The Choice Is Yours

His Word:  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)

Observation and Obedience: Paul, in this letter, compares the glory and freedom of life for those who choose Christ as compared to the life of the old testament people. I love how the Message version describes the difference and the privilege that is ours if we choose.

Lifting the Veil

7-8 The Government of Death, its constitution chiseled on stone tablets, had a dazzling inaugural. Moses’ face as he delivered the tablets was so bright that day (even though it would fade soon enough) that the people of Israel could no more look right at him than stare into the sun. How much more dazzling, then, the Government of Living Spirit?

9-11 If the Government of Condemnation was impressive, how about this Government of Affirmation? Bright as that old government was, it would look downright dull alongside this new one. If that makeshift arrangement impressed us, how much more this brightly shining government installed for eternity?

12-15 With that kind of hope to excite us, nothing holds us back. Unlike Moses, we have nothing to hide. Everything is out in the open with us. He wore a veil so the children of Israel wouldn’t notice that the glory was fading away—and they didn’t notice. They didn’t notice it then and they don’t notice it now, don’t notice that there’s nothing left behind that veil. Even today when the proclamations of that old, bankrupt government are read out, they can’t see through it. Only Christ can get rid of the veil so they can see for themselves that there’s nothing there.

16-18 Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him. (MSG)

As I sit here and think about the biggest road block that keeps us from living our lives “gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful”, it has to be FEAR! 

Our lack of FAITH……..FEAR, it robs us of so much. It robs us of our joy, our confidence and our freedom to live our lives with the veil removed. Recognizing that God is a living, personal presence who delivered us ALREADY!

It’s true, horrible things happen to people. Paul, early on in this letter, explains that Christians will suffer. “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed“. Paul wanted us to know that compared to eternity with Christ the sufferings of this world are temporary and have a purpose for us: “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

So WHY is it that we allow these temporal experiences to reinforce our fear rather than increase our faith?  That was never the plan.

We are fearful of being injured, we are afraid of getting sick, we fear being lied to, and cheated on, we are afraid of loosing our jobs, our spouses, our children, our homes. The list goes on and on and on. And if we aren’t afraid of all these things for ourselves, we’re afraid of them happening to our children and grandchildren. Honestly, it’s a wonder we push back the covers and get out of bed in the morning. And we were meant to SHINE!!!

So how do we make the choice EVERY DAY to live free of fear and shine His light? WE MAKE THE CHOICE!

First, we have to recognize that FEAR is of the ENEMY! ALWAYS!!! His not so marvelous plan is to rob us of our talents, joy and freedom, bringing death to our relationship with God and the ones we love most. It’s Darkness all the time! He wants to snuff out our light and our lives. 

Let’s look at what fear leads to…..fear leads to stress, leads to sleepless nights, leads to fatigue, leads to irritability, leads to discontent, leads to disagreements, leads to never stepping into who you were created to be, leads to a miserable existence. Why would anyone choose that?

When you choose to allow your FAITH to be bigger than your fear what will your life look like? You will live knowing that whatever is ahead of you God is already there and has prepared the way if we will just stay face-to-face with Him. At the end of the day you will lie down in peace, while God restores your rest. You will arise each morning rested and excited to be a part of this new day that the Lord has made. Rejoice! He has chosen to have you be a part of it!! You will look for the good, the encouragements, the gifts in each day and each person you share life with. Your attitude will be pleasant and attractive. You will be able to shine His light for others to see and recognize.

So today, pay attention to every thought, word or action you take and see if it’s based in fear or in faith. When you recognize it as fear, make the choice to remove the veil and stand face-to-face with your “Abba, Father”. Say to Him, “because I am your child, I have the Spirit of your Son in me and with me, NOTHING CAN HOLD ME BACK! I am free, not fearful!” Thank You Jesus!

Prayer: Thank You Jesus for sending me your Spirit so that I may live victorious and free. Remove the veil of fear and anxiety that clouds your glory shining through. Help me to stand firm with You and not allow fear to hold me captive in my thoughts, feelings or actions. God, I know and believe that your provision for me is right where I am and I need only to hold on to You. 

