God's Battle

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.

1 Samuel 17:47

In 1927 the Great Mississippi Flood occurred bringing with it destruction, desolation despair, and heartbreakingly, even death.  The Mississippi River broke out of its levee system in 145 places flooding 27,000 square miles and killing 246 people in seven states. Just think about the emotional and psychological impact on the people who witnessed the devastation.  At the time the Army Corp of Engineers was charged with building a better levee system that would withstand any future floods.  The flood of 1927 was the most destructive river flood in United States history until Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  Perhaps you can remember what that was like.  It was shocking in every sense of the word.  More than 80 years later, American engineers are still trying to find the perfect levee that will withstand such devastating force.

Life, as we know it today seems like a constant struggle to conquer faltering levees that fail to protect us against all kinds of floods.  We are constantly confronted with financial, social, emotional, mental, physical and spiritual levees that crumble around us leaving us vulnerable to the menacing floods of our time.  It seems as though the more we shore up, the stronger the currents get.  Many people are anxious, confused and helpless as they constantly chase after a perfect solution to the problems they face.  Could it be that there is nothing we can do to protect ourselves?  Could it be that there are no perfect solutions; that perhaps there are things only an Almighty God can solve? In spite of our best efforts to stem life’s many tides, havoc rules our world and the foundations of our lives continue to tremble and quake increasing our uncertainty concerning the future. 

The Psalmist experienced similar struggles and after much wrestling realizes, sometimes the best thing we can do is to be still in him and know that he is God.  The psalmist realizes that the notion that we are in control of our lives is a mere illusion.  God is the one in control; he always has been, and he always will be.  Our efforts to conquer these floods cannot be done without his guidance and help.  His voice alone can calm any raging storm and it is in the stillness that we are able to recognize this truth.  Moses stood still and saw God part the waters; Daniel stood still and saw God shut the mouth of the lions; Mary became still and saw the power of God come to fulfilment through her and David stood still and slew Goliath.  These heroes of our faith demonstrated to us that sometimes we just need to be still and hide in God, our refuge and strength, because he alone has the power to calm the storms that threaten to overwhelm us. 

Perhaps you are facing your very own faltering levees, you have cried and struggled and prayed and sighed and cried again and you are wondering whether there is anything you can do to stem the tide.  You are not alone and you are not defeated.  Things may look bleak right now but have faith, God is at work behind the scenes.  Speaking to his disciples in John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you these things, so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  The disciples were about to face challenging times, but Jesus gave them assurance that they were not alone and neither are you.  Continue to walk by faith and not by sight and wait on Him.  Today you have two choices:  to continue struggling and fighting as you’ve always done to find the perfect solution to your problem, or to surrender the burden wholly to him and be still because the battle belongs to him.  Choose him.

Dear God, forgive us for times we trusted in our own strength.  Help us to put our trust in you, wholly and completely.  Teach us to be still so that we may hear you, despite the raging floods.  Today we ask that you would comfort those who are overwhelmed by the storms of life.  AMEN.

That Name!

“I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands”

 1 Samuel 17:45-46

“What’s in a name?”  Juliet asks in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.  “A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.”  The implication here is that names don’t matter but this is not entirely true.  There is one name that matters for you and me today, and every day.  And that name is, Jesus.  His is the name that is above every other name.  It is the first and the last.  It was, it is and always will be.

Someone has written a song regarding this name which says:

His name is higher than any other; His name is Jesus, His name is Lord
His name is Wonderful; His name is Counselor
His name is Prince of Peace; The mighty God
His name is higher than any other; His name is Jesus, His name is Lord.

The songwriter obviously understands that there is power in Jesus’ name.  It is the kind of power that causes demons to shudder (James 2:19), it is the name that causes every knee to bow (Romans 14:11), sinners are cleansed through his name (John 3:16), the dead are raised to life through his name (Matthew 9:18-26).  When we cannot utter anything else, we can just say, “Jesus!”  His name represents all that he is to us, all that he has done for us and all that he has promised to do for us.

