Author: astherainandsnow

“In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea.” Isaiah 11:11

“Listen to me in silence, O coastlands;
    let the peoples renew their strength;
let them approach, then let them speak;
    let us together draw near for judgment.” Isaiah 41:1

“Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’” Jeremiah 31:10

The morning tiptoes in with breeze and current, awakening marine life, wild horses, and birds. Birds! Gulls sweep and swirl as a graceful strand of pearls, long-necked cranes and ibis strut and poke the marshes with searching beaks. Culls, twitters, cackles, mournful coos pepper the fresh air, hushed by an occasional close-by whisper of feathered wings in flight. Outer banks are the only barrier between here and the vast dark sea. Listening in silence exposes the life of a new day.

Coastlands define our lands, tracing the division of water and land, marking the edge of solid here and infinity there. We are drawn to coasts because we yearn for a visual savoring of the eternity in our hearts. What do we learn from the coastlands? Do we take time to listen? (Genesis 1:9-10; Job 38:8-11; Ecclesiastes 3:11)

God is God of the edges, tracing the outer reaches of our lives and experiences, fully aware and keeping watch over even those areas we would neglect, or hold back from His notice or touch. Are we prone to flirting with the coasts of our devotion, and skirt too close to slipping, or betrayal? What causes us to overstep the boundaries our merciful God has set for our good and protection, thus endangering fidelity or a whole heart? Would we identify the rebel spirit, and come clean in confession?

What if we invited the Lord to extend His hand over every life boundary? What if we endeavored to enlarge our borders into God’s greatness, wisdom, and love, and then outward in ministry? (1 Chronicles 4:10)

“My stubborn will at last hath yielded;
I would be Thine, and Thine alone;
And this the prayer my lips are bringing,
Lord, let in me Thy will be done. 

I’m tired of sin, footsore and weary,
The darksome path hath dreary grown;
But now a light has ris’n to cheer me;
I find in Thee my Star, my Sun.

Thy precious will, O conqu’ring Savior,
Doth now embrace and compass me;
All discords hushed, my peace a river,
My soul, a prisoned bird set free.

Shut in with Thee, O Lord, forever,
My wayward feet no more to roam;
What pow’r from Thee my soul can sever?
The center of God’s will my home.

Refrain:
Sweet will of God, still fold me closer,
Till I am wholly lost in Thee.” ~Leila Morris (1862-1929)

Lord of the coastlands, trace Your grace around the borders of my days. Order my will and have Your way with me, that many will enter Your kingdom, renew their strength, and bring glory to Your name.

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:

‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.'” Matthew 6:5-13

Jesus’s preface for the right kind of praying covers both Jewish and Gentile common practices that His people must not do. Each group had its own brand of pride in prayer: a penchant for impressing onlookers with their show of prayer, and a cocky repetition of flowery phrases intended to impress God with what was actually shallow prayer. Both were forbidden, both necessary to put away for genuine, humble communion with the Hallowed One to take place.

Once an attitude of ‘notice me’ is forsaken, a humble attitude of ‘notice and acknowledge Him’ can ensue. Don’t and don’t make way for do. Then the real praying begins. We don’t approach God to get His (and others’) attention, but to center our attention on Him, His place, His power. We don’t approach prayer to inform God (or those around us), but to exalt Him and declare our dependence on Him. An effective prayer life is topsy turvy from how the world thinks and the flesh naturally behaves. But then, it’s holy, other-worldly communication with One whom the heavens cannot contain. (1 Kings 8:27)

What about our prayer life needs revamping? What seeds of pride or puffery have taken root in our approach to the Almighty? What rote habits smack of self-promotion or superficiality over a hallowed hush of wonder and praise? If we come humbly, and are willing, the Lord can change what we seek. And seeking His highest and best ways will end up fulfilling every desire.

