Author: astherainandsnow

“Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You return man to dust
    and say, ‘Return, O children of man!’
For a thousand years in your sight
    are but as yesterday when it is past,
    or as a watch in the night.

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning:
in the morning it flourishes..;
    in the evening it fades and withers.

For we are brought to an end by your anger…
You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your presence.

For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
The years of our life are seventy,
    or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span is but toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away…

So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom…
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!” Psalm 90:1-10,12,14-17

Moses understood the grand distinction between God’s eternal and man’s transient natures. This timeless Creator, infinite and wholly God from everlasting to everlasting, was the exquisite abode for man stained by the fall and limited in days. His all-encompassing sovereignty ordered and measured the finite years of His children, and Moses longed to make the most of them with wisdom and meaningful work. Under God’s favor and establishing, he could be satisfied in Him and rejoice in His ways.

In the stress and push of daily life, we can forget our place in generations and eternity. Satan’s potent ruse is to blind man to eternal significance and accountability, to cause the urgent and temporary to be most vital and all-consuming. Days can speed by without our taking thought of God’s mercies each morning and His gift of rest and renewal every night. We go about the grind of work without considering how it fits into His larger kingdom scheme or even bears on His honor. Years can pass without our thanking Him for His faithful sustenance and the continuity of life through births and deaths. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

When we recognize He has been our dwelling place, above and upholding all things, we can see our days in a glorious continuum of His ways, and delight to take part. How can we add wisdom and significance to our moments and hours? What will we invest anew to make the most of every conversation, duty, and service to others? What fresh joy will we take in God our dwelling place? (Colossians 1:16-17)

Lord, may I flourish and bear fruit all my days, to Your glory. (Psalm 92:12-14)

“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
    that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.

“A voice cries:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    for the mouth of the Lord has spoken…’

“Go on up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, herald of good news;
lift up your voice with strength,
    O Jerusalem, herald of good news;
    lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
    ‘Behold your God!’
Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
    he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young…

“Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:1-5,9-11,28-31

Isaiah has a message of deep comfort for God’s people, and calls others to share his good news. Anticipate the Lord’s glorious coming- prepare for it! And herald His presence so He is seen, desired, and welcomed! Behold this Lord God in all His compassion, strong tenderness, justice, and bounty. Wonder at His might, His vast influence and wisdom, His ability to create, raise up, destroy, and uphold. This God knows you, meets every need, renews your strength. Get you up a high mountain and tell! (Isaiah 40:12-17,21-26)

In order to have a message we need to have an experience to relate. Investing in knowing God through His word and the daily practice of obedience, trusting, applying biblical principles, and walking in His promises, stores up spiritual treasure to share. The truths of God inform our thought, and facets of His character become ours to emulate. How deeply and genuinely is the good news our own?

Whom are we telling? From what mountain in our neighborhood, at work, in a leadership role, in ordinary interactions, are we proclaiming the gospel of Christ? Would we set aside reluctance, excuses, fears, and lift our voices? (Isaiah 41:8-10,13,18)

“Go, tell it on the mountain,
over the hills and ev’rywhere;
go, tell it on the mountain
that Jesus Christ was born.” John Work (1872-1925)

Lord, take me to the heights and open my eyes to Your greatness, my heart to Your graces, and my mouth to proclaim Your glories.

“In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. And the king of Assyria sent the Rabshakeh from Lachish to Hezekiah at Jerusalem, with a great army… And there came out to him Eliakim… and Shebna the secretary, and Joah.., the recorder.

“The Rabshakeh said, ‘Say to Hezekiah, “Thus says the great king… of Assyria: On what do you rest this trust of yours? Do you think that mere words are strategy and power for war? In whom do you now trust, that you have rebelled against me?^… If you say to me, ‘We trust in the Lord our God,’ is it not he whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar’?^… Is it without the Lord that I have come up against this land to destroy it? The Lord said to me, ‘Go up against this land and destroy it…’”’

“Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice… ‘Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria!.. Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you. Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord by saying, “The Lord will surely deliver us. This city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.” Do not listen to Hezekiah. For thus says the king of Assyria: Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then each one of you will eat of his own vine, and each… his own fig tree, and each… will drink the water of his own cistern, until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards. Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.”'” Isaiah 36:1-5,7,10,13-18a

The Rabshekah from Assyria made bold claims against God, and for his own pompous power. This conniving high ranking military officer did all he could to undermine Hezekiah and Israel’s trust in the Lord. Not understanding the power of the invisible, living God left him sauntering and positioning himself as the only victor. Hezekiah knew better. He trusted not in empty or threatening words, but the true Word of his Lord. It was Him he sought and trusted for deliverance. (Isaiah 37:1-20)

Many voices turn our heads, confuse convictions, and vie for our allegiance. When we face difficulties and temptation, seasons of pressure, challenge, or trial, where do we turn for clarity and victory? Are we swayed by emotions triggered by mere words, or the suggestions of men? Or do we measure these messages against the Word?

How will we know better and stand more firmly on God’s truth when taunted? What daily practices can we implement to establish ourselves against attempted enemy deception? The Lord alone is sure and true.

