“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.”

In spoken worship there are two main aspects: thanksgiving and praise. Thanksgiving focuses on what He has done for us, and praise on who He is in His character.  Here are some examples from my prayer journal, both praise and thanksgiving.

“Praise you, Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them. Truly you are high and powerful, majestic and mighty. I praise you, O God, for your great and rich love, for your wide and deep wisdom and your positive and pure power.

You are able to bring together those aspects which are opposites and seem to contradict each other: unity and diversity, truth and love, justice and mercy, righteousness and forgiveness. Praise you, Lord God, that you have revealed this to us in your Word.

“Thank you that you have given us the tremendous privilege of being your children, bringing us from being your enemies ensnared by sin and transforming us into your sons and daughters clothed in righteousness. To know you is a stupendous privilege beyond understanding and comprehension, priceless and pristine; we are overwhelmed by this high and undeserved grace.

“Thank you that you have watched over us through a very difficult year, one in which your grace, protection and guidance have shone in the dark events that surrounded us, that could have overwhelmed us but your shining grace carried us through.

“Thank you for the future ahead—nothing guaranteed except your love, for all is in your hands, not our plans–but all is in your heart of goodness, shown in your doing what is best and loving for us, although it may be hard. Truly, God, to live with you is a never-ending opportunity for growth and deepening.”

Prayer: “Lord God, help me to praise you in my quiet time, to praise you throughout the day and on into the night. May praise be the keynote of my life, for you are worthy. Amen.”

The Names of God, Number 1  Elohim: translated as “God.”

This first is used in Genesis 1:1  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Each name of God has a meaning and Elohim means “the strong and faithful One who swears and is able to keep His word.”

Strength:

He shows His power in creation: breathing the stars, gathering them into galaxies,  putting them each in their place, naming each one. He stretched out the canopy of the universe; hanging the earth on nothing; giving it the perfect spin and orbit. His power is infinite, all pervasive, unconquerable and unending.

Faithfulness:

Elohim shows His faithfulness in promising and then providing Salvation. He planned it before creation, worked it out through history with Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, Isaiah, Joseph and Mary and others, bringing His Son into the world at the right time. Elohim is utterly faithful, always keeping His promise so we can trust Him, He always has more than enough power to bring His promises to pass.

Revelation:

Elohim is also the first hint of the trinity in the Bible. In the Hebrew language there are two plural forms for nouns. One is for two objects, the other for three or more. Elohim is plural for three or more, pointing to the trinity. And this is quickly underscored when Elohim says, “Let us make man in OUR image,” not “in my image.”

He is worthy of worship, of obedience, of surrender. Elohim, the triune God, Creator of all, Provider of salvation for all His enemies! Let us surrender and rest in His being Elohim.