Beware expressing devotion with no love, and giving lip service to requests with no desperation. When we approach God Most High, reverently extolling Him, laying out our needs in the light of His bountiful grace, we can know He hears our requests and give good things in response. Our focus, our confidence, our hope, are in Him alone. (Matthew 7:7-8,11; 1 Corinthians 13:1)

Father, draw me to the secret place with You. Please purify the secret places within me, that I would hallow Your name, and seek Your name and will and sufficiency above any selfish passion. To You be the kingdom and power and glory forever, amen.

 “I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.” Psalm 121:1-8

“When he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep.  And they went and woke him, saying, ‘Save us, Lord; we are perishing.’  And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.  And the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?'” Matthew 8:23-27

Help and keeping come from the Lord, who does not slumber, yet sleeps. The omniscient One is always near, ever-watching, serene and in control, and when we stay our minds on Him, He keeps us in perfect peace. He is always vigilant, watching over us to support, strengthen, and preserve, yet He rests secure that His very providence rules wind and waves. We stumble and swoon, and sway in storms, but He reigns. (2 Chronicles 16:9a; Psalm 34:15; Isaiah 26:3)

The Lord who keeps our going out and coming in actually orders it. Sometimes He takes us right into storms of heartache, loss, or injustice, so we know Him better as guard and keeper. Sometimes He dictates hot strikes of evil to return us to His shade. If He has control in our life swamp of storms and is serene, then so can we be alongside our divine Keeper.

Am I trudging in the lowlands, aggravated or downtrodden at present discomforts and troubles, but unwilling to turn my attention skyward? What decisions, or threats, or disappointments, storm toss my peace of mind, engulfing me in worry or fear? Would I, in faith, go to Jesus who rides the storms with me, and take shelter in His protection and calm? (Deuteronomy 33:26)

“O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:

Under the shadow of your throne
your saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received its frame,
from everlasting Thou are God,
to endless years the same.

A thousand ages in your sight
are like an evening gone,
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be Thou our guard while life shall last,
and our eternal home!” ~Isaac Watts (1719)

Amen.

“The Lord came from Sinai
    and dawned from Seir upon us;
    he shone forth from Mount Paran;
he came from the ten thousands of holy ones,
    with flaming fire at his right hand.
Yes, he loved his people,
    all his holy ones were in his hand;
so they followed in your steps,
    receiving direction from you.” Deuteronomy 33:2-3a

“The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:25-27

“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
    and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
    and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your rising.

“Lift up your eyes all around, and see;
    they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from afar,
    and your daughters shall be carried on the hip.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
    your heart shall thrill and exult…

“The sun shall be no more
    your light by day,
nor for brightness shall the moon
    give you light;
but the Lord will be your everlasting light,
    and your God will be your glory.
Your sun shall no more go down,
    nor your moon withdraw itself;
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
    and your days of mourning shall be ended.” Isaiah 60:1-5a,19-20

Most awaken each morning to a new day, before or after the sun cracks open the darkness. With many pressures and troubles in the world hanging their gloom all around, the glory of our celestial sun is a comforting balm. Conflict and war between nations, disruptions in commerce, threats to life and livelihood, dissension in relationships, all welcome the dissipation of shadows and promise of hope. Decisions loom where we have no direction, needs pile up where there seems no provision, antagonism and turmoil fracture homes and workplaces where reconciliation, agreement, or even compromise seems impossible. But the splendid Lord arises, and shines forth.

And come the end of the day, when weary hours have passed, and the coming of night threatens to unsettle once again, a similar glory shines, reflecting the setting sun. The loving Almighty reminds us again and again He is the light of the world at every turn, everywhere in and encompassing the world as it spins in orbit, eternally bright in the resplendence and glory of His sovereignty that knows no measure.

In uncertain days, would I seek His bright grace? In the dusk of doubt, will I welcome His shine? In shadows of soul, would I draw close to His flaming fire? The more time I spend in His light, I see light and all it illumines. Rather than poke in the grey for the world’s antidotes, as God’s child I can bask in His light, and soak in His countenance and peace. I can join the radiant throng (Psalm 36:9)

Lord, may I rise daily to Your radiant splendor, and ever thrill and exult in the glory that is You.