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
is laid for your faith in God’s excellent Word!
What more can be said than to you God hath said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?” ~R. Keen (1787)

Lord, give me wisdom to discern truth and boldness to stand for it.

“These people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion. These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame…

“It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’ These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.

“But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.’ It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

“Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” Jude 10-13,14b-25

Jude’s warning against the infiltration of wickedness was stark and sobering. His descriptions spread wide the effect of ungodly thinking and practice, touching on many results of inclining to the culture or remaining devoid of the Spirit. He called the church universal to beware, and to stay strong in the blessed grace and ability of Christ to keep them from stumbling.

When societal tumult presses, hard consequences threaten, or ungodly shepherds rule, how strong will we stand? Where have we known instinctively what is right, yet abandoned it for gain or rebellion? Under what pressure do we give in to harshness, discontent, grumbling, boasting?

What are we doing to arm ourselves against ungodliness, and to hone biblical discernment? Do we tune in only to imperfect thought leaders who may sway like wind or say what we want to hear, or anchor ourselves in the true truth of God’s word directly? How seriously do we take the Bible’s warnings? When we entrust ourselves to our able, majestic Savior in the trials of these troublesome days, He is faithful to keep us from falling. (Psalm 18:33; 37:23-24; Colossians 3:1-10; 2 Timothy 4:3)

Lord, keep me alert to heed warnings, sharp with vigilance, quick to recover, and steadfast to follow, for Your great joy and glory.

“God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and the birds of the heavens and the livestock and over all the earth and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’

“So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

“And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’” Genesis 1:26-28

“In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” Ezra 1:1-4

From the beginning the Lord God fashioned man to have dominion over the rest of His creation, entrusting His perfect world to man’s care and tending and using for good purposes. He made man with agency, freedom to live and act by will endowed by his creator, under the higher supervision of His providence. He places people to rule kingdoms where the mysterious play of even godless man’s will meshes with God’s sovereignty to perform His bidding. (Psalm 8:3-8)

The holding of power is a gift from God, for His purposes. Created in His image to do works He’s designed and prepared for us, we’re responsible as stewards of His gifts and trust to exercise dominion in ways that please Him and benefit others. Some misuse their power and authority to the dishonor of God and detriment of many, yet choosing God’s good way brings eternal blessing. (Acts 13:36; 17:26-27; Ephesians 2:10)

How do we handle dominion over God’s earth and resources- wastefully and wantonly, or responsibly and efficiently? How do we treat our bodies, temples of God’s Spirit- with casual decadence, or responsible care? How attentively and intentionally do we invest in our families to train and nurture? How are we tending to welfare of people at work and in our communities- with callous disregard, or prayer and service? How are we exercising our spiritual gifts to upbuild the church? Godly stewardship honors the God who entrusted us to manage His gifts wherever we are. (Genesis 18:19; Deuteronomy 6:5-8; Psalm 24:1; Proverbs 22:6; Jeremiah 29:7; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 6:1-4)

Lord, teach me responsible stewardship that blesses many and glorifies You.

“The officials approached me, ‘The people of Israel and the priests and Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. In this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.’ As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.  Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. At the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting,.. and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God, saying:

“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted to the heavens. From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today… 

“’And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments… After you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor escape? O Lord, the God of Israel, you are just… Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.'” Ezra 9:1-7,10,13b-15

Sensitive to the Lord through deep devotion and ongoing communion, the leader for the returning exiles of Israel is appalled at their aberration from God’s commands. Ezra sees their intermarriage with people from the land for what it is: an intermingling with heathen nations that would corrupt God’s people and cause them to lose their distinctiveness in the world. Stricken with horror and grief over what is happening, he confesses their guilt, knowing his only repair was in God’s mercy.

Our world and culture offer an array of people, movements, and situations at which to be appalled. Their crude actions and greed, his vitriolic temper, her poisoned tongue. Gross immorality, vile abuse, heinous violence. Point point, they and those, tsk tsk, there is plenty of appalling out there. But what happens when we turn the mirror on us?

What is polluting our relationship with our Lord? Where do we flirt with temptation? Do our choices of entertainment and relationships build up our faith, or pull us away from Christ? Exposing ourselves to the Word brings conviction and mercy to light. Truth cuts deep, piercing between soul and spirit to expose and extricate sin. The Lord God is ready to save, receiving the humble and cleansing our sin. (Matthew 8:2-3; 2 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 4:12; 1 John 1:9)

Lord, please expose and forgive my sin, that Your name be held high and honored.

“Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,
    and princes will rule in justice.
Each will be like a hiding place from the wind,
    a shelter from the storm,
like streams of water in a dry place,
    like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
Then the eyes of those who see will not be closed,
    and the ears of those who hear will give attention.
The heart of the hasty will understand and know,
    and the tongue of the stammerers will hasten to speak distinctly.
The fool will no more be called noble,
    nor the scoundrel said to be honorable.
For the fool speaks folly,
    and his heart is busy with iniquity,
to practice ungodliness,
    to utter error concerning the Lord,
to leave the craving of the hungry unsatisfied,
    and to deprive the thirsty of drink.
As for the scoundrel—his devices are evil;
    he plans wicked schemes
to ruin the poor with lying words,
    even when the plea of the needy is right.
But he who is noble plans noble things,
    and on noble things he stands…

“And the effect of righteousness will be peace,
    and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever.
My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,
    in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” Isaiah 32:1-8,17-18

Isaiah’s prophecy concerning a future king and princes depicts an enviable host of noble leaders. They will not only lead in such a way that blesses their constituents and locales, but that sets a standard of wisdom and nobility against which fools are brought to naught. Righteous living is always distinguished from worldliness in practice and effect. God’s promise was for ultimate peace, security, and rest.

In most nations of the world and our smaller communities we have gripes with leaders, and can readily list those qualities we would eliminate or change, or the people we would rather have in power. Both elected and appointed officials can gorge on power and influence, with pride winning out over righteousness in decisions and performance. The result is often chaotic, with distrust, dissension, and opposition fomenting instability and discontent.

God-given nobility clarifies the distinction between truth and lies, thoughtfulness and haste, wisdom and folly, selflessness and selfishness. While there is no perfect command here on earth, those who rule in godliness will do much to promote welfare for the people and diminish iniquity. Each of us is responsible for our part.

How would those who work or serve alongside me evaluate my leadership? With whom, and in what situations, might I be a hiding place, a balm of love, acceptance, interest, and confidence? How can my presence be a shelter, my insight streams of water to the thirsty? What need I give up or do to stretch out leafy shade, to be filled with that fresh living water, to know the word that sustains the weary? (Isaiah 50:4)

What practices have I implemented that develop growth in godly character? When others observe or interact with me, what in my manner or actions could cause them to say I have been with Jesus? If I am to nobly serve, my heart and actions must align with God’s righteousness. (Acts 4:13)

Lord, help me plan and stand on noble things that reflect and honor You.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not… 

“’I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, “At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God…”‘

“When the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground.  When the people saw it, they said to one another, ‘What is it?’..And Moses said, ‘It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat… Gather of it, each one of you, as much as he can eat…’ And the people of Israel did so. They gathered, some more, some less… Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.” Exodus 16:4,12,14-18

“From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. [They] spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.^‘ Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” Numbers 21:4-9

The ever-patient Lord God led, protected, and provided for Israel, yet their crusty hearts and cold consciences continually reverted to a victim mentality. When things did not go their way, God (or His leader Moses) was always to blame. Oh, how the flesh moans and misconstrues God’s marvelous work! Where the Lord gave daily care and adequate sustenance, they stewed with discontent, longing for something different. To call His manna worthless was to reject His very sustenance and plan.

And don’t we do the same? We call ridiculous the turns of event that sour our taste or impede the progress we want to make. We eschew God’s lasting treasures for worthless trinkets and temporary pleasure. We forget how the Lord has steadfastly, mercifully cared for us, measured our nourishment, and directed our path. (Hebrews 11:25)

Where are we criticizing as worthless what God has apportioned to us? Are we known as complainers? Would we confess our haughtiness and ask Him to change our attitude? Acknowledging His manifold gifts engenders a grateful heart.

Lord, may I ever thank You for Your kindness, goodness, and love.

“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.

“For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:5-13

His disciples had observed a lot of prayer, and in this personal teaching to them about it, Jesus addressed the extraneous and led them to the heart. He wanted to steer them from cursory practices and tradition to the truth about Him and this privilege of heavenly communion they would soon enjoy after His departure. Do away with pomp and trite formulas, any horizontal focus and attention- grabbing, and gaze upward. Almighty God is transcendent, divine, wholly other than you, yet is your loving Father, and listening. He is infinitely holy, His name is to be revered. Begin with this mindset, this captivation, this humbled hallowing, and your prayers will be transformed.

When we start prayer with the Lord, our desires are sanctified. Honoring God fills the soul with holy gratitude, perpetuates a high view of Him, and both stimulates and shapes large asking. Requests change from restricted, visionless self-interests to wide heavenly purposes, from a walled-in, provincial territory of family and safe life circle to His kingdom. That’s where He reigns, where His plans unfold and are worked out for His glory. It is as we meditate on His heavenly rule that we begin to see with an eternal perspective.

The beautiful thing about praying this way is that when God answers, we are able to understand what true treasure is, and store them in heaven. We are able to put to rest anxiety over things of this world, because we’re convinced that God’s kingdom and righteousness are supreme, and he will supply for every known and unknown when we first seek Him. Daily needs are met so we can see and participate in eternal lessons. Forgiveness is received so we can, with lavish love, freely forgive others. Daily prayers are sustenance for ongoing life and ministry. (Matthew 6:19-21,25-34; Ephesians 4:32)

How is my prayer life? Am I bereft of desire to persevere? Do I murmur empty words? What are my greatest hindrances to regular prayer, and how will I address them? When will I trust the hallowed One to help me be consistent? Keeping His instructions fuel abundant life. (Deuteronomy 32:47)

Lord, help me pray effectively, consistently, in Your name, and for Your glory. (John 14:13-14)