Author: astherainandsnow

“Both prophet and priest are ungodly;
    even in my house I have found their evil,
declares the Lord…
They commit adultery and walk in lies..,
    so that no one turns from his evil…

“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’

“For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord
    to see and to hear his word,
    or who has paid attention to his word and listened?..

“I did not send the prophets,
    yet they ran;
I did not speak to them,
    yet they prophesied.
But if they had stood in my council,
    then they would have proclaimed my words to my people,
and they would have turned them from their evil way,
    and from the evil of their deeds.

“Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name… Let him who has my word speak my word faithfully… Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who steal my words from one another.., who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the Lord…’ I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all.” Jeremiah 23:11,16-18,21-25a,28b,30-32

With hard message after sober judgment followed by more of the same, Jeremiah spoke stinging words for lying prophets who led God’s people astray. He would hold them accountable for the ungodly, evil course they espoused, forth told, and condoned. If they despised God’s true word and avoided standing in His council, He would despise them and the fallout of their wicked counsel. (Psalm 1:1-6)

It is one thing to determine and give counsel from a gathered popular line of thought, according to feelings and preferences, or that benefit personal ends. It is a stark quite another to take counsel in the council of God and be prepared with His wisdom and words. Our lives generally follow one course or the other. The danger with the selfish secular way is deception into idolatry and wrong thinking about God that results in separation, fear, and bitterness. The triumph of God’s way is freedom in the knowledge and application of truth that results in security and peace.

Before deciding on counsel, either to take or give, where do we look? What is our foundation, our filter? Taking time in the council of God, we observe His ways and glean from His mind. His Spirit can help us know what course would be best. If we seek those who avoid biblical truth or controversy, or prophesy for selfish profit, we’ll find them a detriment. When and how will I search the true word?

Lord, give me discernment to know and understand Your word, and to declare it for others’ good and Your renown.

“Then Moses said to God, ‘If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, “The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, “What is his name?” what shall I say to them?’ God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am… Say this to the people of Israel: “I am has sent me to you… The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.” This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.'” Exodus 3:13-15

“We give thanks to you, O God;
    we give thanks, for your name is near.
We recount your wondrous deeds.” Psalm 75:1

“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

God’s name is the embodiment and proclamation of who and all He is, above all others and uncontainable. This high, matchless, excellent name of the transcendent God and Savior is to be revered, feared, adored, and trusted. He is near His children, His name at their ready call: Rock, Fortress, Shield, Deliverer, Counselor, Father, Peace. (1 Kings 8:27; Philippians 2:9-11)

In the flesh and through our lives, man seeks to make a name for himself, to be noticed and known. Yet often he sees no tie to God, even choosing to go by first name only without thought for or interest in heritage or legacy, no connection to the eternal. Defining ourselves we sever ties to others and our Maker.

Contrast this with the everlasting name of God, by whom He lives and works on our behalf and by whom we as His own are identified. By nature the Lord God is relational. Not only is His great name near us to draw and shape and keep, but upon salvation He imprints His name on us to identify us as His forever.

We give thanks, for your name is near.

How well do we know His names? How often recount and praise them? If at hand, they can be called upon, crawled into, clutched, claimed. Do we keep it in close proximity to our inner struggles, motives, impulses, and senses?

We give thanks, for your name is near.

Where His name is near, His power is available. His righteousness adorns us, His grace infuses us, His love washes us and fills us to overflow. He hears us, keeps us, guide us, inspires us. How are we manifesting that name at home and abroad? When someone does not bring out the best in me, would I trust the Lord to bring out His best in me?

We give thanks, for your name is near.

“Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart,
come quickly from above;
write thy new name upon my heart,
thy new best name of Love.” ~Charles Wesley (1742)

Lord, keep me so near Your name that it is imprinted on my character, demeanor, and actions and exhibited in all I say and do, to Your exaltation and glory.

We give thanks, for your name is near.

