Category: Faith

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Growing “In Him”

It is my prayer that you gained new insight for your daily walk with the Lord because of our brief study of “in Him” and “in Christ”. Over the next week or so I will be sharing some thoughts from God’s word that you have probably heard before but if you start each day’s reading reminding yourself that you are in Him I know the Lord will give you a greater understanding of these truths.

The Bible has much to say about seeds, planting and growing. God intended for nature to be an example for us to learn from and live by. We see what good soil, the right amount of water and sunshine can do on a daily basis. The trees in our yards and parks flourish; the pastures grow and provide food for the cattle; the desert has its own beauty from the vegetation that grows there. Yes, it’s all around us!

Jesus taught parables about farmers growing seeds and protecting what they had planted. In one of my favorite stories He warns of birds coming to eat the seeds that are unprotected and of weeds that choke out the plants while they are young. Finally He tells of the harvest that comes when the seeds are well cared for and allowed to grow. Jesus makes this correlation:

“This is what the story means: The seed is God’s message, 12 and the seeds that fell along the road are the people who hear the message. But the devil comes and snatches the message out of their hearts, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the people who gladly hear the message and accept it. But they don’t have deep roots, and they believe only for a little while. As soon as life gets hard, they give up.

14 The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. But they are so eager for riches and pleasures that they never produce anything. 15 Those seeds that fell on good ground are the people who listen to the message and keep it in good and honest hearts. They last and produce a harvest.” Luke 9:11-15 CEV

The seed, God’s word, is perfect. It will grow anywhere but it must be protected to bring a harvest. Did you notice that Jesus said if we keep it “in” our hearts it will produce? In the book of John, chapter one, the first thing John says is “in the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God and the word was God”. Jesus is the word of God in the flesh. That makes Jesus and His word the seed that we should be planting in our hearts.

As the seed grows it provides life, protection and safety. God’s word will do the same in our lives and the lives of those around us.

“Then Jesus said, “What can I use to show you what God’s kingdom is like? What story can I use to explain it? 31 God’s kingdom is like a mustard seed, which is smaller than any other seed on earth that you can plant. 32 But when you plant it, it grows and becomes the largest of all the plants in your garden. It has branches that are very big. The wild birds can come and make nests there and be protected from the sun.” Mark 4:30-32 ERV

A mustard seed will germinate in about five to ten days if the soil conditions are right. The black mustard tree, referred to in the verses above, will grow to an average of three to five feet tall and can continue to grow up to ten to fifteen feet tall.

When we allow God’s word to grow in our lives we can be a blessing and a place of rest and safety to those around us. God’s word is powerful but if we allow the day to day cares of life to take hold in our hearts they can choke out the growth of God’s word. We must keep our focus on God’s ability and not our inability.

“I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. 2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” II Peter 1:1-2 NLT

Be blessed and grow!

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Like A Little Child

Yesterday morning Dave and I drove up to the Phoenix area to visit our daughters and their families. Today we will be celebrating one of our granddaughters’ third birthday.

It just so happened that our youngest daughter, her husband and two little girls had regular doctor’s visits and so we were asked to stay with our grandson while they were gone. We were reading books and learning all about the new and fun things he had been doing. He is such a smart little guy and is so much fun to listen to.

I could go on telling you stories about how smart he is but… At one point I was telling Dave about an email I had received from a friend and told him that she had requested prayer for her husband. At that, Sam said “And we need to pray for Mr. Dave, he needs a job”. We weren’t sure who Mr. Dave was so he explained it to us and that he was without a job and needed one.

I asked Sam if he would like to pray from Mr. Dave and our friend. He told me we could do it at bedtime. I told him we wouldn’t be there at bedtime but we could do it now. “Ok” and so we did. I am confident that those prayers will bring Mr. Dave to a new job very soon.

Child-like faith.

“Then he said, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. 5 ‘And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.'” Matthew 18:2-5 NLT

Little children are accustomed to asking their parents for what they need and knowing that their parents will provide. The necessities of life, (food, water, shelter, protection), are the things that we as parents naturally take care of. Sometimes we go without ourselves to provide for our children – its part of who we are as parents. God, the Father, has a much deeper compassion and commitment to His children than we do.

Jesus was telling the adults who were listening to Him that they needed to be humble enough to ask their heavenly Father for help. They needed to quite relying on their own abilities or lack thereof, put their faith and trust in the Father and in so doing they would learn a valuable lesson about living in reliance and dependence upon their loving heavenly Father.

How better can we learn about placing our trust in God than from a child? They have much to teach us.

