Say to my soul,

"I am your deliverance."

                 Psalm 35. 3

(Jesus meets me

      at my place of need

and at the point of realizing

              my need for Him.

This is too much

              for me alone.

Help me to see beyond this,

help me to see You,

help me to follow You 

                 through this.

The LORD's deliverance comes

not just through an exit

      but through many doors

and sometimes 

           right where I am.

   But never alone.)

And he made the laver of bronze

and its base of bronze,

from the mirrors

    of the ministering women

who ministered at the door

of the tent of meeting.

                    Exodus 38. 8

(What can God do with this?

We have no idea 

how God transforms

   even a single step of obedience

                   for His glory.

We have no grasp the extent

  of what God does

           with a willing heart.

The LORD does not just use

        what we bring before Him.

The LORD redeems.)

O taste and see 

    that the LORD is good.

                          Psalm 34. 8

(Just watch what the LORD

      can do with this.)

And when Peter went out
            to the porch,
another maid saw him,
and she said to the bystanders,
"This man was with
         Jesus of Nazareth."

              Matthew 26. 71

(Something different about him
    because he was with Jesus.
Something distinct about us
    because He has
changed our hearts
and recalibrated
     the trajectory of our lives.
The deep marks of His grace,
His healing hand,
His indwelling Presence,
the life-altering evidence
             of being forgiven
      and in forgiving others.
We are surrounded by bystanders
who desperately watch
not to see that we are perfect
but to know that God is real.
Right now, even in this.)

Therefore let every one who is godly

             offer prayer to You;

in a time of finding only distress,

in the rush of great waters,

     they shall not reach him.

You are a hiding place for me,

You preserve me from trouble;

You encompass me

         with shouts of deliverance.

                           Psalm 32. 6-7

(First response is to pray,

                not panic.

The LORD may not pluck you 

    out of circumstances,

but He will bring you through.

What is Your way in this, O LORD?

Praying is not just a 9-1-1 call,

but an ongoing conversation, 

                   speaking with God

                   and learning how to listen.

"Come to Me.  Come with Me!")

Watch and pray

that you may not enter

             into temptation;

the spirit is indeed willing,

   but the flesh is weak.

                   Matthew 26. 41

(Do not attempt

to do this on your own,

not just huge decisions,

           good intentions,

     but everyday details.

Everything is significant.

First order of action:

              Watch and pray.

"Listen to Me.

    I will lead you through.")

Then the righteous will answer Him,

"Lord, when did we see You hungry

               and feed You,

or thirsty and give You drink?

And when did we see You

   as a stranger and welcome You,

or naked and clothe You?

And when did we see You sick

   or in prison and visit You?

And the King will answer them,

"Truly, I say to you,

as you did it to one

of the least of these my brethren,

      you did it to Me."

                  Matthew 25. 37-40

(O LORD,

help us that we would not just

see a need and fill it,

or see it as ministry

              and fulfill it,

but see real people

         and see You in them

and serve and love You

                     in them.

My relationship with Christ

radically impacts

     how I  see others

         and how I love them.)