“Thus says the Lord,

‘I remember the devotion of your youth,
    your love as a bride,
how you followed me in the wilderness,
    in a land not sown.
Israel was holy to the Lord,
    the firstfruits of his harvest.
All who ate of it incurred guilt;
    disaster came upon them…

‘What wrong did your fathers find in me
    that they went far from me,
and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?
They did not say, “Where is the Lord
    who brought us up from the land of Egypt,
who led us in the wilderness,
    in a land of deserts and pits,
in a land of drought and deep darkness..?”
And I brought you into a plentiful land
    to enjoy its fruits and its good things.
But when you came in, you defiled my land
    and made my heritage an abomination.
The priests did not say, “Where is the Lord?”
    Those who handle the law did not know me;
the shepherds transgressed against me;
    the prophets… went after things that do not profit.

‘Therefore I still contend with you,..
    and with your children’s children I will contend.
For… examine with care;
    see if there has been such a thing.
Has a nation changed its gods,
    even though they are no gods?
But my people have changed their glory
    for that which does not profit.
Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
    be shocked, be utterly desolate,
declares the Lord,
for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
    the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
    broken cisterns that can hold no water…

‘Have you not brought this upon yourself
    by forsaking the Lord your God,
    when he led you in the way?
And now what do you gain by going to Egypt
    to drink the waters of the Nile?
Or what do you gain by going to Assyria
    to drink the waters of the Euphrates?
Your evil will chastise you,
    and your apostasy will reprove you.
Know and see that it is evil and bitter
    for you to forsake the Lord your God;
    the fear of me is not in you,
declares the Lord God of hosts…

‘I planted you a choice vine,
    wholly of pure seed.
How then have you turned degenerate
    and become a wild vine?'” Jeremiah 2:2-3,5-13,17-19,21a

The heavenly Bridegroom recounts His bride Israel’s early loyalty and love, then uncovers their curious betrayal. He’d brought them into a land plentiful with good things, yet their senses grew perverse, their devotion turned to defilement, their adoration to abomination. They failed to remember His miraculous deliverance from slavery and continual care through the wilderness. They neglected to inquire of Him. They had exchanged the true God for changing gods, and the glory of their inheritance for what did not profit. They had deserted their sacred union and would reap the fallout.

How true this still is today! Oh beloved, have we turned our backs on the true God? How have we failed to revere Him by independence and self-righteousness, careless language and casual choices of entertainment? When did we get smug about grace and forget its cost? What strange lovers have captured our devotion and need be eradicated? (Jeremiah 3:12-15,22-23; Romans 6:1-2; Revelation 2:4-5)

In mercy, the Lord will never stop contending to turn back His bride. Intimacy with Him is ours for the yielding- yielding up of idols, and to His loving proposal.

Lord, revive pure devotion as Your betrothed to reflect Your love and faithfulness.

“When they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, ‘Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them…

“‘In this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,  to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold  and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.” Acts 4:24,27-35

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

Boldness begat brute opposition begat brave proclamation begat bolder prayer. The disciples were learning life without Jesus in the flesh now fueled by His Spirit within, and their muscles stretched and strengthened with each day. Trust and public tests led to large and confident asking for more, and God answered by shaking. He shook off reluctance and fear, shook awake fire in speech, rich fellowship, and lavish generosity. (Acts 4:5-23)

Prayer that begins with acknowledging Who God is and what He has done sets the mind aright: high view of God, humbled, dependent. Prayer that is based on His character and truth attaches need to His wonders, desire to His will. God responds in palpable power in and among His people. His Spirit equips and emboldens, igniting courage, passion, selflessness, and compassion. Prayer that opens God’s children to His ministry results in significant changes of mindset, habit, and direction. What does my prayer life reveal about my view of and relationship to God Almighty, and my kingdom priorities? If it begins and ends with me, it needs some shaking.

What needs such revival and fresh energy in our lives? Is our prayer life limp and anemic, visionless? (Do we even have one?) Have we grown complacent in spiritual growth or service to our church or others? Have we allowed success to numb desperation, or age to diminish effort or passion? As the Lord brings us through changing seasons, He intends and commands constant filling for each such a time. He faithfully determines needs and the means to fulfill them. (Esther 4:14; Ephesians 5:18)

Lord, guard me from dwindling in passion and prayer by shaking me daily to Your call, work, and glory.

