For he held fast

         to the LORD.

He did not depart

    from following Him...

And the LORD was with him;

wherever he went out,

         He prospered.

             2 Kings 18. 6-7

(To what do I hold fast?

Wherever the LORD leads,

when we are faithful

   and hold onto Him with both hands

                   and a willing heart,

God plants big trees.

He bears fruit

     and leaves a witness there.

The Hebrew word prosper

   literally means

"to push forward,

to pass through,

to get on."

God is using you

    to bring about His purposes

    and to bring Him glory

              even in this barren place.

We are blessed

    not just in a far-off outcome,

but in the holding fast.)

O LORD,

Please help us to hold fast

       and to be faithful,

not to things or great ideas

    or favorable outcomes,

but to You.

Help us to push forward

       through the miry bog,

to pass through the thicket,

to get on even in the midst

    to the good stuff

            -- Your glory.

There is a lot more at stake

        than we will ever know.

You never promised

      that it would not be hard,

but You are with us.