prayer

just for today

Posted on by Grace Day

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us (me) rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)

Yes, let me rejoice and be glad today! NOW! Not yesterday, not tomorrow – today!

Yes, I know it’s Monday, Lord – BUT – You made Mondays, just like You make all the days – in fact, You have already made “all the days ordained for me, written in Your book, before even one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16)

so just for today, I will give You thanks – no requests, no demands, no complaints, no whining, no criticizing, no doubting, no questioning, no striving, no plotting, no planning – today, just gratitude to You, Lord, because –

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

You give only good gifts – so today I will –

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (Psalm 106:1)

today I will –

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5)

just for today – I will put aside worry – after all, Jesus told His disciples –

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? . . . Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:27 & 34)

just for today – I will rest in Your green pastures, Heavenly Father and I will thank You for the peace and provision of the still waters that You lead me beside – I will not ask You, Heavenly Father, for more or for something different or for anything at all –

instead, I will thank You for Your mercies (new every morning) and for Your love and Your constant watchcare over me and Your faithfulness to me even when I am unfaithful. I will thank You for forgiving me of my sin and for dying in my place. I will thank You that You have loved me with an everlasting love that rescues me from sin and death. I will thank You for the beauty of Your creation that surrounds me. I will thank You for the promise of Your Presence never leaving nor forsaking me – Your Presence protecting, providing and guiding me today and every day.

today I will rejoice, I will pray and I will tell God thank You – just because – because God instructs me to do this in His Word –

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

so not just for today – I am to give thanks to my Heavenly Father in all circumstances – not only the green pastures and still waters days. Being a Monday (or any day really) this could very well be for me a desert crossing day, a mountain moving or a mountain climbing day, a valley of the shadow of death day, a fiery furnace day, a high waters day, a deep chasm day, a dark pit day, a surrounded by my enemies day, a lost my way again day – BUT –

no matter what my circumstance is today – just for today, I will choose to give all my gratitude and all my praise to my Redeemer – believing soon “just for today” becomes every day – because every day is –

“. . . the day the Lord has made;” every day is – a day for me to “rejoice and be glad in it.” today, I will –

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the God of gods. For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” (Psalm 136:1-3)

today, I will join with all of creation in rejoicing, in being glad and in giving God praise –

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, ‘The Lord reigns!’ Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever.” (1 Chronicles 16:31-34)

just for today – I will give God thanks, I will rejoice in Him, I will rest in His Presence.

sincerely, Grace Day

walking with who?

Posted on by Grace Day

They were very large white letters on a black background – too big and too bold for me to miss their message, although I was definitely caught off guard when I saw the words, probably because of context, meaning where I was at the time. These words were on the front of a student’s hoodie – all in caps – inescapable – “WALK WITH GOD”. It was something I didn’t expect to see in this public inner city high school. A private Christian school, maybe. But here, no. Maybe that’s why her hoodie got my attention even in the crowded hallway, packed with students hurrying to their next class, intent on beating the bell.

I must admit, I have grown accustomed to the more typical cliche’s of the current culture being displayed on the students’ t-shirts and hoodies. As there is no real dress code, a lot of darker sentiments and profane sayings are more often displayed on students’ clothing than something as counter cultural as – “WALK WITH GOD.”

So of course these words got my attention and got me thinking about . . . about walking and about how walking is, in many ways, a metaphor for how we go through life. ie. – “a walk in the park, a walk on the wild side, walking on eggshells, walking a fine line, walk a mile in my shoes”. You get the idea. And in this case the question becomes – “who do we go through or who do we walk through life with?” As it turns out, the answer to this question makes all the difference in how we experience this life and in how we navigate our way through life. Who it is that is walking with me matters. And of ultimate consequence is – who do I chose to walk with?

You would have thought I would have figured this out by now. Although I often prayer walk by myself (but not alone) I also join with others weekly to prayer walk and this is a very special time because of who walks with me – another praying person, someone to share in this part of my daily walk with God and vice versa – I am sharing in their journey on this stretch of the road as well. Our journeys or Christian walks intersect during this time and it is encouraging and uplifting.

There’s a song – “You’ll never walk alone” – a beautiful song but my experience often makes me question its sentiment. If you’re like me, maybe you question that too? Like me, you probably feel like you are walking alone many times in your life, perhaps daily? BUT – there is One who is always walking with me, (and you) even when I am not acknowledging His presence nor seeking His company. My Heavenly Father has promised –

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

King David acknowledged this truth when he said –

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:7-10)

Walking with God is not something new. It’s been going on since the beginning of time, even though sin disrupted this activity. Ever since Adam and Eve made their fateful choice in the garden, you and I can choose to walk with God or not. Adam and Eve chose hiding rather than walking.

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Genesis 3:8)

Adam and Eve weren’t the only ones to walk with God. Consider Enoch –

“And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:22-24)

Enoch surely walked a lot of miles/years with God! Maybe he holds the record? But there have been others.