Encouragement: “Every day you can get up and get scared~ or ~you can get up and get ready!” Ann Voskamp

A Heart Set Free

His Word: I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.  Psalm 119:32

Observation & Obedience: How’s your heart health? Does it feel restrained or free? Are you overwhelmed with wonder and weak from worry? Does your heart need a boost of God’s power?  David knew what was required when he was feeling overwhelmed and weak. He recognized that he needed to be running along the path of God’s commands.  Not following what the world would say was the solution; but what the Word of God said.

David did not run in the path of God’s commands all alone and neither can we. If left on our own, we will wander off God’s path. We may see a more attractive and easier looking path and decide to go our own way instead of following God’s. And when we set out to make our own path, our heart is not free. Instead, it is burdened because we only have ourselves to depend on.  It is stressed with worry that we will make a wrong move and/or decision. 

In this section of Psalm 119, David gave God some specific requests in order for him to continue following the right path. I gave an account of my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees (v. 26).  David was honest with God about his shortcomings and human frailties. He did not let his power, pride or position as king stand in the way of asking for help.  He asked to be taught. Are you teachable?

Cause me to understand the way of your precepts (v. 27a). David not only asked to be taught God’s precepts, he needed to understand what he was learning. We may be teachable but are we learning? On any given day, we are inundated with information, news, facts, figures, trivial nonsense, etc. But how much do we retain? How much of God’s commands do we personally apply to our lives? 

Strengthen me according to your word (v. 28b). David knew he had a lot to learn from God; as do we. There are times when our soul is weak and our heart is heavy. We feel like we have failed God once again; we just can’t seem to get it right.  Yet, God doesn’t see us as failures. Like a good Father, he is there to pick us up and put us back on his path. Our strength is renewed through his words of love and compassion and his Word of instruction.

Keep me from deceitful ways (v. 29a). When was the last time you asked God to keep you from lying to yourself? We are good at justifying everything we want to do; whether it agrees with God’s commands or not. We can easily talk ourselves out of anything we don’t want to do. It’s a daily battle to stay on God’s path. That is what David knew to be true and why he needed God’s help.  

If David needed to ask for help, so do you and me! We’ll never run out of things to learn about God and his precepts. Our finite mind may often struggle to understand, but we must never stop learning. There is no substitute for gaining physical and emotional strength than through God’s Word. We live in a deceitful world and must fight the battle daily to keep running along the path of God’s commands. Only then will our hearts be free!

Prayer: Dear God, thank you that you care enough that you will take the time to teach me your ways. I know that some days I am a better student than other days. Please help me to be more open to learn what you have to teach me, able to understand and willing to apply. I know the world cannot give me the strength I need; only you and your Word can keep me on the right path. Forgive me for the times I don’t want to learn and instead focus more on my own selfish and deceitful ways. You have given the steps to have a free heart; I just need to follow. Amen. 

Encouragement: If you want God to do something new, you cannot keep doing the same old thing.                   Mark Patterson

We Are Set Free!

His Word: In my distress I prayed to the LORD, and the LORD answered me and set me free.   Psalm 118:5 NLT

Observation & Obedience:  David dedicates the entire chapter of Psalm 118 listing the things God has set him free from; and he will do the same for us! Our responsibility is to pray; God’s response is to answer. What do you need to be set free from today?

1) Fear: The LORD is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? (vs. 6).  Because of God’s faithful love for us and his constant protection, what and who do we need to fear? When it seems like the whole world is against us, we must recognize who is always for us! 

2) Helplessness: Yes, the LORD is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. Though hostile nations surrounded me, I destroyed them all with the authority of the LORD (vs. 7, 10).  Because God is for us, he will help us. We don’t have to live defeated and helpless lives. We have his power living in us through the Holy Spirit and with this power comes authority!

3) Trusting the wrong people:  It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in people (v. 8).  Have you experienced a breach of trust with someone you thought had your back? Regardless of one’s position and assumed power, people will inevitably let us down. And because of that, we are not to seek our refuge in others. There is only one person we can totally trust; God and God alone!

