Monthly Archives: October 2019

He is Already There (Deuteronomy 31:8 – Jesus Is Beside Us)

Ever since I was little, I have pictured Jesus beside me when encountering a situation that caused doubt or dread in my mind. The image of Him walking alongside me has provided a boost of bravery and boldness. And lately, a thought that has produced even more confidence is that while the Lord is undoubtedly right beside me, He is ahead of me making a way as well.

Even though we may be facing uncharted territory, the Lord knows it like the back of His hand. Unknown to us are the results, ramifications, and potential rewards of obediently following Him into unfamiliar terrain, but He is ahead of us and knows all about them. 

The Lord leads us but does not leave us. It is not consistent with His character to forsake us or to leave us high and dry. When He beckons us into waters that are deeper, difficult, or demanding, He has already navigated through all those waves and will lovingly lead us.

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Miles of Blessings

When my alarm sounded that May morning, I strongly considered rolling over and going back to sleep. A quick check of the weather app on my phone confirmed that I, along with a few thousand other participants, would be competing in our respective races in the rain coupled with a brisk temperature that I usually avoid running in. However, I pep-talked myself out of my comfortable bed and made the hour-long drive to the event location, motivated by the rewards of checking off another running goal, the dryness, warmth, and variety of sugary treats found at the indoor finish line, and sipping a steaming cup of coffee on the drive home. 

When the 10k race began, I settled into my pace and eagerly anticipated the aforementioned rewards. Usually, the finish line is where my focus remains fixated, but on this particular day, God opened my eyes to blessings along the route.

The first blessing was being able to spend time in prayer as I ran. I prayed for endurance, thanked God for recent answers to prayer only He could orchestrate, lifted requests to Him, and listened for His voice. The second blessing was perseverance. He provided strength and stamina for each step through less-than-ideal conditions. The third blessing was the people God placed in my path. I appreciated the supportive fans who cheered for us, particularly the children who enthusiastically offered high-fives as participants passed.

If I had concentrated only on the finish, I would have missed miles of blessings along the way. The truth is, whether we are running a 10k or experiencing a challenging waiting season in life, we will fail to appreciate God-sent gifts along the journey if we aim all of our attention at attainment.

The blessings God provided while I ran can be found in life’s waiting seasons as well. Just as the 10k was a perfect time to enjoy the blessing of prayer, waiting seasons are also a perfect time to spend meaningful time in prayer, drawing us closer to God. Similar to how He blessed me with the gift of perseverance as I ran, He will also develop perseverance in us when we are sustaining a waiting season. Perseverance proves to us that His strength is all we need in the present and gives us confidence that it is all we need for our future. And the 10k blessing of appreciating the people God placed in my path can likewise be experienced during waiting seasons when we intentionally take our eyes off ourselves. Consequently, our relationships are enhanced, and we have more opportunities to display the love of Jesus to a world in desperate need of more of it.

While we wait for the blessing, let’s not miss the blessing in the wait. Next time we are in the midst of a waiting season, may we not become so focused on the finish that we miss out on the miles of blessings God lovingly provides along our route. 

Monday Morning Prayer

Dear Lord, it’s a new day and a new week, and I look to You to be Lord over all of it. I thank You for being not only able, but also willing to supply the strength, courage, and wisdom I need for new challenges. You promise to be beside me, and You are also before me, making a way. Help Your indescribable love to overflow out of my life. Help it to touch the people You have placed in my path. Direct my words and my actions so that they are a reflection of that same love. Continue reading