As the rain and snow

“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 41:17-20

Our God is a wonder-working God. He performs what to us is impossible, and He sets up His works in such a way that all who see with honest eyes will know that He has done them. Why do we resist the challenging, the painful, the impasses of life when we know it is in these tangly, dark, impossible places that Mighty God’s hand is most clearly seen?

One marvelous aspect of God’s great work is His intention. He does not swagger around as men might, boasting look at Me; He is not puffed up wanting credit for credit’s sake. Rather, He is always displaying and offering His vast love in the Person He is, opening His arms for the relationship He longs to have with us. He shows up in the driest deserts and leanest droughts, the heights of fear and depths of sorrow, to display His measureless compassion, His all-knowing ears that hear our cries, His gift of living water that assuages every thirst, His bread of life the satisfies unlike any other food. He bids us come and eat, drink, rest, be satisfied, be comforted. He exhibits His majesty in the splendor He creates, calling us to consider and understand His unifying love in the growing of different trees together to sing one praise. Wonderful His hand! (Matthew 11:28; John 4:14; 6:32-35)

His design is intentional not only in His miraculous provision, but in His including us in His process of giving. He parches the tongue and designs the wilderness so we cry. He brings us to the point of need, of saying this is impossible apart from You. And when we acknowledge that we are not enough, that our efforts are not sufficient, He answers our requests so we see His personal and specific acts. His promise not to forsake presupposes an inextricable connection that cannot be broken. He is ours and we are His, never to part. (Song of Solomon 2:16)

Father, as hard as it is, I thank You for the deep, dark, and dry places into which You have lovingly led me. Please keep me considering You in every one. Give me eyes of faith and understanding of Your ways, that I may see Your creative majesty and power, and know You better. In knowing You, may I give You all the honor and glory You deserve.

“I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O LORD, I will make music. I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil… Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. I will look with favor on the faithful in the land.“ Psalm 101:1-6

Every holy resolve includes wills and won’ts, and David’s psalm sets for us a good tempo of balance between the two. Making a joyful noise to God lifts the heart and spirits to gladness and satisfaction in the LORD of all. When we sing a new and continual song, our mindset is delight in Him, and so infuses all our choices from then on. Determining to focus on God’s love and justice, to the world seemingly disparate and unreconcilable divine attributes, fixes in us our sense of accountability to Him, this lavish, merciful, and righteous LORD. Making music to Him awakens desire for blamelessness and integrity, and establishes our course of action before Him and among others within our house and outside. (Psalm 96:1-2; 100:1)

And in order to walk uprightly, there are certain bents we must check, practices we must not allow, “I won’ts” that free us to keep on the right path. It is hard to stay on the straight and narrow when we are fascinated with the world’s idols and involve ourselves thickly in worldly entertainment, business practices, vocabulary, ideologies. We must make choices about the regular company we keep and the places we recreate, which affect the topics we ponder and the manner of our living, relating, spending. Haughtiness, arrogance, unfaithfulness are poisons that seep into our psyches and open doors to perverseness we may not otherwise deliberately choose. Resolving to favor good over evil, developing companionship with those who exemplify faithfulness over deception and infidelity, choosing to praise God rather than criticize and complain about others, all make a huge difference in the way we will live. (Matthew 7:13-14)

For what will I use my voice today? What will I decide to put away, to reject, in order to sing to my LORD with all my being?

“Take my voice and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee.                                                                                                        Take my will and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.”                                                ~Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879)

Father of all goodness, morning by morning, fix my mind and heart on so You that my mouth pours out songs of praise and gratitude. Grant me discernment in every observation and holy courage in every choice, that You are exalted in my life. (Colossians 3:1-2,16)

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve. You shall not go after other gods. He brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.” Deuteronomy 6:5-9,12-14,23-25

Loving God and living for Him flows from immersion in the scriptures. God’s word is the brilliant revelation of His attributes and ways, guiding light for our path, merciful pronouncement of warning, consistent goad to righteousness. Our practical companion for daily life, it is the supernatural nourishment and beautiful adornment for all our families, and we who have responsibility for them are to feed and clothe and remind continually. (Psalm 19:11; 119:105)

