to fear?

God's help is complete and whole.  He does not do a job half-way, but delivers total healing, full recovery, and thorough transformation.  He does not miss a detail.  Therefore, I can trust Him completely no matter what chaos is going on around me.  

Still, I must keep close to Him and train my attention upon Him to keep the current crisis from sending me into a tailspin of panic.  God is my refuge, but I must stick with Him in order to experience the help He is ready to give.  He will not let me down.

Jesus can be counted on to always provide complete help at just the right time.

Yes, life is full of trouble with a capital "T."  Even though I'm ushered into God's kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ, I'm not promised an easy, comfortable life.  I do have hope, though, in the person of Jesus Christ who will always be with me, faithfully delivering me through whatever trial may come.  Therefore, I can choose faith in Jesus instead of fear of what surrounds me.  I'm not promised a rose garden, but the joy that comes with walking through the fire with Jesus smells sweeter than any flower ever could!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can keep my eyes on Jesus as I encounter today's trouble with the grace God has promised me.

When do I let the trouble send me into fear and doubt?

In my panic, how do I forget Who is right beside me?           

Whose Side Are You On?

When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai,

he sent back this answer:

'Do not think that because you are in the kings' house you alone of all the Jews will escape.

For if you remain silent at this time,

relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise 

from another place,

but you and your father's family will perish.

And who knows but that you have come to your 

royal position for such a time as this?'"

Esther 4:12-14

Relief would come.  Protection would arise.  Deliverance would occur.  God faithfully hears the cries of His people.  The only question that remained was this:  Would Esther be a part of what God was doing?

It is the same with me today.  God has a plan and He is always at work to progress His purpose.  In the end, when His perfect design unfolds, will I be found faithful to Him, or will I be on the sidelines, cowering in fear?

The choice is mine.

Silence.  It's easy for me to want to stay out of the fray, to avoid the conflict at all cost, to keep from getting caught up in the controversy.  In an effort to keep the peace, I stay silent.  Refusing to get involved in the struggle for righteousness in a world that is drawn to the unrighteous, to keep the Light within to myself as the darkness creeps closer and closer, to remain quiet even when the voices of deceit grow louder and stronger, I am not staying neutral as is my intent.

Inaction when action is called for is a vote against God (Matthew 12:30).  In an attempt to preserve my reputation or to avoid escalating the conflict, I am actually choosing to oppose God.  As a follower of Christ who is the salt of the world, I am called to stand firm in what I've learned in the faith, to be strong and courageous, tempering it all with love (1 Corinthians 16:13-14). 

This doesn't mean that I'm a vigilante who seeks justice wherever I go, but that when God presents an opportunity to join in with His unpopular work in a world that desperately needs His love and salvation, I can participate.  My attempt to stay neutral ends up placing me on the wrong side of history.

Keeping silent when speaking up is called for is a choice to stay out of God's unfolding plan.

Fear.  There is much to worry about in this dark world.  Fear, however, is not from God (2 Timothy 1:7).  He did not place me where I now find myself so I could cower in the corner, afraid to speak up.  His plan does not include my attempts to preserve my safety, my reputation or my way of life.  I am not here, in this place and time, so that I can hunker down until Jesus comes again.

No!  I am called to enter the battle, to interject into the fray, to live as salt and light (Matthew 5:13-16).  What good is salt, however, that has lost it potency, its salty quality?  How would a lamp hidden under a bowl do anyone any good?  

Thanks to God's Spirit living within me, I'm bold and powerful, able to tear down strongholds and render the most influential argument as foolish (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  His Spirit gives me a calm spirit in the face of danger as I let Him fight the battle through me.  The perfect love that urges me forward drives out any fear that lurks in my heart (1 John 4:8).

Letting fear rule my life won't succeed in preserving myself as is my intention but only succeeds in placing me in a position that is against God and His plan.

Denial.  I'm pretty good at ignoring God's still, quiet voice (1 Kings 19:11-13).  It's easy to pretend I don't know what He wants me to do.  Living in such a way, however, does not release me from liability.  I will one day stand before Him and give account for my choices (1 Corinthians 5:9-10).