When life begins to unravel whom do you turn to first?  Your mother, your father, your friends, your pastor, your doctor?  There is nothing wrong with these options, we are social beings, but first and foremost God wants us to confront our challenges, fears, shame, rejection, guilt and sense of inadequacy in no other name but in the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior.  If we get the order right, we will discover the power in that name!

David was just a youth and yet he knew that there was power in the name of God and so despite what he saw with his own two eyes; that physically he was no match for Goliath, he was able to use his faith in that name to challenge Goliath.  This bold move gave him victory over the Philistine giant (1 Samuel 17:47).

Elijah was just an ordinary man with no stated ancestry as many of the other prophets and personalities of the Bible and yet he tapped into God’s name, challenged the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah on Mt. Carmel, and won (1 Kings 18: 36-37).

Moses lacked confidence in his speaking and leadership abilities and did not believe he could lead the children of Israel out of Egypt.  God promised that his name and his presence would be with him, and Elijah believed, rose up to the challenge, and succeeded in the task that God had set before him (Exodus 3: 11-14).

There is power in the name of Jesus and our faith in his name can accomplish great and mighty deeds.  If demons can appreciate and acknowledge this power, how much more should we do so as children of God?  When God calls us to himself he is saying, “All that is mine is yours, and all that is yours is mine.”  So what’s on your mind today?  What issues and complexities are you dealing with?  Jesus says, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son (John 14:13)”.  That’s a promise, and we know that God is not a man that he should lie. 

Today, spend time in his presence worshipping him, call upon that name, the name of Jesus.  Enjoy his presence and wait for him.

Jesus, your name is holy.  Your name is glorious.  Your name is everlasting.  You alone are worthy.  You alone are majestic.  You alone are good.  We surrender all to you today; our joys, our cares, our failures our challenges, our very lives.  in that Holy and Precious name of Jesus!  Amen.

Trust in a Time of Doubt

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” 

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

In the winter of 2010, I began to feel God leading me to embrace the role of mentoring young girls and women for the Kingdom of God.  Although I felt a clear leading from God, I did not have any idea as to where I should begin.  I confess, I am still figuring this out.  After taking several tentative steps in the direction of God’s leading, I began to experience a series of extraordinary events and circumstances that can only be called, God-ordained.  After a while, these occurrences became so pronounced that I had no doubt that God was illuminating my path one step at a time.

In one of these instances, I ran into someone I had only met once before, and in response to his inquiry about what I was up to, I shared what God had placed upon my heart, and right there, he gave me his business card, and said, “I am in.”  I had not even extended an invitation to him yet, and I wasn’t even thinking of doing so at that stage of my emerging journey, but apparently God had done so in the span of time it took to narrate my story.  Immediately, I understood Proverbs 3: 5-6, and what it means to “lean not on our own understanding.”  This positive response to my vision did not make sense, and yet, it seemed like a confirmation that this dream was going to be God’s doing and not mine.  Since then, God has interrupted my painstakingly thought out processes over and over again to let me know, he’s in control.  I am learning to surrender to His leading.

The writer of the book of Proverbs exhorts us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart.”  Why the heart?  Jeremiah gives us an answer, “It is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9a).  And therefore to surrender the heart is to let go of all our crutches.  It is to be completely vulnerable.  You see it is tempting to trust in one’s position, title, history, experience, knowledge, skills, possessions, qualifications, connections and strategies among other things, and yet where do all these come from, if not from the hand of God?  The path of trust is not an easy one, it is lonely, it is hard and it is filled with self-doubt and the discouraging voices of others, even discouragement from other believers.  But just because your vision takes a different path from someone else’s, does not mean it is wrong, or that God is absent.  It simply means that God has mapped out a unique path for you.

The path of trust runs counter to all the modern three-step, ten-step or twelve-step “process books” that give us a clear path from A-Z.  Walking in trust, means being willing to be ridiculed and abandoned for not following society’s well-defined paths to success.  It sometimes means being willing to take the jagged and winding path, and by doing so, learning precious lessons that only God can teach.  It means being willing to completely surrender the reins to your heavenly Father, and trusting him to guide you one step at a time into the unknown.  It means being open to making mistakes and by doing so, gaining valuable spiritual knowledge and experience.