When we come to the Father in childlike faith we won’t be turned away.

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The Welcome Mat Is Out!

Dave and I have been talking about our trip from Montana to Arizona six years ago. It had taken over seven years to sell our house up there and be able to move “home”. We love it here! There hasn’t been a day we have regretted this move. This morning I was sitting here thinking about that last day in Montana. The activity, the emotion, the joy. I found these words that I wrote then and they still ring true today. I hope you don’t mind me sharing them with you again.

As we got closer to the big move I found it harder and harder to sleep. We have mapped every fuel stop and made our hotel reservations. So much excitement and so much anticipation – years in the planning – were finally becoming a reality! I had lived this in my heart and now I got to see it with my eyes.

I had “Google Maps” and checked fuel prices. The hotel websites were helpful and it was easy to place the reservations on line. With all this technology I wondered how did Moses do it? He couldn’t call ahead and request a double-king with the continental breakfast. Or what about camel refueling? He had to dig his own wells! Abraham didn’t even have a map, he just had to follow the leading of God’s voice and stop when the Lord said to stop.

“Abraham had faith and obeyed God. He was told to go to the land that God had said would be his, and he left for a country he had never seen. 9 Because Abraham had faith, he lived as a stranger in the promised land. He lived there in a tent, and so did Isaac and Jacob, who were later given the same promise. 10 Abraham did this, because he was waiting for the eternal city that God had planned and built…13 Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth…16 But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven. That’s why God wasn’t ashamed for them to call him their God. He even built a city for them.” Hebrews 11:8-16 CEV

For years we had been telling friends and family that we are going to be moving back to Arizona. And for years, we had waited! And now the time had come. But this morning I had to ask myself a question. “Am I anticipating my heavenly home – my eternal city with the same excitement and anticipation as the one in Arizona?” I believe the answer is yes! There isn’t one thing here on this earth that can compare to living in the city whose builder and maker is God!

The things I value most are people and everyone I love can meet me in heaven. God has room for all of us. How wonderful is that! In the six years we’ve lived in Arizona a number of dear and precious friends have died but I know that I will see them again in heaven.

“Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. 3 After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together..” John 14:1-4 CEV

So many have come to visit in Arizona and we love having company. We’ve missed you all during this “stay-at-home” condition. However, if you can only come for one visit, I would rather that you come for coffee once we are settled in our heavenly mansion – the view will be spectacular!

Father, my prayer today is that all whom I hold dear have a personal relationship with you. I desire that their friendship with you is deeper than it is with me. You gave the life of Your Son so that they will live eternally. Thank you for touching their hearts today – thank you for providing new life, a life that never ends – thank you for giving us a place in You where we will never die but will live eternally. And thank you for caring about the everyday details of our lives. In the name of Jesus. Amen!

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More Faith

I have often heard folks say, “I wish I had more faith or I wish my faith was bigger or stronger”.

This morning I would like to share a couple of thoughts on “Faith” and “Unbelief”. Imagine you are holding a coin in your hand right now. One side of the coin is faith and one side is unbelief. The outcome in the situations of your life are directly affected by the side of the coin that you are looking at.

There are many Scriptures when Jesus addressed “Unbelief” in the hearts and minds of those that he was ministering too. In Matthew it says that Jesus couldn’t do any mighty works in his own hometown because of their unbelief.

Aman who had a demon possessed son brought him to Jesus for healing. Jesus told the father if he believed all things were possible. Then the father responded Lord, I believe – help my unbelief. After Jesus set the boy free his disciples came and asked:

“Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:19-21 NKJV

Jesus didn’t say that it was because of their “little” faith or even lack of faith but because of unbelief. He then goes on to say that with faith as little as a grain of mustard seed, nothing would be impossible to them. And as a side note when Jesus said “this kind” goes not out but by prayer and fasting, He was talking about the unbelief.

Faith, simply put, is our belief that God not only can do but will do those things that He has promised. Abraham is our example of this unwavering faith. He had a lifetime of evidence to support his unbelief of being able to have a child. He and Sarah were old and had never had children. If they had gone to the fertility clinic, everyone would have laughed at them and sent them home. But thank God, Abraham didn’t listen to all the unbelief (his own or that of others) he was strong in faith.

“And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” Romans 4:19-21

When we give our life to Christ and are born again, we are given faith as a part of our new nature. Paul says in Romans that God has given all of us “the” measure of faith and in Galatians he tells us that faith is a fruit of the Spirit.

