“So may all your enemies perish, Lord!
But may all who love you be like the sun
when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years. – Judges 5: 31 NIV
It is easy to find peace in sunrise but so often I overlook the power. You Creation is so magnificent, Lord. Within an hour’s time, a whole portion of the Earth is warmed and lit by the sun, that biggest star to sustain life. I am reminded of your faithfulness and light each morning. Use me as a vessel to reflect it.
Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the Lord. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel. If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it. Jeremiah 18:5-10 NIV
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.” Mark 4:26-29.
Put next to the parable of the sower, the light on the lampstand, the mustard seed and Jesus calming the storm, it is a power packed chapter but this one is overlooked. You are doing a constant work in us. Use both our times of rest and activity to glorify and do Your Will.
A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:37-40 NIV
Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Acts 9: 17-19 NIV
Jesus, you use these opportunities to flex Your muscles. While the apostles are intimidated, You calm the storm with ease. While fear abounded from Saul’s acts against the newly formed church, you converted him to an advocate and did a greater work than any could dream. Bring peace to this time our world as you did in the storm. You can do all things.
Lord, bring peace to our land as you did in the time of the Judges and again and again. Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.
Sixty-six books in a year 