“Joshua commanded the officers.., ‘Pass through the midst of the camp and command the people, “Prepare your provisions, for within three days you are to pass over this Jordan to go in to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you…”’”

“And Joshua sent two men secretly as spies, saying, ‘Go, view the land, especially Jericho…'”

“Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out [and] came to the Jordan,.. and lodged there… At the end of three days the officers went through the camp  and commanded the people, ‘As soon as you see the ark of the covenant… being carried by the priests, then set out from your place and follow it…’ Then Joshua said to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.’ And Joshua said to the priests, ‘Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people…’

“And Joshua said to the people, ‘Come and listen to the words of the Lord your God… Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive [the nations] out from before… Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan…’ 

“So when the people set out to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before [them], and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away,.. were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.” Joshua 1:10-11; 2:1; 3:1-3,5-6,9-11,14-16a,17

For any great task the Lord assigns, there is preparation to be made. There are practical instructions that must be communicated, people or provisions to be organized, and passions and shadows of the heart to be consecrated. In order to ready ourselves, we must seek the Lord and surrender to His revealed way. As a God of order, He will faithfully supply our needs and direct our steps according to His perfect will. (Proverbs 3:5-6; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 14:33a)

Passing over from my place of competence to God’s place of promise takes courage and faith. I must be right before Him, and trust His ‘parting’ of every current of opposition, resistance, and fear. I must proceed in His strength alone, secure in His pledge, focused on His destination. (Deuteronomy 34:1-4,9; Joshua 1:1b-3)

To what new land, actual or figurative, is God calling me? What need I leave behind in order to cross from self-preservation to divine provision, from trusting in my deserts or abilities to claiming Christ’s sufficiency won for me on the cross? Only then can I take possession of the spiritual bounty that is mine in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

Father, guide my daily preparation with You, that I may fully enter Your promises and gladly participate in Your kingdom work, so all will know You are among me.

“But you, draw near,
    sons of the sorceress,
    offspring of the adulterer…
Whom are you mocking?
    Against whom do you open your mouth wide
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
    the offspring of deceit,
you who burn with lust among the oaks,
    under every green tree,
who slaughter your children in the valleys,
    under the clefts of the rocks?
Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;..
to them you have poured out a drink offering,
    you have brought a grain offering.
    Shall I relent for these things?
On a high and lofty mountain
    you have set your bed,
    and there you went up to offer sacrifice…
You journeyed to the king with oil
    and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far off,
    and sent down even to Sheol.
You were wearied with the length of your way,
    but you did not say, ‘It is hopeless’…

“Whom did you dread and fear,
    so that you lied,
and did not remember me,
    did not lay it to heart?
Have I not held my peace, even for a long time,
    and you do not fear me?..
When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
    The wind will carry them all off,
    a breath will take them away.
But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land
    and shall inherit my holy mountain…

“For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
    who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
‘I dwell in the high and holy place,
    and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
    and to revive the heart of the contrite…
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
    I will lead him and restore comfort to him.'”

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
    or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
but your iniquities have made a separation
    between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
    so that he does not hear…

“A Redeemer will come..,
    to those who turn from transgression.” Isaiah 57:3-7,9-11,13,15,18; 59:1-2,20

Ah, what foolishness is tinkering with idols of this world! Flirting with the sorceress, the adulterer, the captivation with nature that attempts to channel and exults in its ‘high power.’ Any direction or affection or intimacy that comes between us and the Lord, any heaven that is not His dwelling place and throne, are idols. Dare we forget He alone is God! We wander, we repeat our false and empty sacrifices, we act from fear of man, thinking we will get somewhere, win some favor, earn some peace, and all for naught. Weary as we grow, we will not admit our hopelessness.

Yet the high and holy God does not weary in long-suffering and holding His peace. In loving mercy, He invites us to cross sin’s chasm to His refuge. He condescends to the contrite and lowly. If we would but turn from our idolatry, He heals, restores, and redeems lost, wasted years. (Joel 2:25)

What idols have stolen our hearts, allegiance, and devotion, and interfered with our communion with Jesus? Will we forsake them today?