Where am I standing in the pathway and lifestyle and default practices of the godless, and need to extricate myself to move into the light? Have I eased into critical murmuring and caustic opinion-sharing, settling into a seat alongside mockers, and need instead to sidle-up to companions with a biblical mindset who would encourage me in the mind of Christ? When faced with important decisions, whose input do I seek? Am I walking in the counsel of the ungodly, whose minds are filtered through worldly input, or will I search out and delight in wisdom from God’s comprehensive, infallible word? I have long prayed that our children’s last thought before falling asleep and first upon waking would be Jesus, the truth of God, but have I diligently trained myself to practice the same, meditating on His word day and night? (Psalm 1:1-2; 119:130; Proverbs 2:1-7; 13:20; 1 Corinthians 2:16; 1 Peter 1:13)

This consistent handling and reminding of God’s word requires care, intention, even deliberate setting aside of other seemingly-more-urgent pressures, but it is the supreme priority that is of greatest eternal benefit. God says so, and what He instructs we know is right and for our good.

Father, every taste of Your word is sweeter than honey, more satisfying than gold. May I consistently lay up Your words in my heart and soul to inspire righteous thinking, doing, and teaching. Forgive me for hoarding, fill me to overflow so my mouth and hands share Your beautiful, life-giving word all along my way. (Deuteronomy 11:18-23; Psalm 19:10; 119:11,103)

 

“O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble… He will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure. The Lord in majesty will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams. For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us.” “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.” “There is none like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the heavens to your help, through the skies in his majesty. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” Isaiah 33:2,6,21-22; 59:1; Deuteronomy 33:26-27

I have been especially needy of late, for certain wisdom, insight, understanding of the right way forward. I think I know myself pretty well, yet am finding the Lord revealing new strengths, new areas He wants to develop and use in me that are as yet untested, so I seek His guidance and courage. I feel as though I am trying out new vocabulary words I am not yet comfortable using in conversation. I appeal to His word.

“You have a mighty arm; strong is your hand, high your right hand.” Psalm 89:13

I carry a vivid memory of my father scooping up my resistant little sister when she was a pre-schooler, and jumping off a rock into the clear lake, cheered on by the rest of us who had already plunged into its liquid delight. She was fearful at the unknown and large, but held close in her father’s loving strength, was secure. There is nothing like the arms of a father.

So when I feel hemmed in and know not the way to go, I can look to the broad rivers and streams of my Lord. With all my questions and suppositions and ideas, I can ask for His wisdom, knowledge, and stability in thought. He Who judges rightly and hears my cry, interpreting even what I cannot articulate, reminds me of truth and divides His law into my understanding, even as He comes to abide, my Counselor and present help. He upholds and sustains in mysterious and marvelous ways, invisibly but palpably, like arms of cloud riding the heavens to my aid. (Psalm 46:1; John 14:1,26-27; Romans 8:26-27; Hebrews 4:12)

When my Heavenly Father takes my hand, and supports me with His ever-strong arms, I can not only rest in being held, and carried, but I can bravely go forth into the hard, the scary, the unknown, the battle. I can jump into the deep, climb the scrabbly slope, proceed into the fray where He leads, because He is mighty to save and enable and supply.

Lord on high, I know that Your arm is not too short and it is strong. May it strengthen and establish me against fear and dismay. Morning by morning, as You offer Your mighty hand and outstretched arm, keep me holding fast, walking arm in arm with Thee. (Deuteronomy 11:2; Psalm 89:21; Joshua 1:9)

 

“And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?  Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the Lord set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. You shall fear the Lord your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear. He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen. Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.” Deuteronomy 10:12-22

The LORD and Moses had ongoing communion and conversation, and Moses relayed what God said to him in what seems fatherly story-telling and advice. When I listen in, I feel as though I am a child of the king, hearing great tales of excitement and valor and impossible deliverances, and cogent lessons for life. When Moses gives instruction, it is always with holy intention, and always magnifies the Law-Giver. A malevolent, capricious tyrant we would resist, but a benevolent, covenant-keeping, wonder-working Ruler? Any soft and open heart should delight to ingest every word, and trust, and obey.