“I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring.” Isaiah 44:3

“I will put my Spirit within you.” Ezekiel 36:27

“And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.” Joel 2:28,29

“You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now…. You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”Acts 1:5,8

“When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

“And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, ‘How is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?… We hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.’ And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’” Acts 2:1-4,6-7,11-12

Caught up in the frenzy of recent happenings- the crucifixion, reappearance, and ascension of their leader, and anxious anticipation of what was to come without Him present- the followers of Jesus were bewildered, amazed, and perplexed at the Spirit’s remarkable manifestation. Yes, Jesus Himself had prepared them, and the scriptures had informed them. Luke in hindsight put these messages together, but in their day to day, they’d failed to connect the dots. The tyranny of the urgent had upended perspective and masked the truth God was unfolding.

“You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” Matthew 22:29

We are similarly caught off guard thru varying reasons and decisions. We choose to pay attention to what we prefer to know. We’re up to date on current news (someone else deems vital), cultural trends, and famous opinions, but don’t understand God’s perspective. We relish sound bites and regurgitate group think while remaining biblically illiterate. We let sorrow, regret, fear, or anger run rampant, and lose hold of our spiritual plumb.

We become dumbfounded by wrongly assuming certain behavior begets perfect marriage and children. We get perplexed when smug claims to rights to advancement, success, or retribution do not come to pass. We question suffering and God’s withholding mercy, yet are ignorant of God’s higher purposes. Of course we’re surprised at unusual events if we never study and stay grounded in God’s ways, warnings, and promises. When did we last seek His view on current circumstances? (Job 23:10; Isaiah 55:8-9; Romans 8:28)

With what do we fill our minds first thing? First-hand immersion (not someone else’s take) in the scriptures provides heavenly lenses through which to see and understand life. What do our actions reveal about our priorities? The devil will distract us, but we can ask for the Spirit’s help and desire to make practical changes in His power.

Lord, give me Your mind and ongoing commitment to know, trust, and live Your word.

“Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and wrath and great indignation. I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.

“For thus says the Lord: Just as I have brought all this great disaster upon this people, so I will bring upon them all the good that I promise them.” Jeremiah 32:37-42

When God says He will, He means it. His word is fixed, His promises trustworthy. He provides all we need for a life of godliness and choosing Him over any other gods. He does for us so we may in holy fear do for Him. (Psalm 119:89; Titus 2:11-14; 2 Peter 1:3)

This Lord who delivers and makes to dwell safely, who takes us as His own and unites our heart for Him, is worth our fear and following. Yet, we turn. We make light of His promises and commands, we prefer our ways and ideas. We like to play king over our world, and manage decisions and destiny. We fear man more than God, valuing their approval or fearing their reprisal more than His.

What breeds this disloyalty? Insecurity in who we are in Christ? Do we put more weight on personal achievements and others’ affirmation than on the love of Christ written with His blood? If we keep glancing askance between His will and cultural priorities, we will fall. If we fully trust His truth to and about us, we will be firmly established. Which will it be? The Lord issues His covenants to elicit a whole-life response. He delights in us as we take delight in Him.

“Come, thou Fount of every blessing;
tune my heart to sing thy grace;
streams of mercy, never ceasing,
call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
sung by flaming tongues above;
praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
mount of God’s unchanging love!

Here I raise my Ebenezer;
hither by thy help I’m come;
and I hope, by thy good pleasure,
safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
wandering from the fold of God;
he, to rescue me from danger,
interposed his precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.” ~Robert Robinson (1758)

Lord, may I use the freedom You’ve won and given to fear and serve You with my whole heart and soul, to Your honor and praise.

“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
    sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
    Israel as his own possession.

For I know that the Lord is great,
    and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
    in heaven and on earth,
    in the seas and all deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
    who makes lightnings for the rain
    and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    both of man and of beast;
who in your midst, O Egypt,
    sent signs and wonders
    against Pharaoh and all his servants;
who struck down many nations
    and killed mighty kings,
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    and Og, king of Bashan,
    and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
and gave their land as a heritage,
    a heritage to his people Israel.”