We can all agree it takes faith to get saved. “For by grace are ye saved through faith”. Faith is believing that God will do what He says He will do, and grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve and can’t earn on our own. This was the time in our life that our faith in God was the smallest, mustard seed size, but it was big enough for us receive our greatest miracle – salvation.

When there is something that seems to be bigger than our faith, we should go to God’s word, find His answer, feed our faith (Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God) and it will cause our unbelief to shrink. We keep our focus on God and His ability and not our doubt and inability.

We decrease the doubt and unbelief because we know “mustard seed” faith is more than enough to move our mountains.

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Step by Step

The other morning Dave and I were out on our walk and another couple we see quite frequently were also walking. We stopped long enough to say our “good mornings” and she asked if we keep track of how far we have walked. I told her I knew each days’ walking but I wasn’t sure about so far this year.

This morning I decided to find out. I went to the fit bit app and checked it out. I was surprised by what I found; so far this year we have walked 236 miles. Now, if you’re a runner or a workout enthusiast this is far from extraordinary but to this 67 year old great grandmother it is a goodly distance.

But how did it happen? I never could have accomplished this in a week or even a month but over time it adds up. One step at a time; step by step.

And that’s how it is with our Christian walk. It’s step by step. We don’t start out spending hours each day reading the Bible or praying. We don’t conquer fear in one single situation or learn to control our temper with one confrontation. No, it’s step by step.

“Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen.” II Peter 3:18 CEV

We grow in our understanding of God’s grace and love on a daily basis. When we take time to think about just those two amazing characteristics of our heavenly Father it’s mind boggling. Questions arise: How could He love and forgive me the way He does? Does He never get tired of me and the amount of times I fail? Will I ever exhaust His grace?

Our heavenly Father is the Father of all fathers. Does an earthly parent get tired of helping their child learn to walk? Do they ever just throw up their hands and say “forget it, they’ll never learn”? No! They are there to help, to steady, to encourage until walking is mastered and then it’s on to the next skill that needs to be learned.

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7 NLT

Follow Him! Step by Step – walk with Jesus through the pages of the Bible. Watch Jesus relate to a dishonest tax collector, a prostitute, a man eaten up with leprosy and the easily distracted disciples. It’s here we gain understanding of the love that Jesus freely gives to all of us and it’s here we grow in grace, receiving blessings from the Lord that we don’t deserve and can’t earn.

“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:17-19 NLT

Yes, our Christian walk is a growing process. We grow in our understanding of God’s love, His grace and so our faith grows too. Day by day and step by step.

Enjoy the journey!

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Love In Action

This morning I was reminded of a lady who attended church with us many years ago. She was so sweet and her desire to help people had no limits. Her name was Ruby. Ruby had the best hugs, a contagious laugh and compassion shone from her eyes.

Friday was a busy day for Ruby. She spent the entire day making soups, all kinds of soups, that she would use to feed the homeless in a park in South Phoenix. She had a number of people who would help her but she was the spearhead. She was there come rain or shine.

She was love in action!

She wanted to touch those others had forgotten with the love of Jesus. She said it was hard for them to hear words of love when their stomachs were empty so she did what she could to show them love and not just tell them about it.

I’ve never forgotten her and her sweet husband, Jim. They were some of the most loving people I have ever met. True examples of Jesus.

“Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not be served—and then to give away his life in exchange for the many who are held hostage.” Matthew 20:28 MSG

The Apostle Paul tells us that our love will bring action to our faith.

“For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.” Galatians 5:6 NLT

During this time of stressful circumstances we can either be self-centered or conscious of others and their needs. It’s in times like this that our relationship with the Lord can really shine.

Since we are to be His examples we need to be asking ourselves “what would Jesus do”. He was always an example of love in action. He healed the sick, comforted those who were sorrowful and loved the outcast.

A kind word to an overworked grocery store clerk, an extra tip to the one who is delivering our take-out dinner, checking on neighbors to make sure they have all they need or a phone call to say I’m thinking of you and praying for you. All examples of love in action!

Let’s not let this situation make us bitter and selfish but let’s be better at loving.

“My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? 15 If you know someone who doesn’t have any clothes or food, 16 you shouldn’t just say, “I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat.” What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? 17 Faith that doesn’t lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!…26 Anyone who doesn’t breathe is dead, and faith that doesn’t do anything is just as dead!” James 2:17-26 CEV

What action does our faith need to take today? If we listen to the Holy Spirit he will show us who to encourage. Be willing to put some hands and feet on our faith today.

Let’s put love in action!