“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9)

“When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before Me and be blameless. I will confirm My covenant between Me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.’ ” (Genesis 17:1-2)

“Then Moses said to Him, ‘If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?’ The Lord replied, ‘My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’ ” (Exodus 33:14-16)

Moses has a good point. If I don’t walk with God, if His Presence doesn’t go with me, what sets me apart as belonging to Him? When I’m not walking with God, I lose my way and I miss out on the direction, the protection, the provision and the peace that my Heavenly Father’s Presence brings me as I walk with Him. The Israelites experienced God’s Presence walking with them in the desert in this way –

“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.” (Exodus 13:21-22)

As the Israelites walked with God, God provided them water from a rock and manna new every morning. His Presence lit their way at night, protected them from the sun by day, and guided them on their journey. Of course, walking with God means He’s in charge. I have to walk His way (or in His ways) instead of going my own way.

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14:12)

Instead, as I walk with God I am learning to –

“Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding; but in all my ways to acknowledge Him, and He will direct my paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

The psalmist had this to say about those who choose to walk with God –

“How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.” (Psalm 128:1)

I want to walk in God’s ways. I want to walk with God like Enoch and Noah and Abraham and the Israelites in the desert. As I write this, I realize something – God’s word says, “Noah walked with God” (where God was going) – not “God walked with Noah.” (wherever Noah was headed?) It was all about God’s plan for humanity, not Noah’s plan for himself. Noah never would have built an ark if he were doing his own thing. An ark would have made no sense in a land locked place that had never experienced rain. God didn’t join Noah on Noah’s journey, Noah joined God as God was in the process of carrying out His Sovereign, eternal plan to save those He created in His image (you and me) from eternal destruction.

God will not join me on my self-centered journey BUT – I am invited to walk with God on His road – to walk in His ways. I am invited to experience the journey of a lifetime, the journey that leads to eternal life. Walking with God is an adventure. I will walk in dark, dangerous valleys, I will walk through fire, I will walk through deep waters, I will walk up steep mountains, I will walk across deserts. I may even find myself walking on water! Impossible? well –

“Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ ” (Matthew 19:26)

As I walk with God, His words give me comfort, courage and the hope I need to continue walking in His ways rather than pursuing my own path –

“But now, this is what the Lord says – He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel; ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.’ ” (Isaiah 43:1-2)

the choice is mine – with whom will I walk?

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

sincerely, Grace Day

the sound of forgiveness

Posted on by Grace Day

It started slowly enough, at first, only a few metallic thuds broke into the stillness of the sanctuary, echoing eerily all around us, sounding vaguely like gunshots. This quickly grew into a barrage of loud crashing sounds, gathering momentum and increasing in intensity, like hail hitting a tin roof. Except this din didn’t come from above. Rather the echoes of rocks hitting metal reverberated, the resounding ripples of jarring sound surrounding us on all sides as we exited the sanctuary.

By the sound of it, we could have been fleeing a war zone and perhaps in a sense we were leaving behind a battlefield. Normally when we leave the sanctuary, it is worship music that surrounds us – providing an inspiring and uplifting sendoff for the week ahead. But not today. Today we left in somber silence, while all around us the clamor of rocks being dropped into empty metal trashcans exploded, their echoes lingering like thunder’s ominous rumbles after a storm.

Could this be what forgiveness sounds like? – like a war zone – like a battlefield. We were each given a rock as we entered the sanctuary at the beginning of the service. The dropping of our stones into the large, empty, metal trashcans at the end of the service was symbolic. This was a tangible way for each of us, if we so chose, to symbolically drop our stone of unforgiveness into the can, signifying our choice to forgive, to let go of any offense done against us and subsequently to let go of any accompanying bitterness or anger we are currently holding tightly in our grasp, due to our refusal to forgive someone else.

If only forgiveness was as simple as dropping a single stone into an empty trashcan and walking away – as simple as letting go. If truth be told, though, I carry with me more than just one stone. I carry multiple stones. Perhaps you do too? Nowadays we collect and hoard offenses like it’s a competition or a sport. The resulting stones of unforgiveness that we carry with us, have a way of accumulating over time, eventually becoming an unbearable burden.

When I am unwilling to let any of my stones go, the load of stones I carry continues to increase until the weight of my stones soon surpasses my own weight. When this happens, I end up buried alive beneath my own stones, all the stones I have so carefully hoarded over the years. I find myself barely able to breathe, unable to move forward, trapped inside the rubble a lifetime of stone collecting brings.

This certainly gives new meaning to the phrase “stoned to death.” And in an ironic plot twist, I am the one carrying out the stoning of myself! Reminds me of the time the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery before Jesus, saying the law required that she be stoned to death for her crime. Jesus’s reply?

“If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7)

Their response? “At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.” (John 8:9)

Those present, no doubt released their stones as they walked away, stones intended for the woman, dropping them to the ground as they left in silence. Apparently, the woman’s actions had offended them, but when forced to face their own sinfulness, they forgave her offense and let go of their stones. In this case, the sound of forgiveness was the dull thud of rocks hitting the dirt and of feet shuffling in the dust as they walked quietly past her. That day, she heard forgiveness, not as loud as rocks falling into metal trashcans, but no less dramatic.