4) Failure: The LORD is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. The strong right arm of the LORD is raised in triumph. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things! I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory! (vs. 14, 16, 21). As king, David knew what success looked like and what failure felt like. Because he recognized God as his ultimate strength, and not his own, he was set free from the fear of failing. He knew his victories came from God’s strong right arm.

5) Control: This is the LORD’s doing, and it is wonderful to see. This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it   (vs. 23-24).  David acknowledged that his failures and victories were in God’s hands. He also knew that it wasn’t his responsibility to control everything. God was the one who produced the day with the rising and the setting of the sun, not David. His job was to rejoice and be glad for it. 

Do you need to be set free from any of these?  Has fear taken over your life? Do you feel helpless? Have you put your trust in the wrong people? Do you worry constantly about failing? Do you need to control every situation you encounter?  If you answered yes to more than one, you are probably in distress. What did David do in his distress? He prayed to God and was set free!

Prayer: It’s time to break the chains and experience true freedom.  Picture yourself being tied up by the things listed above. They are choking the life out of you. They are keeping you from growing in your faith; in fact, they are stunting your growth. Let them go. Give them to God and ask him to set you free. Envision the chains loosening and falling to the floor, one by one.

Describe what your life would look like without fear and helplessness. How would you feel when you recognized that you could trust God and he would never let you down? Think how freeing it would be to not worry about your failures or having to control it all.

Encouragement:  Feed your fears and your faith will starve. Feed your faith and your fears will starve.  Max Lucado

Freedom Of Choice

His Word:  The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.  Isaiah 61:1 NLT

Observation & Obedience: Today we celebrate our nation’s freedom; something we don’t take for granted as we remember those who have sacrificed their lives for it. But there’s another kind of freedom that’s available to us as well. It’s one that doesn’t always require a physical sacrifice, but often a personal one; it’s our freedom of choice.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he decided to run away from God instead of obeying his command to go to the wicked city of Nineveh and warn them of their coming destruction. Jonah had grown up hating the people of Nineveh and in his mind, they deserved to be destroyed and he chose to have no part in their salvation…..first mistake.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he offered himself as a sacrifice to calm a raging storm. Jonah had settled in on the ship headed 2000 miles in the opposite direction of Nineveh when God “caught up with him!” This choice demonstrated how hatred for the people of Nineveh had warped his perspective. He was willing to die so the sailors could live but he was unwilling to obey God and take his message of life and freedom to the Ninevites….second mistake.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when he reconsidered his actions after spending three days and nights in the belly of a large fish. In Jonah 2, we see his prayer is one of thanksgiving; thankful for not having drowned, not a prayer of repentance. Jonah acknowledged the vow he made when he became a prophet of God and was now choosing to fulfill it; even if it meant doing something he didn’t want to do.

Jonah used his freedom of choice when given a second chance; he responded to God with obedience and went to Nineveh. His short, 8-word message, 40 more days and Nineveh will be overthrown (Jonah 3:4) spoke directly to the heart of the people. They confessed their sins, turned from their wickedness and in God’s love and mercy, he spared the city of 600,000!

Jonah must have been thrilled! After all, he’s just been a part of the largest revival in Bible history. You’d think he’d be celebrating God’s goodness and thanking God for choosing him to be the one to deliver his message.  But in chapter 4, we see this isn’t the case. Jonah is extremely angry and greatly displeased with God….third mistake.

The question to ask here is WHO needed the most transformation? Was it the hateful Ninevites or the hate-filled Jonah? Proverbs 27:19 says, As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.  Jonah’s responses to what God had chosen to do reflect what was in his heart. And based on his actions, it was a heart full of self-centeredness, selfishness, self-pity and a lack of self-control. 

God used his freedom of choice and responded to Jonah’s moaning with a call for an attitude adjustment. Jonah needed to see that his perspective and priorities were way off. God wanted Jonah to realize, although he had the freedom of choice, God was in ultimate control. The book of Jonah ends here. God chooses not to tell us if Jonah ever gets the message and has a change of heart. 

