Time On Knees

 

...while I was speaking

         in prayer...

         Daniel 9. 21

Something always unfolds

     when we pray

         and as we pray.

Things do not "just happen,"

but God intervenes

and redeems

and changes us to our very core.

We see our circumstances

      differently on our knees.

That is our posture of prayer,

   time on knees.

While baking the other day,

I dropped a chocolate chip

 I couldn't see it on the floor,

  but I knew it was there.

It wasn't until

    I got down on my knees,

        that I could see it.

God does not just

     deliver an answer.

He opens our eyes

       to His wonders

and even to what

  is right at our feet.

While we are praying,

   the tectonic plates

   of the universe shift

far more than 

       we can imagine.

O LORD,

We come before You,

not even realizing

what You are creating

and revealing and unfolding

  because we are

  spending time with You.

Your mercies surround us,

most often in ways we have

     not even asked for.

On our knees,

  we realize Your Presence.

And that changes

how we respond,

       what we see,

and how we go forth.

You order and reorder

        our hearts.

 

Uphill Both Ways

 

In my distress,

     I called on the LORD,

and He answered me.

              Psalm 120. 1

This verse underlines

    an appropriate beginning

    to the fourteen psalms of ascent,

traveling, tackling, scrambling,

and trekking the hard uphills of life,

   of which there are

   countless mountains to climb.

But it is there we see,

             along the way,

amazing views we cannot imagine

          any other way.

And find out what God's strength

              is all about.

Call to the LORD.

He will not just respond,

but walks with us through this,

      uphill both ways.

We are just not there yet. 

O LORD,

in You we trust,

on You we lean,

from You we gain strength,

through You we will make it.

Help us to savor 

      these moments with You,

knowing the journey

is even more significant

           than the outcome.

Empower us

     one more step.

And then another.

Not looking too far ahead,

   but looking to You.

When We Are Overwhelmed

 

...because you are strong,

and the Word of God 

        abides in you,

and you have overcome

                the evil one.

           1 John 2. 14

The distinctive and irrefutable difference

   between overwhelmed and overcome

         is trusting in the Almighty.

Overwhelmed is struggling

   with what is too strong for us.

Overcome is knowing His strong hold

               tightly over us.

God brings a far different outcome.

Lord Jesus...Overcome what 

     overwhelms us. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

God covers us with His triumphs

  in an unlikely sequence of events.

O LORD,

We don't have any idea what to do

   with this darkness

   or this power against us,

except to pray

      and run to You.

Reveal to us what to do

and how to bring You glory in it.

Turn this situation on its head

   by redeeming what is impossible

into tremendous good.

Translate overwhelmed

             into overcome.

 

God Is God And We Are Not

 

...and did not understand it.

           Daniel 8. 27

Daniel was a significant prophet

   in the Old Testament,

who interpreted dreams for kings

       even at the risk of his life.

But sometimes, even Daniel

       was at a loss for what

      was before him.

Those who are wise,

   know that they don't know it all.

Some things in Scripture

           --or our own lives --

we will never understand.

    But some things we can.

The biggest truth 

and greater good always exceed

         our comprehension.

That is why God is God

    and we are not.

But when we seek God,

He always reveals Himself to us

   in one way or a million.

And God's Word gets us there,

forming an unbreakable connection

   between reality and Scripture.

We may still not fully understand,

but slowly God unfolds

  what we never saw before.

O LORD,

This situation, this relationship,

  this deep dark crevasse,

is way beyond our understanding.

Strengthen us to go forth

   with what we do know:

that You love and care for us.

And that we can walk with You

    through everything before us.

               Even this.

Guide our steps.

Order our thoughts.

Help us to trust You

   in what we cannot yet know.

 

It Always Matters

 

Take care that you are

not carried away

with the error of lawless people

and lose your own stability.

But grow in the grace and 

knowledge of our Lord

     and Savior Jesus Christ.

            2 Peter 3. 17-18

We are all surrounded

by so many persuasive voices

and strong distractions

   that constantly seek

   to pull us away.

But we need not

       be their easy prey.

God offers His power

    to push back 

    against the darkness.

Take care, pay attention,

do everything in our power

to grow in relationship

             with Jesus.

We make intentional choices

        even today

        to follow Him.

Never calculate without Him.

God changes the course

    of our lives

and those around us.

O LORD,

The world always says,

     Oh, it doesn't matter.

And indeed, it always does.

Guide us to You.

Help us to grow in You.

Strengthen and shield us

   from the adversary.

Draw us ever closer

  even in what choices

  we make today.

Align our hearts with Yours.

And grant us Your power

   to turn towards You.

 

Everyday Decisions and Extraordinary Places

 

I have heard of you

that the Spirit of the holy God

           is in you,

and that light and understanding

and excellent wisdom

           are found in you.

           Daniel 5. 14

God has strategically placed us

in situations and among people

       who desperately need Him.

God brings a strong witness there

          through us.

Meditating on God's Word,

praying, and practicing

       the presence of God

infiltrated Daniel's heart

          and his mind.

And it becomes evident to all,

   even in us.

The Holy Spirit changes

what we do, how we respond,

what we love, and 

how we dwell with others.

We can approach difficulties,

navigate the narrow squeaks,

be faithful to God even here,

and go forth differently,

   even before kings,

especially in the crises.

O LORD,

Please help us to know 

that Your abiding in us

changes everything about us.

It is in the crisis that

   time in Your Word is revealed.

You don't give us a 

             different perspective,

but a heart changed by You.

Steady our souls

         by Your Presence.

Grant to us Your light,

understanding and wisdom

in everyday decisions

and extraordinary places

     for Your glory indeed.

Faithfulness For The Long Haul

 

If this be so, 

our God whom we serve

                   is able

to deliver us from the

burning fiery furnace,

and He will deliver us

 out of your hand, O king.

But if not,

   be it known to you, O king,

that we will not serve your gods

or worship the golden image

  that you have set up.

                 Daniel 3. 17-18

God can deliver

or God will give us the strength

  to endure these circumstances.

God walks with us.

His footprints leave a strong indelible

           witness there.

The book of Daniel took place 

  in the sixth century BC.

We still know their commitment

   and their faithfulness to God.

Trusting God in the 

    small everyday stuff

builds trust in Him

in the big overwhelming

   extraordinary situations.

There is no small stuff.

O LORD,

Help us to realize that

the courage of these men

was practiced over and over,

not based on natural abilities

but Your supernatural strength.

They trusted You.

     And we can too.

You are God.

May our actions and words

     and even our attitudes

reveal that we worship You.

Write Your witness

    in indelible ink.

No matter what unfolds,

Your glory shines through.