Seen Too Much

 

...but the people  

     who know their God

shall stand firm

      and take action.

          Daniel 11. 32

(We can approach

     and navigate circumstances

     differently

  because we are believers.

Indeed, that should be expected.

In the really hard stuff,

the confusing,

the disappointing,

or even unforeseen victories,

we have seen too much

   to question God in this.

We can trust Him

and respond to His leading.

Do we trust Him

     one more step?

When we come to God,

   seeking Him,

 not just for an answer

   nor for a set of instructions,

God reveals Himself

   in unexpected ways.

We are not stuck.

God gives us His strength

         to stand firm

    and do something,

because He is

          right here with us.

Just as He has been before.)

O LORD,

We have seen Your hand

in so many ways in our lives.

Looking backward,

   Your Presence is revealed.

And looking into the now

     --this very day,

     this overwhelming storm--

  we can stand firm,

tie ourselves to Your mast,

and know that

   You are holding us tight.

We have seen too much

  to question You in this.

And again, we will strive.

     We will survive.

 And in Your steadfast love,

        we will thrive.

 

 

Can't Afford Not To

 

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does

        my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,

who made heaven and earth.

                Psalm 121. 1-2

(May we lift up our eyes

    from these overpowering

    circumstances.

And watch for Him. 

He is not about

   to abandon us now.

May we answer the question:

On who or what

  are we looking for help?

On God

  we can stake our very lives.

He is already at work.

God never intended for us

   to do life without Him.

God does not just "show up."

He is already here,

       waiting on us.

It is not a matter of

  what difference does it

  make if we walk with Him

            through this.

We can't afford not to.)

O LORD,

We come before You,

asking for Your help.

We admit

    that we need You.

Guide us in Your way

    through this dilemma.

Help us to look to You

  not just for answers,

but to abide with You

   and know You more.

Speak to us today,

        Almighty One.

Grant to us the strength

      to respond.

Our help

    comes from You.

May our trust in You

 be a witness to others

    that You are God. 

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

That Takes Our Breath Away

 

In my distress

I called to the LORD,

and He answered me.

          Psalm 120. 1

(These are the first words

  of the songs of ascent

      (Psalms 120-134),

the lyrics through the ages

  repeated over and over

for the hard uphills in life,

physically, emotionally,

spiritually, and relationally.

Distress is nothing modern,

   nor calling out to God.

We need God.

Sometimes it takes

  circumstances

         beyond our control

  for us to realize that.

He is our strength,

      our comfort,

      our encouragement

   on this long ascent.

God answers

      in unexpected ways

and in His perfect timing,

which is never restricted

     to this present moment

but across generations

         and all eternity.)

O LORD,

We call out to You.

Our strength is waning.

This mountain is too much.

But You cover us

   with Your Presence,

even in this hard situation.

You take our hand.

   We are not alone in this.

Your Word gives us hope.

And someday a view

  that takes our breath away.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

Lose Count

 

Seven times a day

     I praise You.....

     Psalm 119. 164

(What do we do 

     seven times a day?

Complain? Criticize?

Cast judgement on others?

Justify our actions?

Or praise ourselves?

Seven was considered

   a number of completion

   in the ancient world.

How differently would we

      see God

  or view our circumstances

if we praised God

          seven times a day?

Circumstances

          --or that other person--

 may or may not change,

    but we do.

Lose count.

How much praise is enough?

Just a little bit more.)

O LORD,

May we lose track

   of our praising,

not just for

   favorable circumstances,

but praising You.

You are doing far more

    than we can grasp.

You are far greater

   than we can imagine.

Please guide us

  through praising You

to a new way of seeing,

to a different passage,

to fresh eyes

    and a transformed heart.

Praising You

  gets all over everything.