Since I, as a follower of Christ, has been given gifts to use in service, opportunities to share the Gospel, and purposes for every situation in which I find myself, I must not see myself as a victim who has been dealt a crummy hand (Matthew 25:14-30).  God has a beautiful tapestry He is weaving out of my life, and every thread that seems difficult, hurtful or agonizing at the time, is actually an integral part of the masterpiece that is my life.  Therefore, I don't have to think of my calling as something to avoid, but I can embrace it with passion as I realize how God is using it for my good and His glory.  I will never be sorry that I responded to His gentle appeal for me to join in with what He is doing around me.

Pretending I don't know what God wants me to do does not absolve me of responsibility and places me in a position opposing God.

Many are suffering all around me but it's easy to turn a blind eye.  When God brings something to my attention, however, my silence, fear, and denial do not keep me neutral, safe and free of obligation.  Instead, refusing to speak out, letting fear drive my actions, and pretending I don't know what God wants me to do not only robs me of the blessing that comes from obedience but also places me on the side that is fighting against Him.  I can't get my way and follow God at the same time.  I must decide whose side I am on and act accordingly.

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can remember my inaction is a choice against God.

When do I feign ignorance when I know full well what God wants of me?

How do I make it a habit to choose not to get involved? 

          

Commemorate

"Then Moses said to the people,

'Commemorate this day,

the day you came out of Egypt,

out of the land of slavery,

because the LORD brought you out of it

with a mighty hand.'"

Exodus 13:3

The glow of the candles transformed the darkened room into a magical place.  As friends and family gathered around, voices joined in unison to wish my husband a happy birthday.  He beamed before the cake, looking around at all those he loved as his thoughts went to the many memories he shared with them.  The usually composed man was nearly moved to tears as he pondered the meaning of this day; the day in which God ushered his newly-minted life into this world.

Birthday celebrations are a kind of commemoration where we remember the day of our birth.  In the same way that we can use that time to honor all that God has done in our lives, there is another kind of memorial that is a part of many believer's lives.   This remembrance ritual is what we call, "communion."  

Whether we take part in this sacrament once a week, every month or only on special occasions, it is a time when we can commemorate what the Lord has done for us through Jesus Christ.  For those of us who are saved by faith in Christ, we have as much to celebrate as did the Israelites of old.  Taking the time to intentionally remember all we have been given is encouraged during this usually sober rite.

Deliverance

After more than 40 years in prison, the man who claimed innocence from the time he was arrested for starting an Arizona hotel fire in 1970 walked out of jail a free man.  The first thing he did was go for a walk to enjoy nature and then eat some fast food.  He hardly knew what to do with his new-found freedom but he thanked God for giving him the chance.

While I have never served time behind bars, I have been a prisoner of a different kind.  My jail cell was not a physical one but was made up of the shackles of sin and death that bound me as profoundly as any iron manacles could. (Romans 6:20-21) Before I knew Jesus, I had no choice but to do as my sinful nature dictated, sending me on a road that led to destruction.  As much as a drowning woman cannot save herself, so I was powerless to release myself of this eternally-damning burden. (Ephesians 2:4)

Jesus Christ freed me from the heavy yoke of sin that earned me death.  When He died on the cross, taking the death sentence my sins deserved, He saved me from the wrath of God.  Instead of being His enemy, I am now considered to be His precious child, adopted into His family by the blood of Jesus. (Ephesians 2:1-10, Romans 5:6-11,1 John 3:1)

Since I have been freed from such a burden, I must take the time to regularly remember how significant is this act of salvation.  Not only have I been promised eternal life, but I have been granted a life of fulfillment and deep meaning in the here and now. (John 10:10) This is not to say I will never suffer or go through hard times, but rather that as I live my life I have a connection to the One who made me that will empower me to live victoriously as His child.  If God is for me in such a profound way, how can anything He has created come between me and His great love for me? (Romans 8:38-39)

The deliverance from the shackles of sin and death that I have experienced at the hand of a loving God is reason enough to celebrate.

