More on Psalm 18:34 “He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”

To you be glory, Lord, for your wisdom, for your knowing what will come, for your faithfulness in preparing us, for your unfailing presence with us, for the fact we can praise you now for things we neither understand or like.

We can trust you in every difficulty by responding with thanksgiving and wholeheartedly embracing our present experiences, knowing that you will use them to prepare us for greater service for you in the future. Right now (2013), you are working in us through my wife’s deep depression to prepare us for some future ministry, unknown to us now.

It is a great comfort to know that nothing comes to us randomly, that every event in the lives of your children flows from your wisdom, your  plan, your purpose and provision. You are in the process of finishing our faith, so we can live in the joy you have for us, enduring whatever cross you bring and despise whatever shame others try to put on us (Heb. 12:2).

Help us to live in the light of this truth, that you are training our hands for the battles to come, so we can effectively join you in your great plan to end history and bring in eternity while sweeping as many as possible into your Heavenly Kingdom.]