Are you facing a situation that has left you lonely and afraid?  Trust him!  Is it hard to keep going when you cannot see round the bend?  Trust him!  Today the Lord reminds you through Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.”  As difficult and as impossible as your situation might seem right now, seek to acknowledge Him in all your ways and he will direct your path.  God alone sees into the future, and if we focus our eyes on him, he will lead us there.  Few of us have the discipline required to “let go and let God.”  I know I struggle with relinquishing control and perhaps you do too, but the admonition in Proverbs is to hand over the reins to God and trust that even in moments of uncertainty and vulnerability, he whose thoughts and ways are higher than ours could ever be, is directing our paths with the goal of achieving his divine design for our lives. Gradually, as you walk in trust, you will begin to see patterns that point to the fact that God is at work in your situation.”

May you experience his leading today as you trust him and follow him down uncommon pathways. 

Father, I trust you.  I know you will guide and protect me as I obey your will.  Teach me to decrease, so that you might increase in me.  I want more of you and less of me, so that glory may go only to you.  May your holy spirit guide me along the path.  In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

As the World Trembles

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3

In 1834 Edward Mote wrote these words, “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand all other ground is sinking sand.”  182 years later I find myself responding with a resounding, “Amen!”  These words are as true today, as they were back then.  The foundations of our world are changing at an ever increasing pace, and these changes are only going to speed up.  The foundations are trembling in every sphere, politically, socially, financially and spiritually.  When the earth beneath our feet begins to tremble, what should the righteous do?

Perhaps you are even now, at this moment, wondering how you will make your current situation work?  The people you relied upon have let you down; the beliefs you once held are being challenged; the things that gave you pleasure before have lost their attraction and the hopes, dreams and plans that seemed so certain and achievable just a little while ago, have frayed at the edges and are beginning to unravel right before your eyes.  When your world begins to shake, what should you do?

First recognize that God is the immovable fortress on which you stand.  It is he that does the keeping.  You can do nothing to protect yourself apart from him.  He is the jealous and valiant protector whose eyes are always on the righteous.  He is the God of whom the Psalmist says, ‘He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber (121:3).  There’s a certainty and definite quality to what God will do when your world trembles, God will keep you in perfect peace.  That’s his promise to you today.

Secondly reach out for God’s hand.  When my son was learning how to roller-skate he kept falling to the ground because he could not maintain his balance on the slippery floor.  I noticed though, that every time the teacher took his hand, my son was able to remain upright.  His teacher’s firm hand helped him adjust his balance as he leaned on his teacher to steady himself.  Reaching for God’s hand means walking constantly in obedience; it means abiding in the Word and leaning on him to regain balance when the trembling sets in.  Obedience attracts God’s protection.  Put your hand in his hand and let him guide you over the shaky waters.

Lastly, rest in him.  God will keep you in perfect peace when you trust in him.  He will keep you in perfect peace when your mind is steadfast; when you have determined in advance that you have no other option, but him.  As the foundations of this earthly life tremble and as our earth begins to quake, trust in Him and in his Holy Word.  He is the Prince of Peace.  He is your peace.  He alone causes your anchor to hold in spite of the storm that may be raging within you or around you. 

As the world trembles, what should the righteous do?  Recognize, reach and rest.  It will get worse, before it gets better but because of his great love, he has given those who trust in him a heads up.  Heaven and earth (everything) will pass away, only his words will remain (Matthew 24:35).  Edward Mote was right.  “On Christ, the solid Rock, we stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”

Gracious Father, you have called me to walk by faith and not by sight.  Help me to let go of the crutches of this physical life, so that I can be free to take your hand.  Lead me and guide me through my current circumstances.  I surrender every anxiety to you knowing that you love me and care for me, and no matter what comes my way, I will trust in you.  Amen.

It's Mother's Day!