It feels like we are losing ground on our religious freedoms. That is why we must stand for our faith, not run away, and exercise our rights as Christians. Like Isaiah, God wants us to speak the good news, be a comfort to the brokenhearted and proclaim freedom for those held captive by sin, hatred, unforgiveness and selfish pride. We all have choices; don’t let your story end like Jonah’s. 

Prayer: Are you using your freedom of choice to run away from God? Are there nasty attitudes toward others that you’re choosing to ignore? Ask God to show you where you may be abusing your freedom of choice and thank him for being the God of second, third, fourth and one-thousandth chances!

Encouragement: The truth sets you free, BUT it makes you miserable until you face it.    Rick Warren

Refreshment For My Soul

Well, here we are! July, Summer, Beaches, Lakeside, Picnics, BBQ, Swimming, Hiking, Camping and enjoying the Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer! Our privilege to enjoy because of the sacrifice of our Savior. Our responsibility for the privilege is to live by His guiding principles. “I will walk around freely because I sought out your guiding principles.” (God’s Word translation) 

We will focus on the freedoms of our faith for the month of July. And today we are privileged to share one of the freedoms of putting God’s Word into action as experienced by my dear friend Beth Swain. 

2018 Update: Beth received her healing at the feet of Jesus on August 30th, 2015, just two short months after writing this post for us. Her number is still the first contact that comes up on my phone, I am still privileged to visit with her much loved Dr. Tolaney when I go for my 6 month cancer checks at Dana Farber and I will be forever grateful that God allowed her to be there for me when I was first diagnosed. She was a force as a prayer warrior, medical resource and comforter in those first few weeks of so much uncertainty. She is greatly missed by her family, friends and loved ones, and it is such a comfort to know that we will, one day, be together again praising our Lord and King and free of the heartache, pain and uncertainty of cancer. Thank You Jesus.  

His Word: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” Psalm 23:2-3

Observation and Obedience: If you are reading this post, chances are you have a cancer diagnosis or know someone who does. Perhaps you are a caregiver, encourager, or friend and know the pain and heartache involved with the diagnosis. When the doctor says “It’s cancer”, all we thought was important in our lives was thrown into a new light.  We cross over a bridge we may never have chosen for ourselves or loved ones as an internal change takes place. One which, in the natural realm, most likely would not be defined as “peace”.

It is here, in this crossing, that we can come to know and understand God’s love and provisions in a new way and realize what we care about most deeply. Todays scripture contains a beautiful promise- one of quiet refreshment.  God, the One who knows where our lives are heading, provides the still waters where He will refresh our souls. So how, in this crazy, scary, cancer world of scan anxiety, chemotherapy side effects, disfiguring surgery and dreaded medical reports can we experience His refreshment?

I believe scripture richly encourages us to actively seek His quiet waters, to purposely lay down our burdens and treasure quiet time in communion with Him in our place of “still waters”. But what could that possibly look like in this world of job demands, family obligations, financial distress, not to mention doctors appointments and drug side effects? 

Thankfully, God already has the provision for us.  We just need to visit our restorative place daily where we can go in solitude and dip our toes into that beautiful cleansing stream of still waters and quietly seek and purposely listen for the voice of our Good Shepard. Your “quiet water” may look like time spent on a hammock listening to the breeze in the summer leaves, a quiet walk, moments of peace on a porch chair listening to the birds, or it may be an indoor place where you can find a few minutes of solitude. We can enter into His rest, unhurried in seclusion and silence, while seeking that much needed holy communion with our Good Shepard, who waits to refresh and restore our souls. 

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, help me to find your green pastures and quiet waters today and take the time to meet You there. Speak to my heart and soothe my restless mind. I stand on the words of Jesus when He said “Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”. You God, have loved me and provided for my every need before I even realize it. Thank You for the freedom you offer from the pain and anxiety, if I will only depend on Your ways above my own. More of You and less of me. Amen.

Encouragement: “For I have have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing” Jeremiah 31:25

Thank you Beth for sharing your heart.

Surrender To His Lead

We are privileged to have guest devotion blog writers during the summer. Enjoy hearing from Leslie Schonfeld today!

