Between A Rock and A Hard Place

 

Then the angel of the LORD

went ahead

and stood in a narrow place,

where there was 

      no way to turn

either to the right

           or to the left.

           Numbers 22. 26

Sometimes God

stops us dead in our tracks,

right between 

    a rock and a hard place.

Turn neither to the right

  nor to the left.

            Turn to Me.

God shows us His way.

And sometimes 

        --rather many times--

we will not understand.

But we don't have to.

   We have only to be faithful --

to walk, to turn, 

    to stay right where we are--

for His protection,

     provision and Presence.

Limitation is neither a stop sign

   nor a U-turn,

but a form of guidance.

Don't go there.

  Go this other way through.

O LORD,

Help us to know that

there are no small obediences.

Every action and response

  layers upon the next.

Make us so aware 

    of Your guidance today

in Your divine appointments

      and sacred encounters,

nothing random at all,

            only eternal.

And whether we feel

  confident on our journey,

or feel like we have

         nowhere to turn,

may we turn to You.

No place better

  than to be with You.

Campsites, Rest Areas, and of course, the Snacks

 

And the people of Israel

set out and camped

in Oboth.

And they set out from Oboth

and camped at Lye-abarim...

From there they set out

             and camped...

From there they set out

            and camped....

          Numbers 21. 10-13

And so on,

                and so on.

Aren't we there yet, O LORD?

It may feel like we are wandering

      in the wilderness,

but every step, every turn,

   every place we set up camp,

        God's purposes prevail.

God whispers,

There's something I want you

           to see here,

    something to know,

    someone to love for Me.

Where in the world 

             is God taking us?

It doesn't matter as long as

  we are traveling with Him

  into His purposes.

God provides the campsites,

the rest areas,

   and the snacks along the way.

Trusting God brings 

    His strength to us

and opens our eyes

    to His wonders.

O LORD,

We ask You to guide us.

You say, 

           Follow Me.

And don't miss the views.

You have brought us 

            to this place,

   familiar or strange,

that we may trust You more.

Walk with us

           all the way through.

Patience For What We Do Not Yet See

 

And the people became impatient

              on the way.

             Numbers 21. 4

In the Hebrew, impatient

literally means 

      "reap too early."

When we do not trust God

  for His goodness

                  and timing,

we are digging up

  what God has planted

       before it bears fruit.

And then we wonder why

  there is no life there.

We are the ones who miss out,

not just in the outcome,

  but the growing season.

With impatience comes

taking things into

             our own hands

as if we know better than God.

And what we reap is

weariness, anxiety, fear, stress,

a bounty crop of 

    what we don't want,

and missing out

          on His goodness.

O LORD,

Help us to trust You

  not just for Your goodness,

but Your wonders

  growing beneath the surface,

deep roots and abundant fruit,

     that we don't yet see.

Not only holding out for it,

  but cultivating the very ground

  You have entrusted us.

In the ordinary and extraordinary,

  You are creating

         the great and holy.

Help us to trust You in this day 

  when we don't yet see

what You are nurturing

       in us

       and through us.

Both Sides Of The Coin

 

When I am afraid,

I put my trust in You.

In God,

   whose word I praise,

            in God I trust.

I shall not be afraid.

What can flesh do to me?

...This I know that

            God is for me.

In God, whose word I praise.

In the LORD,

    whose word I praise.

In God I trust. 

         I shall not be afraid.

          Psalm 56. 3-4, 9-10

God hears us.

     And God is acting.

We can go forth

bold, confident and secure,

  not in our own abilities,

but trusting God

        to bring us through.

Fear calls out, "Over here, this way!"

   and then turns off the flashlight.

But with God, we can walk

  with Him through the brokenness

          and every such difficulty,

in what we cannot do on our own

      or even think we can.

Hope is not wishing for,

but knowing that God is with us.

We can trust in Him.

He does not just show up.

          He shows us

   both sides of the coin:

In God I trust.

   I shall not be afraid.

O LORD,

Help us to realize the connection

between trusting You

  and not having to be paralyzed by fear.

We don't have to live that way.

You are not just a 911 emergency call.

Empower us to know

  we can trust You,

  even when we are not afraid.

So we already know to trust You

    when fear stares us in the face.

Help us to live differently

  in this fearful broken world.

Even in every moment today,

          for Your glory here.

But We Do

 

Then Moses and Aaron went

from the presence of the assembly

to the entrance 

of the tent of meeting

       and fell on their faces.

And the glory of the LORD

  appeared to them.

               Numbers 20. 6

It is on our knees before the LORD

in prayer, submission and worship

  that we see God differently

and another way through

            the difficulty.

God's glory covers the situation

   and changes our hearts.

Seek His Presence.

         He is already here.

O LORD,

No matter where we are

or where You have placed us,

amidst blue skies or storms,

when we worship You,

   something always happens.

Circumstances may

               or may not change,

     but we do.

You bring Your glory here

in the most unlikely ways

   and unexpected situations.

Find us faithful, O LORD.

Find us on our knees.

Your glory reverberates

  even when we are not aware.

Holds Us Up And Holds Us Together

 

Behold, 

      God is my helper.

The LORD is the

        upholder of my life.

         Psalm 54. 4

Nowhere does God say

we must pull ourselves up

     by our bootstraps.

That is a prescription for despair,

  desperation, and gloom.

Instead we can abide

       in the promises of God.

God does not just give us hope.

He does not just send help.

    God gives us Himself.

He is my helper

   and the upholder of my life.

Recite. Repeat. Remember.

    And live that way.

God holds us up.

God holds us together.

He helps us, aids, girds,

surrounds, defends,

and gives us the victory.

He gives a story

             for His glory.

God is right here with us.

Lean on Me.

I've got you.

Stay with Me.

O LORD,

Do not just remind us

   of Your Presence.

But grant to us the courage

   to live differently,

even in the really hard stuff.

Help us to turn to You

  and walk with You

             all the way through.

You help.

You uphold.

     Even in what we face today.

 

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

What Does That Look Like

 

...from each its best part

is to be dedicated.

...When you have offered

from the best of it,

           then the rest...

           Numbers 18. 29-30

When we dedicate to the LORD

  our best work and efforts,

   God multiplies the rest.

Are we worshiping Him

     with our leftovers?

When we reorder our loves,

    God reorders our lives.

God is not just in first place,

      but infiltrating all,

not even prominent,

         but preeminent.

What does that look like?

Whatever is offered to God

   and done for His glory,

even the leftovers

         bless the world,

twelve baskets overflowing.

O LORD,

Help us to live in such a way

   that You are honored

         by our every effort,

glorified in every choice,

selfless and loving

  and faithful in whatever

  You have given us to do.

You gifted us with this day.

We offer You our best

     and all the rest.

Guide us through, Almighty One.

 

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com