Forgiveness demands that I put down my stones, that I release them, that I give them up instead of carrying them around with me twenty-four/seven, always at the ready for me to throw at those who have offended me, hurt me, wronged me and even persecuted me. Jesus showed all of us “how it’s done” as He hung on the cross. Those present at His crucifixion were hurling the stones of insulting words at Him –

“The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at Him. . . . The soldiers also came up and mocked Him. . . . One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at Him:” (Luke 23:35-39)

Jesus’s response?

“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ ” (Luke 23:34)

the sound of forgiveness – pleading in prayer to God for those who have offended, hurt and wronged us, just as Jesus prayed for the people who were literally in the act of murdering Him even as He prayed for them –

forgiveness – impossible, impossible for me on my own – BUT – “with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

So, I have to ask myself, do I really want to go through life carrying so many stones of unforgiveness around with me all day every day? Unforgiveness inevitably becomes a burden which weighs me down, a burden which holds me hostage, and robs me of the riches of the relationships that I lose if I choose unforgiveness over mercy. Forgiveness, on the other hand, lifts the load off my heart, sets me free and restores the relationships unforgiveness has stolen from me.

I know I desperately desire forgiveness from my Heavenly Father and from others when I have offended or wronged them. Why would I withhold from others the very thing that I myself most wish to receive – forgiveness? I can’t in good conscience. In fact, when Jesus was instructing His disciples in how they should pray, He included these words –

“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.” (Matthew 6:12)

forgiveness – highly sought after but often in short supply – except with our Creator, God – He has an infinite supply of forgiveness at the ready –

“If You, Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.” (Psalm 130:3-4)

the sound of forgiveness – a father’s footsteps running toward his son in order to welcome him home after his rebellion and disobedience

the sound of forgiveness – sometimes harder to hear than at other times – tears falling, hearts softening, hands clasping, relationships reuniting, walls coming down, (like Jericho, but much tougher walls) sighs of relief, shouts of joy, heavy loads lifting, the beating of a thousand wings as hearts set free take flight, no longer earthbound by anger, bitterness or unforgiveness –

the sound of forgiveness – the Holy Spirit’s whisper of truth – “It is finished.” “You have been forgiven!” I have been forgiven!

Jesus also said this –

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

When I realize the enormity of how much I have been forgiven by my Heavenly Father, I dare not withhold forgiveness from anyone. Why hold onto my stones? Who am I to do such a thing? The forgiveness I daily receive from my Heavenly Father, I daily extend to others. I no longer need to carry all those stones – I travel lighter through this world. In forgiving others their offense against me, I am the one set free!

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

sincerely, Grace Day

walking into the New Year

Posted on by Grace Day

that’s right, I said walking, not running or sprinting BUT neither did I say crawling or limping into the New Year – even if some of us may feel today as if that is how we are entering into this New Year, perhaps weak and wounded, going at a slower pace than we would like – perhaps entering into this new year from a position of perceived defeat rather than victory –

Nevertheless, the new year is here and I just walked into it, literally – that is to say, I just took my first walk of the New Year. Ironically, I took this walk not somewhere new, but in an old, familiar place, but one that I have not walked at all in the last several years. The route or path was full of memories even though this time of year it looks very different from what I remember. That’s because I used to walk this place in summer or fall, when it is in full bloom with wildflowers, community gardens, all kinds of wildlife and plenty of other walkers.

Today is bitingly cold and windy, the landscape brown and barren, except for some cattails and other tall brown grasses. Still, I find beauty in the stark barrenness of the landscape and of the trees, and I take comfort in knowing that the time is coming when this same landscape will again be full of color and life.

This is the same place I remember, just in a different season. I walk alone, remembering all the times I walked this path with a friend as we shared and prayed our way along the route until we would arrive back where we started. Actually though, today I was not alone. My Heavenly Father was walking with me, as He always does. I’m just more aware of His Presence when I’m by myself.

I am reminded that God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden “in the cool of the day.” God has been walking with His people from the very beginning and He’s still doing it today. God told Abraham –

“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.” (Genesis 12:1)

God would be going with Abraham to show him the way. I feel like God does that for me every day. He doesn’t send me off alone – He walks with me to guide me, to direct, inform and teach me along the way. This is a good thing because I am directionally challenged. I can so easily lose my way and my focus and my purpose as I walk out my life’s journey. But I have the promise of His Presence even when I lose my way or get off course –

“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your Presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:7-10)

I especially like the promise that my Heavenly Father’s “right hand will hold me fast.” This knowledge, this truth, gives me both comfort and courage as I walk forward into this new year. I welcome both, as it is the comfort of His Presence that gives me the courage I need to face the uncertainties and the inevitable challenges this new year will surely bring to me. With my Heavenly Father’s hand holding me fast, I am able to walk into this new year with grit, grace and gratitude – knowing I do not walk alone.

That doesn’t mean my walking is always graceful or that my walking conditions are always ideal – far from it. Very few moments do I find myself “walking on water” like Peter. I love those dramatic moments when my faith overpowers my fear and I step out in obedience. I step out of my boat like Peter did, leaving behind what I trusted in, instead walking toward Jesus across a stormy sea, trusting only in Him. I have eyes only for Jesus – I am walking on water – until I notice the storm surrounding me and I began to sink like Peter did. BUT – as with Peter, it is in that very moment God’s hand holds me fast and rescues me.