Father, may I have and love no God but You. (Exodus 20:3-5a)

“‘She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

“’Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
    and they shall call his name Immanuel’

(which means, God with us)….

“Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him…’ When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 1:21-23; 2:2,10-11

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.’ Then Abram fell on his face.” Genesis 17:1-3

“The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.” Exodus 34:5-8

It is not in human nature to want to fall. A clumsy trip is embarrassing, painful, humiliating. But the Lord delights when we fall in worship. The difference between our horrifying trip and His desire is that one is involuntary and all about me, the other intentional and all about Him. He presents Himself in a variety of ways to magnify His holy splendor and adjust our willing, loving, awe-inspired submission as His children.

Our posture every day is determined by our view of God Almighty. If we set about our business consumed with self and agenda and do do do, we may strut upright with chin high, or forge forward in determined progress. If we take time to delve into God’s word, and kneel before him in humble prayer, reciting His attributes and thanking Him for His goodness and fresh mercies, aligning our mindset with His will, however we physically move will be fueled with a glad, surrendered heart. We will embrace everything as a privileged service unto Him, our words and actions graced with His countenance and measured wisdom. Which will it be? (Lamentations 3:22-23; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:16; Philippians 2:5-8; James 4:10)

What pride, or self-sufficient confidence, robs us of spiritual desire to fall before God? Would we ask Him to change our human driving to holy passion? When do we give lip service to worship, asserting swagger and control and trying to win favor with men, but never actually bow before the Almighty? What will it take to humble ourselves before the only worthy King of kings and Lord of lords? (Matthew 2:8,16; 1 Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14)

Lord, may I live my days on bended knee, ever submissive to Your righteous authority and worshiping You as You deserve.

“I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. He called out with a mighty voice,

‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
    She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit…
For all nations have drunk
    the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
    and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.’

I heard another voice… saying,

‘Come out of her, my people,
    lest you take part in her sins,..
As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,
    so give her a like measure of torment and mourning,
since in her heart she says,
    “I sit as a queen,..
    and mourning I shall never see…”
She will be burned up with fire;
    for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.’

The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning… They will… say,

‘In a single hour your judgment has come.’

And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore,..

‘The fruit for which your soul longed
    has gone from you,
and all your delicacies and your splendors
    are lost to you,
    never to be found again!..

For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.’

And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea,.. cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning,

‘What city was like the great city?’

And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned,..

‘In a single hour she has been laid waste.
Rejoice over her, O heaven,
    and you saints and apostles and prophets,
for God has given judgment for you against her!'” Revelation 18:1-4,7-11,14,17-20

God’s angel, bright with glory, shouts with mighty voice a message of woe to the wicked Babylon. His pronouncement precipitates anguished weeping, wailing over judgment on all that had taken too high a place, too much devotion in the human heart. Profound is the horror at the quick deftness of her curse, the burning, waste, and destruction of her prurient luxuries and all attending devastation to those then intwined, now ruined.

Yet, in the wail and doom of judgment, God exhibits mercy. Until the final judgment, He issues the call to come out of sin and unto Him. Have we responded to His grace and left the worthlessness of worldly pursuits, trinkets, temporal pleasures? Every delicacy and splendor foreign to Christ will come to naught.

He also issues a call to rejoice in His perfect and alien work of judgment. Yes, He is loving, but as the holy God, full judgment is His necessary response to sin, with which He cannot coexist. This is for us, who will live with Him in glory forever. (Isaiah 28:21,29; Habakkuk 1:13a; Revelation 21:23-27)

Has my heart become a dwelling place for anything set against my Lord? Do I care enough to wail over those who die in sin, not because of my loss, but over theirs? (John 8:24)

Holy Lord, may I proclaim the gruesomeness of judgment as a window to Your grace.

