“… he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways….”  Psalm 91:11

You have certainly done this for me often in my life, Lord, in the mundane and in the dangerous.

I think of the Sunday evening, lying on the couch, when the thought kept coming, “I must check my credit card online!” and when I did, found that it was the last day to pay that month! You protect and guide in the small as well as the large things of life.

I think of the many times when I was working on some construction project when you narrowly prevented accidents.

Like when the large rock fell off the stonewall and just nicked the end of my thumb—if my thumb had been ½ inch further in, it would have been cut off!

Or when my arm caught in the handle as I jumped off the backhoe and even though I was left dangling, my arm didn’t break.

I think of times having an accident (and there were several) but we were never injured.

I think off when a 600 pound log fell directly on my foot—and nothing was broken!

Or the time that I was helping a fiend with his pickup truck stuck in some grave. I pushed and he gunned the engine, and a rock the size of a loaf of bread shot out from under the wheel and hit me right in the shin! And all that happened was a cut vine, which was easily staunched.

Yes, Lord, you certainly have been very active in our lives. You have been with us in the trouble you allowed to come, and then saved us out of it each time. and you have delivered us from all our fears as well as dangers.

You are wonderful and faithful,  ever powerfully  present, always true to your Word.

Therefore You are worthy of praise, of honor, of glory, of adoration, of worship.

So we bow before you in awe,

we rise up to love you in obedience,

we go forth to praise you throughout this day for whatever you will bring.

Prayer: “Lord help me to live in the truth of your goodness and the light of your guidance. Help me to see your provision and protection, and praise you for them. Help me to obey what I know to be true about you. I thank you now for the answers you will send. Amen.”

Picture from videoblocks

In re-memorizing a passage, one verse stood out to me.

James 1:12   Blessed is the one

who perseveres under temptation

because, having stood the test,

that person will receive the crown of life

that the Lord has promised

to those who love him.”

I for the first time I saw the link between resisting temptation and loving God. I’d never phrased it that way, but it was clear: if I refuse a temptation, I am loving God.

This provides a strong motivation to say “no” to the draw of negative things. It is like having the movie camera move out and show a wider view of my situation (like in this picture), including the Lord looking down on me, cheering me on to do the right thing.

When I have this understanding, how could I sadden Him, give Him pain if I follow my selfish decision to give in to temptation! This insight equips me, urges me, compels me to resist temptation in its many forms. May it help you, too!

“My times are in your hands….”  Psalm 31:15

Nancy sat quietly in the little bus, enjoying the view out the side window as it sped along one of the roads that circle the capital city. Suddenly seeing a movement out of the corner of her eye, she turned and looked out the windshield. Her eyes widened with horror as she saw a big trailer truck pulling out into the road right in front of them.

The bus driver slammed on his brakes and all the tires screeched as the bus slid towards the truck. Nancy braced herself for the impact—but it never came. The bus stopped literally one inch from the truck! All the passengers heaved a great sigh of relief and muttered memorized prayers as the bus driver leaped out and proceeded to ream out the truck driver. Nancy praised God for His obvious protection of her and the others in the bus.

This event brought home to all of us a new realization of how God works through us here. When Joseph was in Egypt, God blessed him, and thereby all those around him also benefited, starting with Potiphar and going out to all in Egypt and the surrounding countries as Joseph provided them with food during the famine. The same was true for Daniel; many in Babylon benefited from his being blessed by God as Daniel ruled with integrity and wisdom.

And here, as our God moves to protect us, deliver us and bless us as we live for Him, those around us are protected and blessed, too. What a privilege we all have, wherever we are, to be the carriers of God’s blessings to those around us. We don’t know for sure what would have happened if Nancy hadn’t been on the bus, but we do know from the Word that we are “immortal” until we complete the work that God has for us here on the earth.

This morning, Lord, I feel far from you. Thank you for this opportunity to walk with you by faith, not feeling close, but knowing that you are there, within me, around me, loving me, even though I don’t feel it.

As you have been transforming me through worship, you have deepened my emotional grasp of your love for me through lifting my soul to you. This strongly reinforces the intellectual knowledge of your gracious acceptance of me as your dearly loved son in whom you delight. I am like the baby in this picture, being fed by you  while I hold onto your finger, .knowing I am perfectly safe in you

In this growth you give

a rest,

a security,

a certainty of my relationship with you which is filled with

forgiveness,

gracious correction,

firm direction,

deepening knowledge,

a joyful walk and

light-filled days, no matter what is happening around me.

This all gives me a desire to obey you, to please you, to love you, to avoid grieving you. Help  me to live that way today.

“Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10

My disciple leaned towards me, his face very serious, “You know that lesson on spiritual warfare? Let’s do that again next week. It’s too important to cover just once!”

It was a joy to hear such a statement from a fellow who had never really been interested in reading or studying the Word. The lessons of Ephesians 6:10-18 have been very useful for my disciples—and for me. Knowing who the enemy is, how God has equipped us and how to use these weapons has clarified a lot for all of us.

We have had plenty of opportunity to apply this knowledge because spiritual warfare is an everyday reality, especially  in the Middle East. “Be strong in the Lord and the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that you might be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10

Fighting the true enemy with prayer and praise, with truth and trust, with whole-heartedness and obedience is the only way to true victory. This adventure of the last two years with expulsion, return, staying in the midst of uncertainty, applying for a visa knowing it could mean another, perhaps permanent expulsion–all of this has been confirmation of the importance of waiting on God in prayer and faith and not giving up. In the spiritual battle, he who persists in the power of God wins.

Prayer: “Lord, help us to take up and use your spiritual armor every day. Guide us in fighting the true enemy with your truth and praise. Help us to join you in what you desire to accomplish in our lives today. Amen.”