“But when he (Peter) saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.” (Matthew 14:30-31)

My walking will not always be in pleasant places during this coming year. BUT – God’s Presence walking with me will make all the difference. Like King David, I will probably walk through many valleys in 2025, and some will be dark valleys, like David’s valley of the shadow of death. However, look how David describes his experience of walking with God –

“He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:3-5)

Even when I am walking this world’s darkest valleys, I don’t have to be afraid! (“I will fear no evil”) I have the comfort of God’s Presence. And even while I am walking my valleys, my cup overflows! God sees to that. Will I be walking in any more difficult places than valleys surrounded by my enemies? Well, I imagine I’ll face a few fiery trials, aka. furnaces again this year. Remember Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.”

However, I recall the furnace experience of Daniel’s three friends and I am encouraged. Remember they were bound up and thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter than normal to assure their destruction. But when King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, he got a surprise –

” ‘Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, O king.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’ ” (Daniel 3:24-25)

A furnace is not a place I would choose to take a walk, but the three men were “unbound and unharmed – walking around in the fire” – because God was there with them, the fourth One in the fire. As long as I’m walking with God, I can walk with courage. Although, climbing mountains does seem a bit daunting, to put it mildly. Not so with God.

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:19)

Walking on water, walking through dark, dangerous valleys, walking in fiery furnaces or walking up steep mountains – I never know where walking with God will take me, but I do know He will be with me every step of the way – and that is enough, more than enough actually. I have these marching (walking) orders for 2025 –

“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Sometimes I walk with friends, sometimes by myself – but never alone. God’s right hand always holds me fast. That’s His promise. When I fear that I am losing my way, I am reminded that –

“I am to walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7)

My life is a walk of faith from start to finish. Currently I am continuing on said walkabout knowing this to be true –

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

walking with you, dear readers, into God’s new year – today I walked not on water, but into the wind and the cold – tomorrow? who knows? (well, actually God knows) I have the promise of His Presence, the assurance that I will walk without fainting, the knowledge that God will direct the paths that I walk – that’s enough for today – enough for me to put one foot in front of the other – I don’t need to see the end – I walk by faith today, tomorrow and every day. To that end I will –

“Trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways I will acknowledge Him, and He will direct my paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

sincerely, Grace Day

the joy of left hand/right hand living

Posted on by Grace Day

“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3-4)

Have you ever wanted to be a secret agent or an undercover spy? Both have appeal as it seems that those who do this must lead glamorous, exciting, adventurous, daring and even dangerous lives with never a dull moment. Well, I have discovered something just as exhilarating and fulfilling as being a secret agent or a spy. It is being a “left hand/right hand” liver of life. This means being an invisible do-gooder. In other words, all good deeds must be done on the “down-low” as we say here, where I live and work.

Living the “left hand/right hand” life is kind of like being a Secret Santa all year long, except without the big reveal at the end. In Secret Santa exchanges, the participants draw names, do something nice secretly for the person whose name they pick, then reveal their identity at the conclusion of the allotted time they were given in which to accomplish their good deed or gift giving on the down low. In the left hand/right hand life, there is no big reveal. That would defeat the whole purpose of doing good deeds in secret. A big reveal would blow my cover, and no secret agent or spy can continue to do their job effectively once their identity is made public and they are known to all. Anonymity is what allows the secret agent or spy to do their job successfully. Similarly, anonymity is essential if I am to live the left hand/right hand life with any degree of success and joy.

Now Jesus says in Matthew, that God, who sees what I do in secret, will reward me for my good deeds done on the down-low. I have no doubt that this is true, but I feel like I’ve already been amply rewarded way out of proportion to any small thing I did. (or did not do as I can neither confirm nor deny anything) Just doing something kind or helpful out of the public eye, with no expectation of thanks or reward, brings me such a rush of joy and satisfaction, which is a reward far greater than any gift or good deed I could ever give or do, it seems to me.

The life of a left hand/right hand undercover do-gooder is filled with intrigue, stealth, planning and execution that requires much skill and perfect timing, in order to carry out one’s mission correctly without getting caught. A left hand/right hand operative must be constantly vigilant, eyes always looking out for anyone who might be the next recipient (in the spy world referred to as the target or the mark) of one’s next top secret, undercover operation.