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We’re Champions

We all want to feel special. We want to know there is something about us that “entitles” us to the little extras. A bigger piece of pie, an extra scoop of ice cream, more money per hour at work, the bigger bouquet, the nicer car, the corner office and the list goes on.

However, I’ve never been one to win the trophy buckle, to graduate valedictorian, be promoted to executive team or even win the state championship. But there is one thing I’ve done that puts me in the top group every time!

This trophy buckle pictured here is my husband Dave’s. When we were preaching on working ranches and at youth rodeos he wore it all the time. We wanted all who came to realize that when we have Christ as our Savior we are all champions. The first step is to kneel at the cross.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. ” John 3:16 ERV

Yes, I’m a member of the world – I’m an everyone! That makes me a recipient of the Father’s love and a participant in life eternal.

“Training your body helps you in some ways. But devotion to God helps you in every way. It brings you blessings in this life and in the future life too. 9 Here is a true statement that should be accepted without question: 10 We hope in the living God, the Savior of all people. In particular, he is the Savior of all those who believe in him. This is why we work and struggle. 11 Command and teach these things.” I Timothy 4:8-11 CEV

Father God provides salvation for ALL but He’s given us a part to play. We must BELIEVE that Jesus provided our salvation as a free gift.

If I came to your house with a big box wrapped in beautiful paper and tied up with a gorgeous ribbon and I had put your name on the box, would that present be yours? Well of course it would!

If you took that present and set it on the dining room table and looked at it, each day, admiring how pretty it was and how nice it was of me to bring it, would it benefit you? No, not really. It’s not until you open the gift, fully accept it, that it truly becomes yours and is a benefit to you.

Many people have seen the gift the Father brought them; the gift of forgiveness and restoration but for what ever reason have failed to open it and appropriate it for themselves.

“My dear children, I write this letter to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone sins, we have Jesus Christ to help us. He always did what was right, so he is able to defend us before God the Father. 2 Jesus is the way our sins are taken away. And he is the way all people can have their sins taken away too.” I John 2:1-2 CEV

“no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help. 13 All who call out to the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:12-13 CEV

So you see if you are a whosoever, an everyone, an “all people”, the gift is yours! Accept it and take advantage of what is being given – it definitely makes you a winner!

Christ has made us champions – we are victorious!

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What Now?

We’ve been living through some dark and stormy times, wondering what’s going to happen next. Maybe you’ve been asking yourself the question “What do I do now?”. Working from home has been good, less traffic when you do go out, shorter lines in the grocery store and more time with family has all been good. However, there is the unanswered question of how much longer this will go on and what do we do now.

Some of you reading this are on the front lines. You are medical personnel; doctors, nurses, lab technicians, urgent care staff and hospital support staff. You are joined by police, fire, ambulance, truck drivers and grocery store teammates who are overworked and under appreciated. You, too, are asking what now?

It’s a place we’ve never been before and hopefully we will never go again. We need to make it through. We need to support and encourage one another.

There’s one other group that I inadvertently left out and they deserve our attention. They are a mixed group; fisherman, tax collectors, housewives, doctors and a some religious zealots. They are grouped together and asking the same question – what now?

They aren’t getting any recognition at all. Their world has been turned upside down and they are in danger of loosing their lives. Right now we find them locked behind closed doors not wanting to step out into the light of day. Maybe you’ve guessed who I’m talking about – these are Jesus disciples.

There’s really nothing written in the Bible about what they were doing the day following the crucifixion. But I can imagine that their world was reeling like a small boat on a stormy sea. Jesus was dead, would they be next? What now? The One they had always turned too in crisis wasn’t there, what now?

Were they too frazzled to remember the instruction Jesus had given them just a couple days before?

“Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.” John 14:1 CEV

His final words before He was arrested are recorded in John 14, 15, 16 and 17. Jesus was preparing them for what was to come. He was also spending time with the Father, in prayer, preparing Himself for what He would go through.

What now?

“I have told you all these things while I am with you. 26 But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.

27 “I leave you peace. It is my own peace I give you. I give you peace in a different way than the world does. So don’t be troubled. Don’t be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am leaving, but I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would be happy that I am going back to the Father, because the Father is greater than I am. 29 I have told you this now, before it happens. Then when it happens, you will believe.” John 14:25-29 ERV

This is the answer to our question of what now. This is the instruction Jesus left for us. Don’t be worried, have faith in God. The Holy Spirit has come to be our Helper and Jesus has given us His peace so we don’t have to be troubled and afraid.

On this day before the victory of the resurrection, our answer to the question “what now” is trust God!