His Word: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.  Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

Observation & Obedience: Such a familiar verse. There is no end to God’s love. In him is an eternal source of mercy. Love and mercy are tied together with faithfulness. We can count on this as fact. Yet, most of us take it for granted. We don’t recognize it in our day to day lives. 

This became real to me when I miscarried in 2002. Each morning I awoke refreshed and then devastated as I remembered my loss. Bewildered by these events, I often thought I can’t believe this has happened to me. It was as if I couldn’t catch my balance. Everything felt off. 

Quiet time with the Lord helped. In some moments, the Holy Spirit’s comfort was palatable. Yet the pain and uncertainty persisted. This is when Jesus acted through people; friends who came and shared little acts of kindness. They played with my kids, brought over meals, and did housework. Most importantly they listened as I processed through my circumstance. Even when I was angry and self-focused, they did not judge. They were tangible evidence of God’s love, mercy, and faithfulness. 

This is how I want to live my life. Like my friends who cared for me when I was in pain. Our imperfection does not allow us to be endless in our love for others but we can be a conduit for Jesus to move. Surrendered to His lead, we will see the needs of others and move.  

Not only can we proclaim God’s love we can emit God’s love. We tap into his limitless resource which fills us. It fills us until we overflow. Jesus said in John 7:38 NLT “Anyone who believes come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” Fill us up with your living water, Lord. I want to be so full that I splash all over the people I meet. How about you?

Prayer: “Thank you Lord that you have an unending supply of love, mercy, and faithfulness. You show us the perfect way to share these gifts. Thank you for pouring them out on us through your living water. We surrender Lord, to your lead and ask that you show us when to tap into you and pour out on others. Thanks for leading us Jesus. Amen.”

Encouragement: “God of mercy, sweet love of mine, I have surrendered to your design. May this offering stretch across the skies and these hallelujahs be multiplied.”   Need To Breathe, Multiplied

Written by Leslie Schonfeld

Is This Real Life?

We are privileged to have guest devotion blog writers during the summer. Enjoy hearing from Emily Gehman today!

You’ve seen the video David After Dentist, right? It “went viral” a few years ago when a dad took a video of his son in the back seat of the car after having some teeth pulled at the dentist.

Still groggy from the anesthetic, David, who can’t be more than six or seven, just doesn’t understand.

“I feel funny.”
“Why is this happening to me?!” “Is this going to be forever?!”

Dazed, and most certainly confused, David questions his entire existence. He’s not sure about anything. “Is this real life?” he asks his dad, who assures him that yes, this is real life, and no, this is not going to be forever.

If you’ve ever been to the dentist for any work other than a cleaning, you might sympathize with David. You come out awake, but not so sure about anything else. You stagger in a half-dream state where you think this is really happening, but you’re not sure. And all you want to do is find somewhere you can sleep…but hopefully not on the couch in the waiting room.

Is This Real Life?

Sometimes, though, those questions are uttered from my mouth after worse things than going to the dentist. And they’re usually directed toward God.

“Why is this happening to me?! Is this going to be forever?! Is this real life?!”

Sometimes I wonder why the current trial is happening to me. I’m a good person. I go to church, I read my Bible, I pray. I’m not a partier. I don’t get smashed on the weekends and I don’t follow men home from the bar. I do what is right. I am godly. I have been following Jesus for a long time. So why is this happening to me? Is this even real life?

Sometimes I wonder if God is even listening. Or if he’s just the dad behind the camera laughing. Another David wondered the same thing.

“Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you—

you are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you I cry all the day.”

David—the shepherd-turned-king psalmist, not the kid in the backseat—basically says, “Why is this happening to me? I feel funny. Is this going to be forever?”

Why Me?

King David appeals to the Lord with a strong argument—his own godliness. “But God, I trust in you! I am godly! I don’t follow anyone but you! Save me!”

But, it seems, to no avail. Despite his godliness and his total trust in God, he still has the “day of trouble.” He is not exempt from the woes of this world, though his godliness is clear for all to see. Karma is not a thing for David.
How often, though, in my own pride and pious godliness, have I, like King David, wondered “Why is this happening to me?” And like Kid David, complain about my is-this-real-life circumstances? “I feel funny. Is this going to be forever?”