A left hand/right hand liver of life must be always aware of their surroundings, must engage with those in their spheres of influence, must listen well, have empathy and concern for their targets or marks, be creative in their good deed doing, be able to operate invisibly below the radar and be able to keep a secret – namely the secret of what they have done. Satisfaction is complete only when the mission is accomplished and secrecy has been maintained. Any breach of anonymity compromises the mission and nullifies the reward. How do I know this to be true? Jesus’s instructions are clear –

“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)

Well, that is definitely clear. I can have a temporary reward here, now, or I can receive an eternal reward in heaven later. Jesus gave these directions to His disciples and to you and to me –

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:2)

Announcing what I am doing, is the exact opposite of the undercover life that is the goal of every dedicated left hand/right hand liver. Secrecy and anonymity are the keys to living the left hand/right hand life successfully, and they must be maintained at all times. No trumpets, no big reveals. This is true for my prayer life as well, which makes sense because prayer is the foundation of the left hand/right hand life. Jesus’s instructions regarding prayer are also clear –

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6)

Well, that’s it, dear readers. I have to go now. I have some door closing to do. And then some undercover ops . . . And now I have said too much! (if I said anymore, I would have to kill you) don’t take that personally, that’s just undercover secret agent talk – code for “I can’t let my left hand know what my right hand is doing.” And if I can’t even do that, I surely can’t let you know what I’m up to, now can I? Invisibility and anonymity are my secret weapons and my superpowers – actually they are the weapons/powers of all “left hand/right hand” livers. God gives us those abilities when we’re working for Him.

And in a super cool, ironic twist – although I operate on mission invisibly and anonymously, I am never, ever invisible nor anonymous to my Heavenly Father. He always “knows the way that I take”, He knows every hair on my head, He knows me by name.

“And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:30-31)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)

The left hand/right hand life is a life of joy, excitement and fulfillment. It is deeply satisfying. Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to be one of Your secret agents. I am ready for my next assignment. And I promise to keep it to myself.

sincerely, Grace Day

pursuing peace

Posted on by Grace Day

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, . . . It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:1-3)

Peace seems to be more elusive than ever these days. Peace is highly sought after but hard to find. It is definitely desirable, so much so that I am told in Hebrews –

“Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

and Romans gives me further instructions about how I can pursue the peace that I long to experience –

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath,” (Romans 12:18-19)

Peace – what everyone wants, yet what no one seems to possess. Anxiety is at an all-time high, while peace seems only an elusive dream. Jesus said –

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9)

Jesus also told His disciples –

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” in Isaiah. The peace Jesus brings to me and to you, dear readers, is not what the world offers, if indeed the world offers anything at all that remotely resembles peace? I don’t think so. The world may define peace as simply the absence of conflict, in which case peace would be impossible to find or to experience for any length of time at all. Currently, conflict seems to be the norm in our lives on every level, from interpersonal to international.

How I long for a respite from the chaos of conflict! I’m guessing you do, too? I know I crave peace, if only for a moment, in this continually contentious world. Maybe that’s why I like this promise from God’s word so much –

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” (Isaiah 26:3)

God’s peace will keep me when I look to Him instead of expecting the culture to give me what it does not possess and so cannot give. And there’s another benefit to the peace God gives – it is a protective peace. In Philippians I am told –

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present my requests to God.”

the result of my doing this?

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

God’s peace is a peace the world cannot understand because His peace does not depend on my circumstances which continually change like the wind blowing first one way, then another. God’s peace is a gift that keeps me – it protects me, just as His word promises it will. It guards both my heart and mind. God’s peace keeps watch over both my emotions and my thoughts. God’s peace brings me rest and calm in the middle of my storms.

It’s like Peter walking across the stormy sea to Jesus. As long as Peter was focused on and looking at Jesus, he had no problem walking on the water. But when Peter turned his gaze from Jesus to his circumstances (the wind whipped water all around him) his emotions (fear) and his thoughts (now anxious and doubting) replaced the peace and hope and courage, he had momentarily experienced during the storm when his attention was solely fixed on Jesus.

Having received God’s gift of peace, I want to practice peace in my daily life. I will actively pursue peace. In fact, this is a command found in Psalms –

“Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14)

To this end, I will keep my mind “stayed upon Him” and “with thanksgiving make my requests to Him” – knowing He has promised it is His peace that will guard me if I do these things. As I “make every effort to live in peace with all men” I will remember –

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

I will practice peace by watching my words. If I desire peace, I must actively pursue it and practice it “as far as it depends on me.”

“Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

sincerely, Grace Day

a solitary sentry

Posted on by Grace Day

“Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street.” (Lamentations 2:19)

When my children were young, these words seemed ever before me as a constant imperative. Actually, as I write this I am convicted and reminded that this kind of prayer is a necessity no matter the age of my children. Have I grown weary in the carrying out of my sentry duties? Now these words come to mind –

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9)

I am definitely feeling weary and discouraged, but I don’t want these feelings to cause me to abandon my post, to forsake my sacred calling as a sentry. Like Habakkuk –

“I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.” (Habakkuk 2:1)

A sentry is defined as “a guard or watchman whose job is to stand and keep watch to protect a place.” So I am to do two things as a sentry – stand and keep watch. Both of these actions, standing and watching, are more challenging than you might initially think. Both require much perseverance and endurance. In 1 Corinthians I am given these instructions –

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men (women) of courage; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

In Ephesians I am instructed with these words –

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then . . . And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:13 & 18)

Standing and praying, waiting and watching, guarding and protecting – the work of a sentry is the carrying out of a sacred assignment. In Matthew I read this –

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” (Matthew 24:42-44)

“Stand firm,” “keep watch,” “always keep on praying,” – this is my assignment as a sentry. I am waiting and watching always, ever vigilant at my post. Shepherds were the sentries of their day. They would stand at their posts, watching, guarding, protecting their sheep continuously. If they left their post at any time, a predator, such as a mountain lion, could enter in to steal, kill and destroy the sheep under their care.