“It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;
and rescued us from our foes,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.” Psalm 135:3-12; 136:23-24

Kings, nations, seas, storms, wilderness, salvation. The Lord owns and rules all, and does whatever He pleases with all He has made. He is not stingy nor capricious, casual or uncaring, but always intentional with holy purpose and end in mind. God is benevolent, working power over kingdoms and peoples, mercy in storms, grace in wilderness, supply from His storehouses. He is above all gods and personally keeps and guards His children. Indeed, He is worthy to be praised! (Psalm 138:6-8)

While God does all He pleases for kingdom reasons and His name’s sake, we in the flesh prefer life as we please. We awaken each day pondering how our hours can serve our pleasure. As much as we’re able, we choose how to spend our (God-given) money and time, we please ourselves with food and drink and entertainment, we make plans and involve ourselves in ways pleasant to us. Often, this bent takes no thought for our Maker.

What God pleases magnifies His goodness and name. What God pleases nurtures and protects His own. What God pleases displays His wonders abroad so many can behold His power, loveliness, and generosity. What God pleases executes justice and fulfills His word and displays magnanimously His steadfast love. What if I aligned my pleasure with His?

What if I began each day by singing His praise and asking the benediction of His pleasant name on my agenda? How can my posture and plans exalt His goodness and character? What about my work, my words and interactions, my ministry among others can reflect His excellence, love, and grace? How can I adjust my efforts to promote spiritual wisdom, divine justice, the guarding of His church and building up of His people? To whom can I and will I, out of gratitude for His merciful condescension to me, offer the gift of His promises and heritage? Delighting ourselves in the Lord conforms the desires of our heart to His. And practicing what He pleases brings Him glory. (Psalm 37:4)

Lord, may I daily consider Your goodness and holy ends so I live for Your pleasure and praise alone.

“Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come near to me, please.’ And they came near. And he said, ‘I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.  There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.”’

“Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 45:4-11; 50:19-21

We don’t know exactly how God worked in Joseph’s heart, but we know that He did. The carefree eleventh son of Jacob, who was mercilessly mistreated by his brothers, grew deep in faith through his suffering and testifies to the blessed solace of knowing the Lord is sovereign. They may have sent and meant for one thing, but it was God whose ways were accomplished. And those were good. (Genesis 37:3-28;36; Proverbs 19:21)

Whatever the storm, for a child of God we can know He has sent us, and find great comfort in His presence there. Betrayal, supercilious treatment, or cruelty cannot intrude on His steadfast love for us. No attack penetrates His defense of us. When peppered with doubts about the motives of rivals, or the possibilities of what could happen, we can be assured that no reason or what-ifs can prevail against the purposes of the Almighty. (Proverbs 21:30; Mark 6:45-51; Romans 8:31-39)

What do we fear? Where do we fret? Only when we stew in pondering others’ whats and whys do we get so riled. Focusing on the difficulty of our circumstances or offenses we think someone may have intended, we take our eyes off the One who’s promised to work all things for our good if we love Him. (Romans 8:28)

Would we stop nursing hurts and instead work for healing? Would we choose balm over blame? What expectancy, peace, and gratitude might we enjoy if we accepted everything, even hardship, as coming from Him and existing for Him? (Romans 11:36)

Father, wherever You have sent me may I trust and praise Your name.

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord his God,
who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them,
who keeps faith forever;
   who executes justice for the oppressed,
   who gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets the prisoners free;
    the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
The Lord watches over the sojourners;
    he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.”

