February 3 I Want To Hear His Voice

Photos by Laura Jostes

Exodus 17:8-19:15;  Matthew 22:34-23:12;  Psalm 27:7-14;  Proverbs 6:27:35

“Hear my voice when I call, O Lord;

Be merciful to me and answer me.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”

Your face, Lord, will I seek.

Do not hide your face from me,

do not turn your servant away in anger;

you have been my helper.”

* * * * *

“Teach me your way, O Lord;

lead me in a straight path

because of my oppressors.”

* * * * *

“I am still confident of this:

I will see the goodness of the Lord

in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and take heart

and wait for the Lord.”

Psalm 27:7-9, 11, 14

Speak, O Lord, your servant listens,

Let your Word to me come near;

Newborn life and spirit give me,

Let each promise still my fear.

Death’s dread power, its inward strife,

Wars against your Word of life;

Fill me, Lord, with love’s strong fervor

That I cling to you forever!

* * * * *

Oh, what blessing to be near you

And to listen to your voice;

Let me ever love and hear you,

Let your Word be now my choice!

Many hardened sinners, Lord,

Flee in terror at your Word,

But to me, who know my burden,

Show me now your Word of pardon.

* * * * *

Precious Jesus, I entreat you,

Let your words in me take root;

Let this gift of heav’n enrich me

So that I bring gen’rous fruit:

Never take them from my heart

Till I see you as you are,

When in heav’nly bliss and glory

I will meet you and adore you!

Amen.

~ Anna Sophia of Hesse-Darmstadt, 1638-83

Lord, I want to hear your voice, learn your ways, depend on you always.   Thank you for the psalm writer’s words and Anna’s words that help me focus my thoughts on you at the end of this day.  May your Word dwell richly in my heart by faith.  May they guard my heart and mind as the day winds down and night approaches.  You know the cares of my heart, its longings, its desires.  I lay them at the feet of Jesus and pray that your will be done.  For Jesus’ sake I pray, Amen.

Advertisement

February 2 The Desert Blues

Photo by Laura Jostes

Exodus 15:19-17:7;  Matthew 22:1-33;  Psalm 27:1-6;  Proverbs 6:20-26

Physically free,

but spiritually not

the former slaves of Egypt

now walked the desert miles

hungering, thirsting–

and complaining.

* * * * *

God heard their cries–

their loud laments,

“if only were were back in Egypt

we’d have leeks with our meat!”

In His mercy and remembering

His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,

His hand fed them food from heaven:

manna by day

meat by night.

God cleansed the bitter waters.

He promised them disease free days

IF

they “would carefully listen to his voice

and do what is right in his eyes,

IF

“they obeyed his commands

and kept all his decrees.

For I am the Lord, who heals you.”

Exodus 15:25-26

If only God’s people would put their trust

in Him.

If only God’s people would give thanks

for his goodness to them,

for providing for food and drink.

If only God’s people would just stop

looking at themselves

and their lack.

If only God’s people would listen

and believe

and look up.

Lord God, if I were one of the wandering Israelites I know I would have been no different (even though I’d like to think I would have had more faith).  My human flesh would have cried out and I would have complained.  I know this because I am guilty of doing the same–and I’m not even wandering in a desert!  But my heart often finds itself in the spiritual desert and I doubt you.  I fail to look to you as my Sole Savior.  Forgive me, Lord, for not trusting you with my whole heart;  for doubting the truth of your Salvation message–that because of Jesus’s death on the Cross, all of my sins are forgiven.  I’ve been set free.  Send your Holy Spirit to fill the desert places in my heart that I may praise you and give you thanks for all your gifts pertaining to life here and life forever with you in heaven.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

“One thing I ask of the Lord,

this is what I seek;

that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

all the days of my life,

to gaze upon

the beauty of the Lord

and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble

he will keep me safe in his dwelling.

He will hide me in the shelter

of his tabernacle

and set me high upon a rock.”

Psalm 27:4-5

August 4 Out Of The Blue

Image by Zach Fonville

2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1-17; Psalm 27:1-6; Proverbs 20:20-21

“The Lord is my light and my salvation,
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life
of whom shall I be afraid?
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling.” Psalm 27:1-3,5

Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” 1 Corinthians 1:7-9

Out of the blue
trouble comes,
stirs up the waters
of my life.
“Didn’t see that one coming!”
Life is like that–
this fallen, imperfect world
I live in.
Life isn’t fair,
but that’s OK
because my God is
faithful.
The good work that He
began in me,
that spark of faith life
remains steady because of
His promises to me,
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Trouble will come
in many shapes and forms
but it need not define me.
I am not depression.
I am not joblessness.
I am not broken relationships.
I am not cancer.
I am not addiction.
I am not loneliness.
I am not…
I am faithful
because my God is faithful.
He will not let me be tempted
beyond my ability.
He provides my way of escape
from the enemy that surrounds me.
He hears my prayers.
He is my Light and my Salvation.
Praise His holy name!

Thank you Heavenly Father for defining my life for me–for calling me to be your own–for being with me in times of trouble, for helping me endure. Thank you for your faithfulness in sending the promised Messiah–Jesus Christ, my Lord, who broke the bonds of sin and death and now lives and reigns with you now and forever! Amen!

August 4 Strong

2 Chronicles 35:1-36:23;  1 Corinthians 1:1-17;  Psalm 27:1-6;  Proverbs 20:20-21

“He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God who has called you into fellowship with his son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”  1 Corinthians 1:8-9

Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong.

They are weak but

He is strong!

 

Jesus loves me He who died Heaven’s gate to open wide.

He will wash away my sin

and let the Holy Ghost

come in.

Lord God Heavenly Father, so often I do things in my own strength–try to live for you in my own strength.

I don’t have my own strength–

and I don’t have to–because you ARE my strength.  I can say “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” 

I can be at peace amid conflict;

patient in turmoil; 

loving in the presence of hate;

forgiving when wronged. 

Thank you Lord, for being my stronghold, my strength, my protection.  Thank you for your Word which tells me so!  In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen.

 

“The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I   

fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1