Promise

For hundreds of years the people of God had heard about the Promise.  One day soon, they would enter into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land every Israelite dreamed about, the land that they could finally call their own after years of living in a place belonging to someone else.  Now they were on the cusp of stepping into the Promise first given to their father Abraham and perpetuated and expanded upon for generations.  Now, this great nation that was promised to their forefathers would one day soon inhabit a land that belonged to them.  (Genesis 12:1-3, Exodus 3:8, Exodus 13:5)

The Israelites had a lot to celebrate!  Not only were they free from the bondage of slavery, but they were about to see a long-standing promised be fulfilled.  In a similar way, I have been promised an abundant life that will last for all of eternity.  Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for me in heaven; a special spot in our Father's house that I can call my own.  (John 14:2-3)

Consequently, I too have a lot to celebrate!  I have the hope of eternity with my Father who loves me in a place that has been created specifically for me.  I also have the promise of an abundant life here where I am free from the guilt of sin, gathered into a family of believers who loves me and given a host of gifts to share and build up my brothers and sisters in deep and meaningful ways.

Therefore, since I am surrounded by such abundance, I must never forget the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross for me that makes it all possible, always keeping in mind from where I came.

The promise of a full, rich life here and an eternal one afterward is reason enough to celebrate.

Redemption

The firstborn belonged to the Lord.  The Israelites were instructed to give the first males birthed back to Him as a reminder that they were His in the first place.  In a the same way that I offer back to the Lord the first ten percent of my income that rightfully belongs to Him, the people of Israel gave back the firstfruits of their flocks.  

Moreover, the first of the children born into their families also belonged to the Lord.  Instead of demanding them in sacrifice, however, the Lord allowed a provision where they could buy back the child by replacing him on the altar with a lamb or a young goat.  (Exodus 13:11-16)  In the same way that the blood of the Passover lamb protected their firstborn sons from certain death at the hand of God and were in a sense "bought back" from Him, so they are to remember God's rightful possession of their firstborn sons.  It is only in sacrificing a lamb to the Lord that they can redeem their child.

In a similar way, Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, bought my life back for me.  His sacrifice saved me from the wrath of God in the same way that the blood of the Passover lamb saved the Israelite firstborns from death.  I have been bought at a price so that my life no longer belongs to me but to Christ.  (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Ephesians 1:7)

Therefore, since I have been saved from such a certain fate, I can live as a child of God who is dearly loved and profoundly treasured.  I can spend my time in ways that honor Him.  I can give my life back as a way to show my love for the One who made it all possible.

The redemption I have through the blood of Jesus Christ is reason enough to celebrate.

Every time I take the Lord's Supper, I can remember all He has done for me and celebrate what I've been given.  I have received deliverance from the burden of sin and death, the promise of an abundant life here and eternal life, as well as the redemption I receive through the blood of Jesus.  As a result, I must take the time to commemorate these great gifts every time I partake of this special ritual.  When I do, I realize how much I have to celebrate!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can live my life with the constant reminder that I have much for which to honor the Lord.

When do I take communion without thought to what there is to celebrate?

How do I so easily forget the abundant life I have in Christ?   

Deliverance

"During the night Pharaoh summoned

Moses and Aaron and said,

'Up!  Leave my people,

you and the Israelites!

Go, worship the LORD as you have requested.

Take your flocks and herds,

as you have said,

and go.

And also bless me.'"

Exodus 12:31-32

The minute hand on the clock seemed to be moving much slower than it should, as if the batteries were running out of power.  "Is it time yet?" 

"No, girls, we need to wait for the man to make the announcement that its time to board the plane.  Right now, we just have to wait."

My family and I were catching a ride with a military flight heading back to the west coast of the U.S. from Germany so we could visit my grandmother during what came to be the final few weeks of her life.  I took on a better understanding of the oft-quoted Army adage,"Hurry up and wait," as we sat for hours waiting for our flight after rushing to the airport hours earlier in order to make the report time.  It seemed our plane would never leave.

Finally, after 4 hours, an attendant rushed into the waiting room and announced the departure of our flight.  He hurriedly gave instructions to gather our baggage and load up on a bus that would take us to the C-5 cargo aircraft where we would climb a set of mobile stairs to the upper deck seating area located above the payload.  We rushed to gather our things and follow the directions given to us, thankful to finally be on our way.

Many times God offers sudden, unexpected relief after a long time of oppression, suffering or waiting.  While it is certainly welcomed, in the same way that our family was relieved to finally be on our way to the U.S., things can seem to move overwhelmingly fast after such a long time of delay.  I can always trust God, however, that it is all a part of His master plan.