Shepherds kept watch during the long nights in order to guard what God had entrusted to them from any enemy attack. They were solitary sentries, alone at their post, although there were other solitary sentries watching over other flocks on other hillsides. But the work of a sentry is done in solitude.

Today I am a solitary sentry – standing firm, watching expectantly, praying fervently – waiting for my Lord’s return. Shepherds, being the sentries of their day, were witness to the announcement of Jesus’s first appearance.

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’ ” (Luke 2:8-12)

This monumental announcement came to the sentries, those at their posts, waiting and watching faithfully, through many years of long, cold, dark nights. The reward of these faithful sentries?

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests.’ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ ” (Luke 2:13-15)

Did you catch that? “When the angels had left them and gone into heaven”, meaning angels came to them, delivered miraculous, wonderful news to them personally. And not just a few angels either. The text says, “a great company of the heavenly host (aka angels) appeared.” They appeared to the sentries, those who were at their posts – standing, watching, waiting – just as they had done through the watches of many a night before this particular night when the heavens opened, filled with light, angels and music.

A praying sentry watches out for the bad, waits with hope for the promised good, believes that like the shepherds, they will eventually behold the beautiful if they stand firm at their post, praying without ceasing. This is my assignment, perhaps yours, too, dear readers? Actually, we each are needed at our post of prayer and watchfulness. It is a solitary calling, each one of us at our particular post on the wall, crying out to God, standing, watching, waiting. The sentry is the first to spot danger and sound the alarm, the first to receive good news and make it known.

This is an exciting time to be a sentry. We are waiting on Jesus’s return to earth, even though we do not know the day nor the hour. Which should make us all the more vigilant as sentries. My assignment as a sentry is described by Isaiah in this way –

“I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6-7)

I am a weary, lonely sentry in a dark world full of deaf ears BUT the One who keeps watch over me, the One who knows when a sparrow falls, is the perfect sentry over all creation, a sentry who never slumbers nor sleeps. He will enable me to stand firm at my post as I call out to Him day and night –

“Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, let Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10)

Come Lord Jesus, come quickly!

sincerely, Grace Day

every breath a prayer

Posted on by Grace Day

“Pray without ceasing” – “pray continually” – “never stop praying” – these are all translations of 1 Thessalonians 5:17 from the KJV, the NIV, and the NLT respectively. But no matter the translation, the message is clear. Prayer is meant to be more than just something on my “to-do” list that I give twenty minutes out of my day, then check it off my list without another thought. Prayer is meant to be a twenty-four/seven life-line – a line that is always open, a line continually in use. I am given this instruction in Ephesians –

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)

Does prayer seem elusive or futile or too difficult for us mere mortals to even attempt? I am told in Hebrews that I can –

“approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive mercy and find grace to help me in my time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

That is pretty much an open invitation to talk to my Heavenly Father any time I want without the fear that I will be turned away or denied access to an audience with my Creator. Esther, who wanted to speak with the king, her own husband, risked being put to death for simply asking permission to come into his presence, if the king didn’t feel like seeing her at that particular time. Unlike Esther, I have all the assurance I need to encourage me to come boldly into God’s presence through prayer. I have God’s promise that I will be received, that I will be heard, I will be given mercy, and I will find His grace sufficient for my need. In fact, I have this open invitation –

“Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

When I “vent” to friends I worry that I may be overloading them with my burdens when they already have more than enough troubles of their own. With God, I need not have this fear because nothing is too hard for God, nothing surprises Him – He already knows my hurts, my fears, my worries. God knows what challenges I am facing and what I need in order to live this day in a way that honors Him.

“Before a word is on my tongue, You know it completely, O Lord.” (Psalm 139:4)

However, I don’t want to take advantage of my Heavenly Father’s offer to “cast all my cares on Him” – prayer is meant to be more than just a complaint session, although God is more than able to handle anything and everything I bring to Him in prayer. I am told to praise God and to thank Him. After all, He is worthy of my praise and my gratitude because –

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17) The psalmist reminds us –

“Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy.” (Psalm 107:21-22)

Just thanking God and praising Him would take up more time than there is in a day – there is not enough time for me to properly praise and truly thank Him for who He is and all that He has done and is doing. I guess that’s why we need eternity. Praising and thanking an infinitely good God takes more time than I have now! And that’s with praying twenty-four/seven.

But the privilege of prayer extends to something more – more than requests and complaints, more than confession and repentance, more than praise and thanksgiving – I am also given the privilege of praying for others. I can pray the prayers of an intercessor. In fact, I am charged with doing this –

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

and I am to “always keep on praying for all the saints.” But there’s more. Not only am I to pray for kings and leaders and other believers (the saints) BUT – here’s a surprise –

“I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

Luke 6:28 tells me to – “pray for those who mistreat you.”

As if my list of things and people to pray about and for isn’t long enough already, now I have to add people who are mean to me to my list? This hardly seems fair. But then I remember that Jesus is praying for me, making intercession for me, continuously, never missing a moment, no matter whether I am acting rightly or wrongly towards Him and towards other people. Jesus prays for me when I am His friend. He prays for me when I am His enemy.