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

(Matthew 7:11)

It’s Mother’s Day!  A day to celebrate our mothers, and all those women who bring meaning into our lives.  We take a moment to celebrate mom’s sacrificial love, her tenderness, her guidance and her willingness to always put us first. Many will honor their mom today with a special card, a hug, flowers, chocolate, perfume, a special gesture such as breakfast in bed, or with that once in a lifetime memento.  Take a moment to thank the Father who gave you such an incredible gift in your mother.  You didn’t even ask, but He gave you one of the best mothers anyway.  That's just who He is.

But wait, there are others for whom this day will be bittersweet.  It’s a different kind of Mother’s Day, a Mother’s Day without mom.  For some, the grief journey may have brought you to a place of acceptance and rest in God, but for others it may still be a painful day for you.  You may feel alone, empty, angry at God, you might even still be actively grieving…but celebrate mom anyway.  Yes, through your tears celebrate her.  Remembering is a part of healing.  So celebrate the essence of who she was; celebrate the memories, the laughter, the hugs and all the significant moments in-between.  Celebrate the privilege of calling her mom.  It was a privilege, right?  Then tell your Father about her, what you miss the most..., honor her.

Then there are those for whom the name ‘mom’ triggers deep sadness; it triggers a sense of failure and rejection, a profound and utter sense of feeling unwanted and unloved.  Mom may have chosen alcohol, drugs, or prostitution and life on the street, even herself over you.  And while her choices reveal that life is complicated and that we live in a fallen world; and while those choices are tragic, they do not determine your worth to the One who loves you the most; the One who thinks you are the most incredible human being in the world; the One who declares you are beautifully and wonderfully made.  He is the loving Father who today reminds you that He gives good gifts to those who ask him. So tell Him what you need.

I am reminded lastly, of a final group; the ones who suffer deeply and quietly.  You have longed for a baby for many years, but your arms are still empty.  Or perhaps you held your baby briefly, but your baby died.  Mother’s Day brings up a torrent of emotions for you.  Your heavenly Father says, “Be still, and rest in me.  I will get you through this day.  I am here.  I am the One who makes not just this day, but every day worth living.  Ask for what you need and do not get tired of asking.  Seek me and you will find peace.  Knock and watch me open the floodgates of heaven’s blessings on your behalf.”

So wherever this day finds you, whether in celebration or lament, take a moment to thank your heavenly Father for His faithfulness.  Take a moment to thank Him for meeting you where you are; asking, seeking or knocking.  He means what He says.  He gives good gifts to those who ask.

Loving and Gracious God, thank you for those who perform the sacred role of mother.  Thank you for my mother, I am deeply grateful for her today and every day.   Thank you for mothers across the world.  We commit them to you today with the understanding that it is a tougher world in which to raise children.  So give them your Holy Word, your wisdom, your strength, your tenderness and your love.  Draw close to those mothers and children who need your forgiving and comforting embrace today.  Hold them in your everlasting arms and give them your peace.  Amen.

Looking for Jesus

"Everyone is looking for you!"

(Mark 1:37)

Can you believe 2016 is already a quarter of the way through?  How are those resolutions and intentions going for you?  What was that goal again?  Many of us look for things every day, but we quickly give up, only to go in search of something else.  Consider how casual it has become to go from one relationship to another; how easily our children and grandchildren talk of “breaking up” friendships and then beginning another.  They are searching for something; we are searching too, for beauty, health, rest, longevity?  Everyone is constantly searching for something.

You see, it does not matter what we call them: resolutions, solutions or intentions.  The larger question is “Why?”  Why are we in this constant search and pursuit?  Nothing is wrong with exercising more regularly, eating healthier meals, or connecting with family and friends more frequently.  In fact, these are commendable goals.  But what exactly are we looking for?  What are we trying to fill?  If it were just things we needed, we would all have had our fill by now, and yet year after year we keep going back for more. Could it be that we are looking for something more, and that true contentment will only come when we find it?

Bishop Augustine (354-430) may have given us a great clue about this.  In his spiritual autobiography, Confessions, the Bishop writes: “Lord, you have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in you.” (Confessions 1.1.1.)  Human hearts are constantly seeking, “restless,” until we find “rest” in God.  We were created to seek after God and all our seeking is a symptom of a much greater hunger.