But then I read Psalm 86 and I am reminded of my need for God’s goodness, kindness, and forgiveness. I am reminded that I need Him to teach me His ways, so I will walk in His truth.

“Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.”

That lesson in truth comes just at the right time: when I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. When I feel funny and I’m not sure if this is actually real life. Just when I think I’m a goner, when I’m really convinced this isn’t ever going to end, I’m reminded ever so gently of the truth of who God is.

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Mercy. The just desserts I don’t get, but deserve.
Grace. Freedom I don’t deserve but get anyway.
Patience. When I’m whining in the backseat.
Steadfast love. Unconditional, never-let-me-go love when I have love for no one but myself. Faithfulness. God’s constant presence and steady character when I think this won’t ever end.

He’s not just the dad behind the camera laughing at his groggy kid in the backseat. No, He’s the merciful and gracious father, comforting his children in the midst of confusion, fear, and restlessness. His patient arms engulf us in unmatched steadfast love, and He faithfully holds us when we are sure this is going to last forever.

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”

Written by: Emily Gehman

Singing My Way Out Of The Pit

We are privileged to have guest devotion blog writers during the summer. Enjoy hearing from Deb Potts today!

His Word: I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.                  Psalm 57:9-11

Observation & Obedience: Aren’t those words from Psalm 57 wonderful? Can’t you just picture David playing his harp and singing a melodious tune praising God? When I read these words I get a word picture in my mind. There’s a beautiful forest, a deep blue, cloudless sky, birds are singing in the trees and the aroma of budding flowers scents the air. 

But, wait a minute. If we take a look at the beginning of this Psalm, we get an entirely different picture. “I take refuge…disaster…I cry out…hotly pursue me…in the midst of lions…I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts…bowed down in distress…a pit in my path.” 

Not exactly a tiptoe through the tulips moment. I love God’s honesty. He doesn’t just fill His word with platitudes and pleasantries. He lets His writers get real. Can I get real with you today?

I’ve had plenty of pits in my path of life. Maybe you have too. There have been pillows soggy with sorrow, worry gnawing at my insides, brooding that stuck like glue, and shock that paralyzed. David experienced some pretty awful things as well. 

So how can he possibly transform those pits into praise?

David starts his ascent out of the pit when he makes up his mind to wake up and take notice of what he’s been doing. “Awake my soul!” In verse 8, he begins the transformation from dark night to glorious day. He decides to stop his song of lament about his troubles. He commits to focusing on all that is good and right and wonderful and praiseworthy about his God. 

“I will sing of you among the peoples.” Singing is our way of making any story melodious. 

When I think of melodious stories, I think of birds. One of my favorite sounds is birdsong. Birds outside my window start telling their song-stories before the sun rises each morning. When I wake up to the sound of birdsong it just makes me smile. 

Our songs not only lift us up, they make God smile too. David’s situation didn’t change, the ravenous beasts were still there. What changed was David’s focus. No matter what difficulty we’re going through, we can always find something to sing about when we focus on God. 

Here are some things I do when I need to change the direction of my thoughts. If you have a smart phone and earbuds, you can even do these things in the echoing quiet of the night.

• Listen to an audio bible recording of your favorite scriptures. I love the Psalms for comfort.

• Sing out loud to your favorite praise and worship music. If everyone else is sleeping, sing in your heart.

• Listen to a nature sounds app. I love to fall asleep to the sound of a river or crickets or birdsong when I’m alone. 

Are you wandering in the night of your soul? Turn on the Light, perk up your ears for the Melody, and sing for all you’re worth!

Prayer: “Abba, I so often let my mind get wrapped around the wrinkles of my life. They seem so overwhelming sometimes! When I do that, will you help me to wake up and pay attention to You instead? Will you put a new song in my heart when the brooding begins? Will you help me remember there’s plenty to praise if I will just waken to Your love that surpasses all understanding? Thank You. Thank. You.  Amen.”

Encouragement: Be like a bird that, halting in its flight, rests on a limb too slight. And feeling it give way beneath him sings, knowing he has wings.  L.B.Cowman, Streams in the Desert

Written by: Deb Potts