Jesus gave me the ultimate example of praying for my enemies when He spoke these words from the cross –

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

Jesus is still praying for each and every one today, including you and me. Hebrews confirms this saying,

“because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:24-25)

Romans confirms this saying – “Jesus Christ . . . is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34)

Jesus is interceding for me, and I am given the privilege of interceding for others, even my enemies, through prayer. Between that and “casting all my cares” or giving all my worries to God through prayer and praising Him and thanking Him and worshiping Him through prayer – I can literally spend my days in prayer to God.

I want to spend my days in my Heavenly Father’s presence and it is prayer that ushers me into His presence. Prayer is the reason I enter boldly into God’s throne room. Prayer is what keeps me there. As the song says – “I need thee every hour.”

As the psalmist says – “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” (Psalm 150:6)

as for me – may my every breath be a prayer to God – whether prayers of praise, prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of petition, prayers of confession, cries of complaint and lament, cries of repentance, cries for help, or prayers of intercession for my friends and my foes alike –

let my every breath be a prayer!

sincerely, Grace Day

I’m no Jabez

Posted on by Grace Day

Twenty some years ago, a book entitled, “The Prayer of Jabez” became very popular with people everywhere, no matter their particular religious affiliation. This book made the name of Jabez a household name, even though prior to the book being published, I have to wonder how many people were familiar with the name of Jabez or knew anything about him? I can’t say that I did. I certainly didn’t remember Jabez from any childhood Bible stories.

As it turns out, there was probably a good reason for my lack of knowledge about Jabez. He is only mentioned in three Bible verses total, those being 1 Chronicles 2:55 and 1 Chronicles 4:9&10. So why the modern day obsession with Jabez and his prayer? I turned to 1 Chronicles to read his prayer for myself in an effort to belatedly discover what all the fuss has been about in recent years. I read this –

“Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, ‘I gave birth to him in pain.’ Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that You would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)

That’s it. That’s all we know. Jabez is never mentioned again in the Bible. So I assume since “God granted his request” that Jabez did indeed enjoy an enlarged territory and that he was protected by God’s hand and lived pain free. Doesn’t sound like my life or the life of anyone else I currently know. I feel like these words of Jesus to His disciples more accurately describe life today for me and for those around me.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

So why don’t I just pray the prayer of Jabez? It certainly worked for him. Well, I just can’t bring myself to do it – especially the “enlarge my territory!” part. Maybe it’s because I’m mindful of these words in Luke –

“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much; and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” (Luke 16:10)

So I have to ask myself, am I currently faithfully using all that God has already given me, be it my money, my talents and abilities or my time in God’s service? And if not, meaning if my money, abilities and time are not fully surrendered to God now for His purposes and for His glory, why would I ask for more? In other words, if I’m not being a good steward of what God has already given me, why would I ask Him for more of anything?

Now it did say that “Jabez was more honorable than his brothers.” Perhaps this description tells us that Jabez had indeed fully surrendered all of his territory to God and therefore he was ready for and desiring of more territory, which he would also dedicate to God, to be used for God’s purposes, not his own. God must have trusted Jabez to be faithful with more as Jabez had shown himself faithful with what God had already given him, because we are told – “God granted his (Jabez’s) request.”

Why don’t I pray Jabez’s prayer? Because I’m no Jabez. If I am honest, I would admit God has given me much, certainly more than I deserve, because of His great mercy. But I don’t think “my territory” – and all that is within it, my time, abilities, finances, my heart, mind, soul and strength are fully surrendered to God twenty-four/seven. Until I learn to fully and completely surrender all that I already have, there is no reason for me to ask God for more.

I can stop looking around at what other people have and thinking that I should have that, too. I don’t want to waste time petitioning God for something more or for something other than, something different than He’s already given me. When I’m focused on what I don’t have or on what I think I should have, I ignore or I forget what God has already given me. I neglect to use, to steward and to be grateful for all that God has already placed within my territory. I fail to do what God has put right in front of me to do for Him today. I don’t need a larger territory. I need to take better care of the territory God has already given me to steward for Him. I’m no Jabez.

Then there’s Jabez’s other request – that he would be kept from harm and live “free from pain.” Even Jesus didn’t get a pass from pain while He was living here on Earth. And Jesus did ask God for that pass, so I guess it’s okay for you and I to ask also. Jesus asked this of God when He prayed in Gethsemane saying –

“Abba, Father, everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36)

Jesus was asking God to take the pain of His upcoming crucifixion away from Him. Yet even as He did this, Jesus simultaneously surrendered His will to God’s will for Him. I think I would do better to pray as Jesus prayed in this regard, rather than Jabez. Although who wouldn’t want to live life pain free? However, Peter does say this about pain –

“But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13)

And James says this –

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-3)

Then I read in Corinthians this –

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Peter also says this about the pain you and I experience in this life –

“though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:6-7)

So my pain will actually result in “praise, glory and honor” to Jesus when He is revealed! And in Romans I find another positive outcome of the pain I endure now –

“Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” (Romans 8:17)

The privilege of sharing in Christ’s glory – that requires sharing first in His suffering. There are things that a pain free life cannot teach me. A pain free life will not conform me to the image of Christ, nor strengthen my faith, nor give me empathy, perseverance, courage or trust. The apostle, Paul, did not get a pain free life, but had his “thorn” which God did not take away from him, even when Paul asked God to remove this painful thorn. Paul understood pain and wrote these words in his letter to the church at Philippi –

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for Him,” (Philippians 1:29) and –

“I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10-11)

Sharing in Christ’s sufferings will not be a pain free life BUT – quite the opposite. After all, Jesus told His disciples –

“If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also.” (John 15:20)

I will pray with King David –

“grand me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” rather than pray with Jabez that I might be exempt from all pain.