“The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
    he gathers the outcasts…
The Lord lifts up the humble.” Psalm 146:5-9; 147:2,6

“He raises up the poor from the dust;
    he lifts the needy from the ash heap
to make them sit with princes
    and inherit a seat of honor.
For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s,
    and on them he has set the world.” 1 Samuel 2:8

Strong and everlasting arms are capable of much heavy lifting. God Almighty’s righteous right hand is attached to an able arm that flows with blood pumping from His perfect heart. His passion for His people inaugurates actions that depict His constant love, gracious character, and infinite power. (Deuteronomy 33:27; Psalm 136:12; Isaiah 40:10; 41:10; 59:1,16; 63:5)

Indeed, He is mighty to save, and fortify, and lead, and supply! We muscle our way into the daily fray of work and duty, capable and enough, until we are not. A failure, detour, emergency, or any unexpected can upend our progress and arrest confidence. The trial is an opportunity to test the real heavy lifter, and fly to His arms. Scurrying only left and right, we can miss Him who waits on high. Sing the song! Trust His arm! Remember He made all things and upholds them still! He rules with perfection and power! He who has led thus far will not abandon His own, but lead us on! (1 Chronicles 28:20; Isaiah 45:12-13; 48:13; Philippians 1:6; Colossians 1:16-17)

Are we relying on our own strength, or the Lord’s? Where do we stubbornly, pridefully insist on doing our own heavy lifting? What situations at work or home need His correcting or smoothing intervention? What inner struggles or affections need His cleansing and reordering? What messy relationships need to be raised to a higher plane of forgiveness or reconciliation? What discontent and griping needs elevating to gratitude?

“Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm does bind the restless wave,
Who bids the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep.” William Whiting (1860)

You uphold us in time of need
And love and comfort, calm and feed.
You turn our weeping to a song,
Your hand will right the darkest wrong.

You rule in hope for justice blessed
And peace on earth, eternal rest,
You lift the weary, tend the weak
And help us turn the other cheek.

When we know not which way to go,
Or how to fight against the foe
Your strong arm makes the tempest still,
Aligns us truly with Your will.

So help me trust Your scepter’s rule,
Your re-creator’s fashioning tool,
Lift my heart and like You make
All me and mine for Jesus’s sake. (PEB)

Lord, help me lean on and live out Your everlasting arms.

“Hear my prayer, O Lord;
    give ear to my pleas for mercy!..
for no one living is righteous before you.

For the enemy has pursued my soul;
    he has crushed my life to the ground;
    he has made me sit in darkness…
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
    my heart within me is appalled.

I remember the days of old;
    I meditate on all you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. 

Answer me quickly, O Lord!
    My spirit fails!..
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
    for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
    for to you I lift up my soul.

Deliver me from my enemies, O Lord!
    I have fled to you for refuge.
Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
    on level ground!

For your name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life!
    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
In your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
    for I am your servant.” Psalm 143:1-12

David comes to God in the desperation of a hunted soul. He acknowledges his unrighteousness before God and the enemy’s constant pursuit and crushing. His soul is fainting, thirsty, in need of revival he finds solely in this LORD, in this One who does ponderous things and is trustworthy and steadfast in love. He can reveal the right path, He will lead in righteousness and for His name’s sake. To Him only will the psalmist lift up his soul and find help.

Many are the aches and trials of the Christian’s soul. Pelted with doubts, teased with temptation, pestered with regrets, we languish. Rebuffed by colleagues, chafed by loved ones, challenged by setbacks, we are bruised. Longing for deliverance, craving intimacy, yearning for holiness, we pant. Morning by morning we need Him for the troubles and track of the day, and wondrously, remarkably, thankfully, He hears our pleas and answers. (Matthew 6:34)

When did we last take account of our soul? In the frenetic mental and physical press of routine, we seldom take pause to consider its state. Spiritual hunger is squelched by busy activity, bereft spirits ignored for urgent responsibilities. We think ourselves indispensable in tasks of the day and put off tending to the night of our deepest place.

But this is where teaching and trust is needful and applied. If we do not see it we will not seek it. If we neglect the deeper pondering and panting we destine ourselves to superficial living. What will it be?

Where stand our souls? Whom or what is our sole desire, that dictates whom we serve and to what we surrender? If we live honestly before Jesus, our souls will be secure in true refuge and rejoicing.

I rejoice in my Redeemer
Greatest Treasure,
Wellspring of my soul
I will trust in Him, no other.
My soul is satisfied in Him alone.” ~Keith and Kristyn Getty, Graham Kendrick (2014)

I lift my soul to Thee, O Lord, that You might keep and shine forth Your word.