The preface to Almighty God’s commands is that He is great, and we are small. He bids us remember He set His affection on us while we wandered, lost and helpless; He rescued us, showered us with mercy and compassion, provided everything in Jesus for our otherwise-impossible spiritual need, and secured us as His own. In fearing and holding fast to this amazing God, we learn to walk in Him, to serve and follow Him, to cut off all that offends, to see with kind eyes those who wander aimlessly as we did, sheep captive to foreign shepherds. When we contemplate this Most High God and His past and present deeds, He becomes our praise, and it shows in the way we live and love. Once alien, now belonging, we begin to reflect His character. (Ephesians 2:1-5)

Most gracious LORD of lords, in love You have delivered my life from the pit and called me Your own. May I never forget who I was, and who I now am. Embolden me willingly and gratefully to keep all You require, to promote Your divine good, to honor and praise Your great name. (Isaiah 38:17)

 

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight… Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you… My tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. My mouth will declare your praise. For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Psalm 51:1-4,6-17

David’s relaxation led to lust led to adultery led to deceit led to murder led to grief led to more death, and he was miserable. God doesn’t let His chosen ones, those He is fashioning after His own heart, sit well with sin. Guilt is a kindness leading to repentance, and merciful God was kind to David. (1 Samuel 13:14; 2 Samuel 11:1-12:23; Psalm 32:3-4,10; Acts 13:22; Romans 2:4)

The sin he committed in “secret” was not hidden from all-seeing, omniscient God, and although it was immediately, upon confession, forgiven, it would identify King David all his days through the description in the genealogy of Jesus of the mother of his royal son Solomon. But the heart set free is free indeed, and the fear David felt in guilt, that God’s Spirit would be removed from him, is no longer ours in forgiveness this side of the cross. When once we are sealed in and by His Spirit, we are secure forever. (2 Samuel 12:13; Matthew 1:6; Ephesians 4:30)

I have found myself stuck in a sin quagmire of mind and tongue, and while I feel the Spirit’s conviction, have been weak as a noodle in self-control. What beauty, what washing, what refreshing there is, when we read accounts of fellow sojourners of faith who have similarly struggled, and allow His word to do its precise, penetrating work in our souls. Our Jesus sees, knows, understands– He suffered all the same temptations, yet was without sin on our behalf. He became our perfect sacrifice, He frees us from sin’s penalty, He pronounces us, as Nathan did David, “forgiven.” Hallelujah! (Hebrews 4:12-16)

God of grace, You search me and Your word tries me, You convict of sin by misery in the inward parts. Thank You. Wash me, restore me. I will teach, I will praise. (Psalm 139:23-24; John 16:8)

“You shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you… For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land… And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you… [He] led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, [he] brought you water out of the flinty rock, [he] fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power.” Deuteronomy 8:2-5,7,10,15-16

When we use GPS, we are directed in the most efficient way to our destination, ‘although you will experience some traffic you are still on the fastest route.’ When we ask God for direction, we want quick and clear answers, a smooth path to our desired goal. But this is not how God usually works. He promises to lead us, yet His ways are “whole ways” that are intended for far more than we can imagine. For Israel, their journey to the promised land was fraught with hunger, pests, wandering, formidable enemies, all designed by a benevolent, all-knowing God Whose interest was in their faith, their strength in identity as His, their whole and humble dependence on Him, their wonder at His gracious and marvelous works. He was developing a holy people for Himself, not delivering a destination. (Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 55:8)

When I encounter obstacles, fog, impasses, unexpected turns along my way, do I look for what my loving Father might be teaching? Our natural tendency can be to shrug off the nettles, forge our way through pain, demand needs be met, quickly settle for fast food over heavenly nourishment, push push without considering what patience and trust can be learned in delays, what compassion and sympathy in heartache and suffering, what muscles can be developed when we are required to work harder, carry heavier, or resist more. The LORD’s end is always to do us good, His discipline to sanctify us to bear the peaceful fruit of righteousness. (Hebrews 12:5-11)

Father, lead me in Your whole ways. May I seek You above any other goal, remember You in every turn. Accomplish all You intend though my life’s path, for the praise of Your name and exaltation of Your greatness.

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land that you are entering to take possession of it, and clears away many nations before you, you shall make no covenant with them. You shall not intermarry with them, giving your daughters to their sons or taking their daughters for your sons, for they would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods… You shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.  It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you. Your eye shall not pity them, neither shall you serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you… You shall not be afraid of them… You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it.” Deuteronomy 7:1-8,16,18,25

Being a child of God the King brings many privileges, and a high call to be distinct, and ruthless. It should boggle our minds to realize how valuable we are to the Lord– chosen, beloved, owned, pronounced holy to Him, adorned by grace with His name. He set His affection on us simply because that is His nature; He promised to do so and He is always true to His word. He values us as his priceless treasure.