After all, I’m no Jabez. I will experience life’s pain along with its God given joys.

I’m no Jabez. I don’t need and I would be foolish to ask for, a larger territory. I still need to learn how to faithfully steward the territory God has already entrusted to me, lest that, too, be taken from me. My prayer?

Lord, shrink my territory and bring on the pain. After all, I’m no Jabez.

Lord, help me to faithfully care for the territory You have given me. Thank You for Your abiding Presence with me always. May I know Your comfort in my pain, Your peace in uncertain circumstances, Your light in this world’s darkness, Your mercy in my mistakes, Your hope in my despair, Your strength in my weakness, Your wisdom in my foolishness, Your truth in a world of deception, Your provision in my want, Your protection when evil and enemies surround me, Your voice in the stillness and in the clamor – may I know – You.

sincerely, Grace Day

the gift of an unexpected encounter

Posted on by Grace Day

That’s what I had this morning on my solitary prayer walk – an unexpected encounter of the best kind. I say this because there are “unexpected encounters” that do not make our day better, but instead make our day more difficult or more painful than it otherwise would have been without the encounter. However, this was not one of those encounters that brings one down, leaving you discouraged or even distraught. No, this encounter was pure joy, just the encouragement I needed on this ordinary day, this mundane morning, to lift my soul in thanks to God for His unexpected gift of this encounter.

You see, I was walking weary – not weary of body but weary of spirit. I was weary in prayer because the needs are so numerous and the burdens so heavy – alone it is easy to feel overwhelmed. This in spite of the fact that I know “nothing is too hard for God.” I was feeling weak until our paths crossed (literally) and everything changed. Now full disclosure, our paths had crossed once before just recently, where I had acknowledged to her that I wasn’t talking to myself as I walked, but to God. I guess I felt the need to explain my odd behavior to a stranger so I wouldn’t be thought weird.

To my surprise, I received complete understanding instead of a bewildered or a judgmental response. Turns out, she’s a prayer walker too! So, no explanation needed. Which brings me to this morning, when our paths crossed again and she remembered my name! We talked briefly. She shared a prayer request which gave me the courage to share a prayer burden of mine, so close to my heart that it is too painful to share with others, so I don’t. But I shared it with her this morning. My load was lightened. My burden wasn’t gone, but it was borne by another besides myself. Reminded me of this instruction from Galatians –

“Bear one another’s burdens; and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

I walked on feeling lighter, while thanking God for this good gift, this unexpected encounter. As I continued walking and talking (which is to say praying) I was reminded of something that happened to Moses that seems relevant to me today. The story is told in Exodus about Joshua and the Israelites fighting the Amalekites. It happened like this –

“The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, ‘Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands.’ So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up – one on one side, one on the other – so that his hands remained steady till sunset. So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.” (Exodus 17:8-13)

Moses was weak, he grew tired from having to keep his hands raised while the battle went on below him. But Moses wasn’t alone. Aaron and Hur were with him. They lifted him up. They fought the battle with him. That’s how it is with prayer. We lift each other up to God in prayer. When the enemy seems to be winning and I feel too defeated, too tired, too weak to pray, I am sustained by the knowledge that others are praying for me until I can again take my place on the wall and cry out to God.

This I do gladly for others, praying for those weak and wounded souls who are too weary to pray for themselves, feeling far from God until they come to know just how near He really is. This morning, I felt my faith strengthened, knowing someone else was praying with me for a specific, impossible mountain to be moved. I think this is something the enemy of our souls fears – us bearing each other’s burdens in prayer. Probably because he knows our faith, even if only a mustard seed amount, moves mountains and he knows –

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)

We all have mountains in our lives that need moving. It is prayer that will move them. What a privilege to pray with others for their mountains to move even as they pray with me for the moving of my mountains. When I pray with and for others, I am essentially holding up their hands to God, when like Moses, they have become too weary to raise their hands themselves. And I am grateful for all the times others come alongside me in prayer, holding up my hands when I am too tired to continue holding them up to God myself. I am told to –

“pray continually” and “always keep on praying for all the saints.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 & Ephesians 6:18)

I thank God for my unexpected encounter today, encouraging me in my prayer walk to keep on praying, never giving up, knowing that someone else is praying too. Together we are calling down the kingdom as we pray individually and collectively –

“Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Today, I encountered a stranger and found a sister! (we even share a favorite movie, “War Room”) Thank You, Heavenly Father!

sincerely, Grace Day