“But you, Israel, my servant,
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,
    the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
you whom I took from the ends of the earth,
    and called from its farthest corners,
saying to you, ‘You are my servant,
    I have chosen you and not cast you off’;
fear not, for I am with you;
    be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…
For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, ‘Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you…’
And you shall rejoice in the Lord;
    in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

When the poor and needy seek water,
    and there is none,
    and their tongue is parched with thirst,
I the Lord will answer them;
    I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
I will open rivers on the bare heights,
    and fountains in the midst of the valleys.
I will make the wilderness a pool of water,
    and the dry land springs of water.
 I will put in the wilderness the cedar,
    the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive.
I will set in the desert the cypress,
    the plane and the pine together,
 that they may see and know,
    may consider and understand together,
that the hand of the Lord has done this,
    the Holy One of Israel has created it.” Isaiah 41:8-10,13,16b-20

Position begets protection. The ‘but’ that begins this passage sets up the juxtaposition between who are are as Christ’s own, and what that means for us in a trepidatious, wilderness life. No matter what, we are named by God. No matter what, He has chosen us as His friend. We are His. We were sought, called, and pursued by Him to be His servant, secure in love-bondage forever.

As His servants, we are not guaranteed life without fear, nor free of disturbing, painful circumstances. There is no promise we will not be poor, needy, parched, bereft of fruitfulness and hope. In fact, as Jesus the Suffering Servant experienced these, we, as His children, may know them all. (Isaiah 53:3-12; Matthew 4:1-11; 20:28; 27:46; John 4:5-7; 16:33; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 2:21)

But it is in the knowing and being known, named by and belonging to Him, that we hold His hand. What bountiful provision has He given we would not otherwise know? What angst or turmoil can we bring to be smothered in His presence? In the light of His love, dismay flees! He strengthens, helps, and upholds! From the place of darkness and drought, in all these gifts we can glory and rejoice!

There is no thirst He cannot assuage, no pang He cannot comfort with His presence, no emptiness of purpose or inspiration, in relationships or hope, He cannot overcome and fill. Every call He hears and answers, every need He knows and meets. The Holy One has done all this that we might know Him! (Psalm 34:4; Philippians 4:19)

Lord, I am privileged to be Your servant. You order every dearth that I might seek and know Your fill. Keep me humbly, desperately dependent on You, rejoicing in the works of Your hand so I make Your glory known.

“The Lord comforts Zion;
    he comforts all her waste places
and makes her wilderness like Eden,
    her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
    thanksgiving and the voice of song…

Thus says your Lord, the Lord,
    your God who pleads the cause of his people:
‘Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering;
the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more.'” Isaiah 51:3-4a,22a

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” Romans 8:31-34

“I love the Lord, because he has heard
    my voice and my pleas for mercy.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
    therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
    the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
    I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    ‘O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!..’

For you have delivered my soul from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling.” Psalm 116:1-4,8

We earthlings have so many pleas! How easy it is to interchange the two four-letter-beginning-with-P words, where pray means plea. While prayer is far more that pleading, the Lord God faithfully, lovingly envelops our every plea in the grace of His own for us. What a Savior!

He knows all about us, our inner workings, mind meanderings, snippets of jealousy, doubt, pride, and ire. He knows what we have endured, what is ahead, and what we need. We cry out from personal agony, desperate lack, and fear of what might be. Our imploring is bound by a perspective limited by temporal flesh, cultural pressure, and a sin-tainted atmosphere. Coincidentally, our pleas coalesce with the incessant intercession of the God of the universe to accomplish His sovereign will. He advocates for us, and His purposes are always fulfilled. (Psalm 139:1-16)

I plead from the pit, He from His throne. I plead seeing only impossible obstacles, He with eternal vision and already-accomplished possibility. I plead in weakness and finite understanding, He in infinite strength and wisdom, and for mine. I plead from battle, He from the side of victory.

So with every yearning and need, would we boldly claim the Lord’s providential care, His omniscience, the astounding fact that He is on our side? What is against us that God’s for is not larger and more powerful? What inner angst buffets that He in us is not greater and abler? Our every plea can turn to gladness and thanksgiving song when we call on His name and seize, and rest in, His loving, redemptive, potent, sufficient, majestic response. (1 John 4:4)

Father, teach me to bring my pleas to you in confidence that You plead Your best and highest for me, to the praise of Your glory.