Living Water

 How should people who have put their trust in the unfailing, faithful love of God respond to uncertain times?

"These are My appointed times," God spoke of seven appointed times in the book of Leviticus the last one will take place this year in September, it is The Festival of Booths.  This is a time when God invites His people celebrate the truth God provides for those who put their trust in Him.

For seven days those who celebrate the Festival of Booths will live in temporary dwellings to commemorate the sheltering of the Israelites in the wilderness. During this time God also invites His people to rejoice as they remember how He not only lead them through the wilderness but also provided everything they needed.  Every morning He provided bread from Heaven and when they were thirsty He provided water from the rock. Neither thier shoes nor their clothes wore out. God has not changed and even though we face uncertain times one thing has not changed God offers us shelter beneath His faithful wing of protection.

This was a harvest celebration and on the last day of the festival they would have a water-drawing ceremony. In Egypt the Nile was the source of water but in the Promised Land they were dependant on rain from the heavens.  They prayed for rain but they didn't beg instead they praised God for His faithfulness; they praised Him for His unfailing love. This was a time of great joy.

They were not only thanking God for providing literal water they were looking forward to the days of messianic redemption when the waters of the Holy Spirit would be poured out. How did Jesus respond to this feast?  "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, "From his innermost being will flow rivers of living waters. '"(John 7:37-38)

So how should Christians respond to uncertain times?  I find the answer in Romans 15:13 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

I Want to See Your Glory

 I remember clearly the year God drew me to the place of absolute surrender and humility. A season where I knew that I was not in control. A time when I was being challenged to open my hands and let go. Did I really believe that God was good and that I could trust Him?

Surender and humility are often required when God allows circumstances in our lives that expose the reality that we are not in control. I face these dificult situations with deep conviction that in God’s economy nothing is wasted.

“Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge, nor is a cart wheel rolled over cumin, but dill is beaten out with a stick, and cumin with a rod, Does one crush grain for bread? No, he does not thresh forever; when he drives his cart wheels over it with his horses, he does not crush it. This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom." (Isaiah 28: 23-29) 

What I see is that God does what is necessary to make me useful. We have walnut trees. I use the walnuts, but only if I remove the hull. In the same way I believe that I am only useful to God with a humble heart. Sometimes it's a painful process, but I trust God because he is,"wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom."

Somewhere during the  time of praying for a heart of absolute surrender and humility my focus shifted. I began to say, "Lord, glorify yourself." My prayer was a reflection of John the Baptist when he said, "He must increase and I must decrease."  

When I go outside on a dark starry night I can see the stars best if there is no artificial light shinning. This is what I am finding as I pray for humility. When the artificial light of my own pride is taken out of the way, others have a better opportunity of seeing Christ in me.

Lord Jesus, I want my life to be useful for Your Kingdom. I want to decrees and have You increase. I want to see Your glory!

Daily Burdens

 I compare the troubles which we have to undergo in the course of the year to a great bundle of sticks, far too large for us to lift. But God does not require us to carry the whole at once. He mercifully unties the bundle, and gives us first one stick, which we are to carry today, and then another, which we are to carry tomorrow and so on. This we might easily manage, if we would only take the burden appointed for each day – instead we choose to increase our troubles by carrying yesterday‘s stick over again today, and adding tomorrow’s burden to the load, before we are required to carry it.

John Newton