 Almost a millennium later, Blaise Pascal (1623-62) said: “What else does this craving, and this helplessness, proclaim but that there was once in man a true happiness, of which all that now remains is the empty print and trace?  This he tries in vain to fill with everything around him, seeking in things that are not there the help he cannot find in those that are, though none can help, since this infinite abyss can be filled only with an infinite and unchangeable object; in other words, by God himself.” (Pensees 10.148). We humans have an “empty”-ness inside which most try to “fill with everything around,” but only God will exactly fit.

The crowds in Mark were pursuing things too.  They had experienced Jesus’ dynamic ministry.  They had heard his unique teaching, seen him heal the sick and cast out demons and they wanted more of it, but they recognized something else.  I believe that they realized that though there were other teachers and healers, what they really craved, was Jesus’ life-changing presence, which is why Mark says, “Everyone is looking for you!”  They are looking for him because they know, that once they find him, they will have found all they really need because Jesus is enough.  To know him, not just know about him (knowledge can be found in the library), but truly know him, causes the things of this world to “grow strangely dim.”  It brings true contentment.

Today, as you read this ask yourself, “What am I looking for in life?” Are you just seeking good grades in school?  Or is your ambition to get up every day, go to work and pay your rent?  Or maybe it is to enjoy retirement by filling your day with one activity or another.  This very minute, what are you looking for?  Are you discontented with your life? Is there a longing for something more, something new?

The worldly things you are searching for are not bad, but are they enough or does your hunger just grow deeper?  The crowds that were looking for Jesus may have come looking for some of these worldly comforts too.  They needed the food, the healing, the teachings but I believe they also realized that true contentment can only be found in Christ.  The rest of the world scoffs at the notion that true satisfaction can be found in a person, but what about you?  What do you think and what will you do?  “Jesus is the Answer” is not just a tagline or cliché, it is the simple, yet profound truth that many have already found and I hope you will too.  When the Son of Man comes in his glory, may we all be looking for him.

Loving God, we thank you for every good and perfect gift sent from heaven above.  Today, we ask for more of you, nothing else, just more of you.  Draw us closer into your presence by the power of your Spirit and remind us that godliness with contentment is great gain.  And may you find us looking for you, hungry and thirsty for you, when you come in your glory.

Give us a King!

"Give us a king to lead us..."

(1 Samuel 8: 6a)

Throughout history, we human beings have pursued leaders who looked the part, and gave us the hope that they could deliver our ideal social environment.  Each culture, generation and group has had it's own criteria for choosing a particular leader.  But we only have to read the Book of Judges to get a reality check.  We are dealing with humans here and humans are flawed.  Jesus is the only leader who did everything right.

Some leaders, though clearly flawed, have carried out their leadership responsibilities with distinction while others have been bitterly disappointing.  Today our nation cries out for a leader, just as Israel did.  At the time, Israel was dissatisfied with the way things were; they longed for something different.  It's no different today, many are crying out for something new, because they are dissatisfied with the status quo.  While many seek change because of their rage at the way things are, believers must be sober minded, humble and prayerful. 

When the Israelites cried out for a leader in 1 Samuel 8, they wanted none other than Saul, who to them must have seemed like a tough and seasoned warrior.  They would not listen to the counsel of Samuel, the prophet.  In the end, God relented and granted them "their" king.  No sooner had Saul taken leadership than they realized their terrible error as he began to flout God's rules.  We find them repenting of their choice of Saul in 1 Samuel 12:19. 

The children of Israel made a terrible mistake by leaving God out of their decision making process.  They looked on the outside and hoped that their choice of leader would carry the necessary anointing, but the Bible teaches us that God looks on the inside and then equips the leader to lead (1 Samuel 16:7). The elections of Saul and David as King, are good examples of the difference between the human and divine perspectives.  One looked kingly, but wasn't suitable to lead, the other looked like a mere youth, but turned out to be God's chosen.

I believe that we are living in critical days when the decisions we make as believers will matter more then ever.  The choices we make will have lasting repercussions on our children and our grandchildren.  God has called the Church for such a time as this in the history of our nation.  His word reminds us, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Our loving Father wants us to humbly seek his face today, not just about a future leader for our nation, but about every important decision we will face today.  Only he is able to deliver what we really need, for he alone is Sovereign.  As the children of Israel discovered, we can trust in his judgment; we can trust in his care.