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Moving Mountains

Have you had days when you felt weak and undone? Just didn’t know if you could go on for another day? I know, I have had those days too. Believe it or not Jesus had days like that too.

God, the Father, is a God of faith. Jesus Christ walked this earth as a man of faith. The Holy Spirit’s presence fills us so we can be men and women of faith.

God the Father spoke “Light be and there was light”. He didn’t speak just hoping something would happen, but He spoke in faith.

Jesus lived a life of faith while He was here. He pleased the Father. “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. 30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.” John 8:29-30

The writer of Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God; so if Jesus pleased the Father it was because he was living by faith. “But without faith no one can please God. We must believe that God is real and that he rewards everyone who searches for him.” Hebrews 11:6

When we are adopted into God’s family, we are saved by faith in God’s grace. Our faith is in what God has done, not in our own works but in God’s grace, his kindness. The fruit of the Holy Spirit, who indwells us, is “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

Faith isn’t something we have to WORK to get, it’s something we have been given freely by God the Father. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3

Faith isn’t based on our effort, our goodness, our works or our holiness but faith is given to us by God. It’s a gift! A gift we unwrap, take out of the box and use. Even if we feel that we only have small faith, Jesus said it’s enough to move mountains. Once again, God kind of faith isn’t in our abilities or worthiness but it is in Him and His faithfulness to do what He says He will do.

There was a man in the Bible whose son was plagued by seizures. He brought his son to Jesus’ disciples but they couldn’t heal him so the father came to Jesus. He asked Jesus to heal his son. Here is Jesus response: “Jesus asked the boy’s father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’ The father answered, ‘Since he was very young. 22 The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything, please have pity on us and help us.’ 23 Jesus said to the father, “Why did you say ‘if you can’? All things are possible for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father shouted, “I do believe. Help me to believe more!” Mark 9:21-24 ERV

I’ve been like that father. I’ve come to Jesus with life’s challenges, struggles and pain. In my desperation I have said “Lord, please help.” Then the Lord reminds me of His many promises, assuring me that He will help. Like that father I have responded “Lord I believe Your word, help me trust You more”.

He’s never broken a promise. God doesn’t lie. He keeps His word.

We need to evaluate our faith today. Is it faith in ourself; in our works; in our abilities; in others? If so, that isn’t faith at all. We need to place our faith, our trust, in the Father, the same faith we used when we asked Him to forgive our sins – faith based on God and his power to save and on the love of Jesus who died and rose again.

When our faith is placed in God we will walk by faith and see life’s mountains move by the power of God.

“Lord, I believe in You. Help me be stronger in my belief.”

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Through The Valley

I was unable to sleep, so I got up and came to my office to pray. My prayer time isn’t formal or structured, it’s just me talking to the Lord, telling Him what’s on my heart and sitting quietly. He fills my heart with peace and my mind with examples of His love and His word. I prayed for all who will read this blog this morning; I know many are anxious and even fearful.

Just a while ago my thoughts were filled with this phrase, “through the valley”. Through the valley?

Through the valley!

“You are true to your name, and you lead me along the right paths. 4 I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod
 makes me feel safe.” Psalm 23:3-4 CEV

Most of us would choose to go around the valley instead of through it. That seems to be the right tactical move. Take the high road and not give our enemies an opportunity to ambush us. Through the valley seems risky.

If we trust the Lord there will be times when we don’t understand why He is leading us through the valley but we can be assured that He will always lead us along the right path. And when He is leading we don’t need to be afraid.

When our older children were little and we were teaching them to swim we had a real struggle getting them to jump from the side of the pool into David’s arms. They had no problem wrapping their arms around our necks and floating out to the deep from the shallow and they didn’t mind sitting down on the side and sliding into our arms but jumping in was something entirely different. It took a lot of coaxing and a promise that we wouldn’t let anything happen to them before they were convinced that it would be ok. They had to go through that valley and they learned to trust us.

We are all going through a valley right now. It’s a time of uncertainty. The most important thing for us to see is that we are not alone. God is here with us, leading us through and we don’t have to be afraid. We can be at peace in even the worst circumstances.

Jesus said: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 NLT

This is the prayer I prayed for you this morning: “Father, in the name of Jesus, I bring all who are reading this to You. Calm their fears, fill them with Your peace – peace of mind and heart. Let them see that they can trust You to lead them through this valley. Give them confidence that You won’t abandon them or leave them on their own. I don’t only pray this for them but I also pray for all those they hold dear. We trust You to be our protection. Thank you loving Father. Amen!”

“This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalm 91:2 NLT

He will lead us through the valley!

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