Dry Feet in Swampy Places

 

By faith

the people crossed the Red Sea

    as on dry land...

             Hebrews 11. 29

(We all struggle with something.

We all face the insurmountable

         in some form or another.

But faith is trusting God,

   no matter the circumstances

   and choosing to live differently

                   as a result.

Same situation,

same experience,

same people,

but a way different outcome

   by walking with God through it

   and trusting Him.)

O LORD,

No matter what is on our agenda

       --or on Yours -

please help us to trust You

   in what we see

   and even in what we don't yet.

You are with us.

Empower us by Your Presence.

Please help us not just to survive

   but to thrive in impossible places

by being faithful to You

and to walk with You

      even through this Red Sea.

Grant to us Your courage

   to do what is good and right,

   loving and gracious.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

Strategically Appointed

 

So you will be

    a sign to them,

and they will know

    that I am the LORD.

           Ezekiel 24. 27

(Even when we are not looking,

           they are.

Others watch us carefully,

    maybe even desperately,

to know not that we are perfect

           or will mess up royally,

     but to know that God is real.

No matter where we are,

   God has strategically placed

              each one of us

   to be a witness for Him,

to be a light in the darkness,

to bring the name of Jesus there

   in word, deed, and attitude,

that others may know

    life can be very different.

And to comprehend 

             not just that God exists,

   but He loves us,

   and we can know Him.)

O LORD,

Please help us to be

    aware of our surroundings,

sensitive to the people

           all around us,

   and responsive to Your nudges.

May we realize that

   You have appointed us

   to point others to You,

even in the most unanticipated ways.

Align our hearts with Yours.

Order our affections.

Anoint this day with Your glory,

  even in ways we may not see.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

When You See Something, Say Something

 

With my mouth, I will give

    great thanks to the LORD;

I will praise Him

   in the midst of the throng.

              Psalm 109.30

(What stories has God given us,

not to be cherished alone

          or hidden in a drawer,

but to share

    for the upbuilding of others?

Not speaking in high-falutin

    theological abstract terms,

but in the concrete experience

   of our relationship with Him.

In a court of law,

   our testimony is based on

   what we see and what we know.

For His glory,

      our testimony is the same.)

O LORD,

And how will others know

    of Your steadfast love and grace

    unless we point to You

        in what we have experienced?

Help us to speak up, Almighty One,

    face to face,

     in the midst of church family,

or even among those

  who don't yet know You.

Please help us to

     recognize and 

        acknowledge Your hand

that others may know

   that You, O LORD, care about

   the very details of their lives too.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

Key Words in Any Translation

 

With God,

    we shall do valiantly.

It is He who will

    tread down our foes.

             Psalm 108. 13

(The key words here are

         with God.

Not "you've got this,"

     not "believe in yourself."

But with God,

    nothing remains the same.

God stomps down

               whatever we fear,

   both real and imagined.

God gives us the strength

      to run with Him.)

O LORD,

Please help us to set our eyes

              on You

   and stake our lives

         on Your steadfast love.

Change our eyesight to Yours

  that we would see circumstances

  with a deeper vision.

Please translate our troubles

          into Your triumph,

cover us by Your mercy,

and help us through this situation

    to trust You even more.

A Way Through the Impossible

 

Then they cried to the LORD

         in their trouble,

and He delivered them

         from their distress.

                  Psalm 107. 6

(This phrase appears

    three more times in this psalm.

Everyone struggles with something.

Do we even consider

    bringing these things before Him?

There are no little prayers.

Are we seeking Him in this?

God provides more than relief,

    but promises,

    Do not fear.  I am with you.

Often the fear, worry and anxiety

  are even harder to face

      than the actual circumstances.

And we need not go it alone.)

O LORD,

We come to You.

We seek You,

   not just for a solution or relief,

              but You.

Please help us to walk with You

         in this and through this.

It will not remain the same

       when we follow You.

We are not stuck.

We are not alone.

Lead us through, Almighty One,

and provide the strength for us

        to be faithful to You.

Tripping Over Our Own Feet

 

They served their idols,

which became a snare to them.

                 Psalm 106. 36

(Every day we make choices

    for who or what we

           will serve today.

We all worship.

We were wired to worship,

   because we know deeply

   that there is something more.

If we do not worship God,

a lesser god takes

           His rightful place.

And the journey nor the outcome

         is never the same.

An idol

         of any shape, size,

         or disguise

    always ensnares,

promises the world,

    and then trips us up.)

O LORD,

We seek You this day.

Guide us not just

      on our paths today,

   but to run straight to You.

Align our hearts with Yours,

   that we may be filled

          with Your grace and love,

   equipped to serve You

   and love others.

And that we would fulfill

    Your purposes in this situation

    for Your ultimate glory.

Please help us to not be distracted

    by glittery promises

    of the adversary,

but to be faithful to You

   in all we do today.

Being Green

 

And all the trees of the field

  shall know that

            I am the LORD.

I bring low the high tree,

and make high the low tree,

dry up the green tree,

   and make the dry tree

                      flourish.

              Ezekiel 17. 24

(We may feel like what we do

           does not matter,

but every tree is precious

                 and so are we.

God gives the growth.

God bears the fruit.

We have only to be faithful,

    following Him,

    serving Him,

    sowing His Word,

    spreading His grace,

    and loving others

                    right to Him.

God makes us flourish

   in unexpected ways,

  even in drought conditions.

What appears invisible

            and so little in our sight

    emerges strong and visible

    in His Kingdom.

Take root downward,

             bear fruit upward.)

O LORD,

Please help us to be faithful and green

   wherever You have placed us today.

May we respond to Your voice

         for the welfare of those

                all around us

     and for Your glory,

even when we don't understand.

Grant to us the awareness

         of Your mission and vision

                        in this situation,

and the courage how to approach,

           navigate, respond,

     and run with You through it.

May all the trees of the forest

   visibly remind us

   of what faithfulness does

   and Your fruitfulness in it.

For beauty, for physical needs,

         and for Your glory,

season after season.