Our Father in Heaven, you are Sovereign over the affairs of humanity.  You know all and you see all.  Today, we pray for a leader to lead us.  Today we surrender every important decision in our lives to you. Align our wills to your will so that we might choose wisely and carefully.  We thank you for our nation and ask that you will help us to be good stewards of all the blessings you have bestowed upon us.  In Jesus' name we pray.   Amen.

Put Out Into the Deep

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep water and let the nets down for a catch."

(Luke 5: 4)

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds by the lake of Gennesaret, Simon and his fellow fishermen were doing what felt familiar to them, they were fishing.  The events of the crucifixion and resurrection had certainly left them in a state of shock.  So much had happened in such a short time, they probably needed a moment to catch their breaths.  They had gone fishing as they had done when they first met Jesus, and they were expecting the same old catch; perhaps they were expecting to go back to life as usual.  What the disciples forgot is that an encounter with Jesus changes everything.  Their lives were routine until Jesus entered the picture.  On this occasion, Jesus commanded them to do something peculiar, Jesus told them to put their nets into the deep water (Luke 5:4).  Jesus told them to fish where they had never fished before.

From a human perspective, I can only imagine how Simon and his friends felt after hearing Jesus' unusual command...perhaps apprehension, doubt, or fear.  There is nothing comforting about deep water.  It is dark, mysterious and frightening.  I bet these fishermen had all kinds of reasons bubbling in their minds as to why this might not be a good idea.  After all, this new idea of deep water fishing was contrary to what the other fishermen on the shores were doing so why should they take the risk of being different?  But wait a minute, ...this was Jesus!  They had spent three years with him and knew that he was no ordinary being.  They had seen him feed the hungry, heal the sick, and bring the dead to life.  They could definitely trust him.   Perhaps for this reason, Simon put his faith in Jesus saying, "...at thy word, I will let down the net (vs.5b)"  Simon did not require justification for such an unusual command, all he needed was Jesus' word.

There are times in our lives when God speaks telling us to launch into the deep. This call may frighten some of us and cause us to focus on our deficiencies, rather than on God's sufficiency.  Going into the deep takes a special kind of courage.  It takes faith in the one who guides.  I believe God calls believers into the deep not so much because of ability as the world does, but because of our availability and willingness to follow him wherever he leads.  But willingness to follow does not just happen by osmosis, but through a close relationship.  As we walk with Jesus daily, and as he equips us for the task, we learn to trust him more and more.

Perhaps this is a season when God has been speaking to you about launching into the deep but you are afraid of failure, you are afraid about what others might say and you are uncertain about following him into the unknown. Maybe you are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the call and don't know what to do.  Or it could be that the little inner voice within you is telling you, "Just continue with life as usual, it's less complicated."  Life as usual may be less complicated but it yields a thin harvest.  Whatever your case remember this, an encounter with Jesus changes everything.  You and I were born for more.  He put us here on this earth for a greater purpose.  God put us here to fish in the deep because that's where the biggest haul of fish can be found.  Simon discovered that obedience led to the greatest catch they had ever had.  "Simon and his friends, beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship that they should come and help them (vs.7a). Obedience to God leads to abundant living in him.

Following God by faith can be a frightening prospect even for mature believers.  Like a toddler learning to walk we may even fall a few times but in time we learn to hear his voice providing assurance that his presence will never leave us. We learn to trust that even if we fall, he will be there to catch us.  And as we grow in faith and trust, we can grow in confidence as we follow him into the deep and do his bidding in new and exciting ways.  In the end, it's not really about doing, as it is about growing in grace, growing in trust and growing in relationship with him. I pray that today you will find the courage you need through the power of the Holy Spirit to follow him into the deep.

Father, I honor you with all that I am and all that I have. Give me the grace to obey your word with simple childlike faith and to remember that my encounter with you has changed everything.  Show me your way and give me courage to follow you into the deep.  In Jesus' name, Amen.