Preparation

Put no yeast in the dough.

Leave no meat until morning; burn all leftovers.

Eat quickly, with your staff in your hand, your sandals on your feet and your cloak tucked into your belt.

Be ready to go.

After years of suffering under the hand of Pharaoh, the Israelites had finally reached the time of deliverance. (Exodus 12:9-11) As much as they had wanted to leave Egypt, when the time finally came it was a quick exit.  Thankfully, God prepared them.  He gave them specific instructions of what to eat and how to consume it.  The Lord even thought of the importance of leaving out the yeast so they would be able to take the unleavened dough with them and bake it for consumption on their journey. (Exodus 12:37-39)  Who has time to let dough rise when traveling?

God is equally as concerned about preparing me for my time to move.  While it may seem I'm in a time of no action, little activity, or minor movement; God is still at work, getting things into place in preparation for the time when He says, "Go!"

Therefore, I need not worry that my life is a waste of time, or that my suffering will never end. Instead, I can trust that the God who never changes is getting me ready for what is to come.  So, I'd better be prepared, because when He says to move I may not have time to get my shoes on or to gather my belongings.  When it's time to go, I need to go.

In the same way that God prepared the Israelites for a fast departure, he is preparing me in ways I cannot detect for what is to come.

Favor

"Sure, we will issue the permit."

"Oh, let me tear up that parking ticket.  Don't worry about it."

"It's okay, let me get you registered.  Even though you're past the deadline, I can still sign you up."

These are the kinds of things my husband hears on a regular basis.  I could never understand why people seemed to fall all over themselves to help him, even if he missed a deadline, broke a rule, or didn't have all the needed information.  People simply seemed predisposed to giving him assistance.

This is called the favor of God. Others will find themselves wanting to help without even knowing why, simply because God moved their hearts to do so.  If I trust God to fight my battles for me like my husband does, I will also find barriers lifted, rules excepted, and assistance offered, all because God's favor is upon me.

This is the phenomenon the people of Israel discovered when they were rushing to leave Egypt.  The slaves asked their neighbors for valuables and clothing that they could take with them on their adventure.  Even though these families were grieving the loss of their firstborn children and were eager to be ride of the troublemakers, the Egyptians were surprisingly willing to hand over gold, silver and garments for them to wear. (Exodus 12:35-36)  God's favor was upon His people.

I can trust God in a similar way to move obstacles out of my way when I'm walking down the path on which He is leading me.  This is not because I am more important than anyone else, or special in some way, but in order for His will to come to pass.  If God is for me, who can be against me? (Romans 8:31) I can trust Him to take care of the details as He makes sure His name is glorified in my life.

In the same way that God's favor was upon His people as they exited Egypt, so God will grant me favor in order for His plan to come to pass.

Vigil

"I was awake last night for several hours and I felt the need to pray for you."

How strange, I thought. That was the very time I was struggling the most.

In the same way that my friend kept a kind of vigil for me that night, so God is always on guard duty, keeping watch over the details of my life.  While the horrible final plague before the Israelites' exit was being played out, the Lord stood watch. (Exodus 12:42)  

He never sleeps or slumbers, but keeps track of all the major and minor details, knowing when each of His own rests and when we worry.  He never takes His eyes off those who belong to Him through faith in Jesus Christ.  Furthermore, He is more attentive than the mother of a newborn, hearing every cry of despair or whimper of discouragement.  He is always aware, ready to comfort, encourage and soothe my fears. (Psalm 34:15)

While I may feel all alone in my suffering, I am never truly by myself.  God is always with me, even in my darkest hour.  He is keeping watch until the appointed time of the dawn.

In the same way that God stood vigil over His people during the night of the worst plague, so God watches over me in my time of greatest need.

I may feel like this period of suffering, waiting or inactivity will never end.  Even though it seems nothing is happening, God is busy preparing me, granting His favor upon me, and watching over me.  While it may seem like it will never come, my day of deliverance will soon be here!

As I begin this day it is my prayer that I can trust God enough to realize He is preparing for what is to come.

When do I trust in my feelings more than I put my faith in God's promises?

How do I forget about God's constant presence and instead feel utterly alone?