I wrote the post below at a time when we were in a sort of limbo, in the middle of a circumstance which I hoped would rectify a tragedy. It was a couple of weeks before the winter solstice, and even as the days shortened to their briefest length, I had hope.
Things did not unfold as I had hoped, and yet God has not abandoned me. The journey of life is harder and more heartbreaking than I ever imagined, and yet peace and joy continue wherever the Spirit of the Lord dwells.
Here we are just a week after the summer solstice, and we find ourselves in the middle of a different circumstance. This circumstance also has the potential to bring about much longed-for healing and great relief. I could prepare myself for the worst, the worst possible outcome, the worst possible news. Or I could hope for the best, the new start, the relief, the healing. I will endeavor to simply keep my eyes on Jesus, and trust in His mercy and kindness, neither demanding nor doubting, simply trusting and knowing that He has good plans for us, plans to prosper and not to harm, plans to give us hope and a future. Yes, the future is ultimately glory in the presence of God for all eternity. Either we get to serve Him for awhile here, before we get there, or we go early.
Ultimately, healing is the presence of God.
The presence of God.
"I will never leave you, nor forsake you," He promises. "I will be with you wherever you go." He is present.
"How much more will the Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?" Jesus promises. This is a specific promise, straight from the mouth of the Lord. If we ask Him, He will give Himself to us. He bestows His glorious presence on us; all we have to do is ask. He will come. Indeed, He is already here. He will awaken our awareness of His presence.
Enough. I've already written a whole extra post, before the repost...
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A Prayer for December
from 12/6/2017
Dear Lord God,
I can't remember a December so filled with bright blue and gold as this one. You shine from beyond the cerulean sky, illuminating dried leaves and grasses so they move in the wind like living lights. Without you they would be mere straw and chaff, but under your presence they appear as precious metals.
You are the God of all Hope. Thank you for all the words you have given us about hope.
May the God of hope fill you with all peace and joy, because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. (Psalm 31:24)
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you. (Psalm 33:22)
You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas. (Psalm 65:5)
It is right to hope in you, Lord. It is right for us to believe that you are good, and that you have good plans of salvation for the men of earth.
The angel said, "I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people!" (Luke 2:10)
Jesus has come. You have come.
You are the Light of the World, illuminating truth and driving away the dark of doubt, the dark of despair, the dark of the devil's deceiving schemes. Your glory utterly undoes the darkness, shining in clear revelation.
You are the Living Water, reviving and refreshing parched, weary souls.
You are the Bread of Life, filling and nourishing those who hunger.
You are the Good Shepherd, leading us by quiet waters, making us lie down in green pastures, restoring our souls, and guiding us in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake (Psalm 23). You gather us like little lambs in your arms and carry us close to your heart (Isaiah 40:11).
You love us with an everlasting love, and draw us to yourself with cords of lovingkindness (Jeremiah 31:3). Thank you, Lord Jesus, thank you for your great love.
Thank you for your mighty power, which will never be overcome. You yourself are the Overcomer. You have even overcome death itself, and the sin that begets death. I praise you, Lord Almighty. I praise you because you died and rose again, so that we could be redeemed for eternal life in your presence. The victory is yours, and ours, too, because of your unfathomable grace.
You are King of kings and Lord of lords.
Thank you for your sovereign, faithful power over all creation. You tell us that you know the end from the beginning. Your purpose will stand. You will do all that you please. (Isaiah 46:10)
No power can stop you, Lord. Thank you. You are worthy of all praise.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for your providence and for your miracles. I've read a little bit about these things, and from what I can tell, although theologians go to great lengths to distinguish between the two, the only difference is that your providence is the miracles we are used to, because you do them most every day and wire them into the way the universe works, while "miracles" are the unusual events you bring about, surpassing the boundaries of nature and only happening at rare intervals in our lives. It is all your work, all from you. I am thankful that you are with us all the time, and every sunrise is as much a gift as an unexplainable healing. Thank you that you both provide for us and do miracles for us. Thank you that your hands are always at work around us, feeding, healing, comforting and protecting.
Oh Lord God, how I love your hands.
You formed the world with your hands.
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place... (Psalm 8:3)
The heavens declare your glory, and the skies proclaim the work of your hands (Psalm 19:1).
You are the one who made the earth and created mankind upon it, stretching out the heavens by your own hands and marshaling their starry hosts (Isaiah 45:12).
You bless and feed us with your hands.
All of creation looks to you for food, which you give at the proper time for us to gather up. When you open your hand, we are satisfied with good things (Psalm 104:27-28).
You fill me with joy in your presence and eternal pleasures at your right hand (Psalm 16:11).
You comfort and protect us with your hands.
When I take refuge in you from the foe, you save me by your right hand because of your great love, keeping me as the apple of your eye, and hiding me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:7-8).
I cling to you, your right hand upholds me (Psalm 63:8).
You deliver your people by your hand, and your mighty outstretched arm (Exodus 3:19-20, 6:6, 13:16, 15:12).
You heal with the touch of your hand. Your hand has healed lepers, blind people, deaf people, lame people, and people with broken hearts and malignant souls. Your hand continues to heal, every day.
You reach out with your hand to pull us up out of the miry clay, out of the raging waters. You grasp us with your strong hand when we are too weak to hold on by ourselves, and you lift us up to safety and restoration. You lovingly chide, "Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31)
You saved us when you stretched out your hands at the cross, allowing them to be pierced for our sins, your precious, nail-pierced hands.
You have thus engraved us on your hands, written our names on the palms of your hands (Isaiah 49:16).
I am yours. Thank you, Lord Jesus.
O Jesus, help me trust you. Help me to be better able to perceive your goodness and your love. Help me to walk in your Spirit, filled with your Spirit, conscious of your Spirit. Please radiate the beauty, peace and joy of your Spirit out through me. Let me carry your presence wherever I go.
Thank you for your promises. Thank you that you hear and answer prayer.
Thank you that you are always with me. You go before me, leading, forging the path. You come behind me, protecting my back, shielding my blindside. You cover me with your feathers, shelter me with your wings, protect me with the armor of your faithful promises (Psalm 91:4). Thank you that you never leave me nor forsake me.
Thank you that you promise that I will bear fruit as I abide in you, that joy comes in the morning, that your plans are good and certain to come to pass.
Thank you, Jesus. Help me Jesus. I praise you, Jesus.
Amen
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