Courage In Strange Places

Then Jesus was led up

       by the Spirit

into the wilderness.....

        Matthew 4. 1

(What in the world

     am I doing here

in this hard, dark,

       strange place?

We are led

  into the wild unknown

not to be defeated,

but to be strengthened.

What is unknown to us

     is not unknown to God.

If we never struggle,

   or be scared,

   or uncomfortable,

would we even turn to Him,

learn to trust God,

or realize

         our need for Him?

"Where have You

              taken me?"

God replies,

"Where you can come

   to know Me more.

I am with you.")

O LORD,

May we know

that wherever You lead us,

You walk with us there.

Give us the courage

        to be faithful to You,

and to trust You,

even when we don't understand.

Help us to not depend 

   on favorable circumstances

    or our own ingenuity,

but to trust You.

In the familiar or unfamiliar,

         safe or scary places,  

    where there are trails

    and where there are not,

empower us

            to hold on tight to You.

You have a strong hold

                on us.

Reveal to us

   Your wonders here.

 

Magnify, Amplify, Multiply

 

Be fruitful and multiply....

        Genesis 1. 28

(God provides each of us

a new way to approach

and navigate this new year.

He changes our hearts

    and our vision

in these appointed moments

   to not just see difficulties

                   differently

   but to see Him differently.

Our path may not change,

    but we do.

We are strengthened

  by walking with Him in it.

Do we see the hard stuff

      as difficulty

or as opportunity

   to do something more?

Enlarge, expand, increase,

deepen,

and amplify His goodness

    on this patch of ground

and in this moment in time.)

O LORD,

As we venture into new horizons

    or walk faithfully in the familiar,

we ask for strong legs, 

willing hands,

   and a new heart in this.

Grant to us Your wisdom

   and strength.

Nudge us to see this hard situation

   and impossible relationships,

not as they appear on the surface,

but as an opportunity

    to be faithful to You.

Be magnified through us.

Bring Your fruitfulness and glory

   to all we undertake today.

    

Just Watch This

In the beginning,

God created

  the heavens and the earth.

The earth was without form

           and void,

and darkness was over

   the face of the deep.

And the Spirit of God

  was hovering over

the face of the waters.

             Genesis 1. 1-2

(That is how it all began.

That is how it all continues.

God created

   the beginning of everything

            out of nothing

and brought His beauty

and order to the chaos.

Now, just as then,

the Spirit of God

   is hovering over our lives.

Something is about to happen.

God is moving over us

  just as a parent cherishes a child.

This year -- even this very day--

   may only appear as dark and void

   and without form.

But God says, "Just watch this.")

O LORD,

Help us to see in the dark,

knowing that You are working

  and weaving and redeeming

what is way beyond

          our imagination

  and deep in Your purposes.

Empower us

     to be faithful to You.

 

Already Being Redeemed

 

And He who was

    seated on the throne said,

"Behold,

   I am making all things new..."

            Revelation 21. 5

(In this new year,

we are not walking

           into the unknown,

but that which is

   already being redeemed,

our past, present and future,

        covered by His endless glorias.

The fullness of time

  is not just coming

  in some far-off future,

but woven in this very moment,

   profound in all eternity,

to the furthest generation.)

 

Happy New Year!

O LORD,

May we in this newest of years

     abide in You

and open ourselves

to seeing You in new places,

unexpected circumstances,

and among the unlikely.

Wherever You lead,

may we know fully

   that You are with us

and find us faithful.

You do not just bring us through,

    but draw us right to You.