Being so treasured, our living response, He commands, is to be equally as committed to Him, and ruthless with the world and all its enticements. Once His bride, we cannot belong to another lover. Once redeemed from slavery, we are never to return to its shackles, its cruel possession or sway. We are to face the enemy boldly, and cut off anything that would lure our affections from our Divine Groom. We are to chop down gods in which we are prone to place our security or identity– things and experiences and degrees and acquaintances that we wave as important. We are to give no pity to the ones who would steal our rightful loyalties and displace our focus. We are not to fear the consequences of putting off the charms and approval of the world, because belonging to almighty God is more than enough and far superior.

Do I rest in God’s favor and unbreakable love for me? What magnets from the world, unbiblical beliefs, shiny temptations, pull at my affections and weaken my resolve to live as the royal that I am?

King of kings, Who has favored me beyond my imagining, grant me strength to be ruthless with the enemy so that I believe and behave as Yours, to Your glory.

 

“Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.” Psalm 86:1-7

I recently had a disturbing conversation that left me tight inside with consternation, sadness, a touch of fear. I knew the only One to Whom I should go, and bent my knee to cry out to Him, my Master. I was poor in understanding, needy for sense, right thinking, and appropriate words. While a storm brewed in my soul, I called out to the LORD of all weather. (John 6:68)

Lifting my soul to Jesus presents me at His throne, a place of trust in His might, gladness at His rule, instruction from His wisdom, rest in His royal domain. At His feet I find grace to help in time of need, cleansing from corrupt motives and emotions, hope in desperation. He hears my cry and listens to my heart. He discerns all that is between the lines and that I cannot articulate. He translates my confusion into clarity, and brings light to clouded darkness, and He always, always answers. (Psalm 26:2; Hebrews 4:16)

“What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!                                                      Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness take it to the Lord in prayer.                                                 Are we weak and heavy-laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge— Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, thou wilt find a solace there.”                             ~Charles Crozat Converse (1834-1918)

What griefs, fears, confusion weigh heavy today? Where am I lacking, poor, bereft? What stomach knots need calming, fiery emotions need cooling, resistances need softening? What hinders my moving forward, responding with confidence, progressing in growth? Would I name them all, seek first almighty God, and trust Him to incline His ear to me and provide for all my needs? (Matthew 6:33-34; Philippians 4:6-7,19,23)

Great and wondrous God, I spread out my hands to You. Omniscient, You know each of my needs, and omnipotent, You hear and answer and supply. All glory to You, Caretaker of my soul and every cry. (Psalm 86:10; 88:9; Matthew 6:8; 11:28)

“This people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men. Ah, you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, ‘Who sees us? Who knows us?’ You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, ‘He did not make me’; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, ‘He has no understanding’?'” “But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!” Isaiah 29:13,15-16; Psalm 81:11-13

Isaiah captures well the convoluted thinking of rebels who live apart from God. Their tendency is to give lip-service to a higher Being but disregard accountability to Him. They clutch their life-reins, justify self-determination and perverted choices, and believe they can hide their actions and motives from the all-knowing Maker. In seeing themselves as a god, they mock the true God. They listen and submit only to self, and bear the consequence. The psalmist describes God’s heart for His people, along with the freedom He gives by releasing them to their own devices.

While I may not consider myself a spiritual anarchist, where has a hint of rebel seeped into my thinking? Do I act as though He is available, but keep Him on the periphery as I make plans and go about my days, fine to forge ahead on my own? I may never consciously pretend to be God, but how have I distorted His character by subconsciously fashioning Him into my (desired) image, expecting Him to act as I want, dispense what I want, when I want? Is there an area I am hiding from His light because I think if I keep in the dark He will not see? Where have I allowed my reasoning to turn upside down because I have exposed myself to folly and refused the conviction of the Holy Spirit?

Many rebels are blinded to the gospel by the god of this world, unable not to be convoluted in their thinking, but believers grow subversive when we shun truth and make up our own. Is there a growing impatience, irritation, stubbornness, bitterness, covetousness, that are evidences of rebellion? When God Almighty, in mercy and lovingkindness, exposes any calcifying of our heart, He beckons us to call out to Him, repent, put away our strange gods, and open wide our mouths to be filled with His finest satisfaction. He delights to soften the rebel heart and make it new, and reconcile us back to intimate communion. (Psalm 81:7-10,16; Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 4:4)

Mighty Lord, penetrate my thinking with Your truth. Expose rebellion in my flesh and my mind, that I might, enabled by Your grace, put it away. Grant me discernment and wisdom, the mind of Christ, so my living is consistent with Your ways. (Isaiah 29:14; 1 Corinthians 2:16)