Week 18 - Day 3

2 Kings 19-21; Psalm 98

*Click here to read these passages:

2 Kings 19-21 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 98 YouVersion(NIV)

Hezekiah’s Prayer ~

I love what we can learn from Hezekiah’s prayer in 2 Kings 19.  He had just received a letter with bad news – a threat against his kingdom and an insult against his God.  It says he took the letter to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 

~No matter what we’re handed, lay it all out before the Lord.  It should be the first place we go.

Even though Hezekiah was probably scared and confused, he prays, “You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth.”

~Begin with praise, acknowledging God as the one in control; the one we trust even when things surrounding us don’t make sense.

Hezekiah knows that God hears and sees all, yet he prays, “Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see.”

~Ask God to take action.  The amazing thing about prayer – God wants us to ask!  He can make anything happen whenever He wants, but He wants us to seek Him out, to depend on Him to see our needs and take action.

“O Lord our God, deliver us, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God.”  Hezekiah is concerned for himself and his kingdom so he prays for deliverance, but he also prays for God to receive the fame and glory so that all would know He was God.

~I know that most of the time my prayers are too selfish.  My problems, my desires, my sins and issues I need help overcoming…and, of course God cares about those things…but do I pray the same way for my city, for the Church, for our country, for the nations?   Am I just wanting a fix to a problem, or am I wanting God to be glorified so that all will know that He alone is God?

Week 18 - Day 2

2 Kings 16-18; Psalm 97

*Click here to read these passages:

2 Kings 16-18 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 97 YouVersion(NIV)

As it often happens, one phrase jumped off the page for me today: “They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.” (2 Kings 17:15)

There are a million things in this world we can seek.  Our idols can be money, fame, approval from others, career success, etc, etc ~ But apart from God everything is worthless.  God gives me worth.  The stubborn-headed Israelites didn’t get it.  God wanted to give them worth.  He wanted their lives to mean something.  But instead, “they followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.”

I came across this passage from the New Testament out of the Message translation that really spoke to me about this:

“Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.  It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in.  He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know.  He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb.  And this was no afterthought.  Even though it has only lately -at the end of the ages- become public knowledge, God always knew He was going to do this for you.  It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.” (1 Peter 1:18)

I love the part – “this was no afterthought….God always knew He was going to do this for you.”  No dead-end worthless life for me; He’s given me life and a future.  He saw me as someone worth dying for.  

Week 18 - Day 1

2 Kings 14-15; Psalm 96

*Click here to read these passages:

2 Kings 14-15 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 96 YouVersion(NIV)

All the names of kings can get a little mind boggling, but basically we see that all of the kings of Israel (the northern kingdom) have done evil in the eyes of the Lord.  There have been a few kings of Judah (the southern kingdom; also the line of king David) that have done what is right in the eyes of the Lord.

With each mention of these kings that did right in the eyes of the Lord there seems to be a pattern.  The Bible says, “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.  The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.”

‘The high places’ are mentioned in the Old Testament over a hundred times.  They were places set up for worship to pagan gods.  Even the kings who did right in the eyes of the Lord who destroyed Baal temples and restored God’s temple, would not destroy these high places.  Why?  Did they just view them casually assuming it wasn’t that big of a deal?  Were they afraid to for some reason?  It was obviously important to God but was not important to them.

What are the ‘high places’ in our lives and in our culture that need to be destroyed but we keep letting them stand?  Why do we let them stay standing?  What is it that is important to God that needs to be more important to us? 

Week 17 - Day 6

2 Kings 11-13; Psalm 95

*Click here to read these passages:

2 Kings 11-13 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 95 YouVersion(NIV)

“For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. 

In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. 

The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.” (Psalm 95:3-5)

Thinking once again about the complexity of God and His character…

He is great – the creator of the universe; all-knowing; all-powerful.

But He is also good – He loves and cares for us as a shepherd and his flock.

Mighty yet merciful…

There is a little prayer that kids say that goes, “God is great; God is good.  Let us thank Him for our food.”  I used to say that little prayer before every single meal growing up.  I even remember once when our family was just sitting down to supper, and I was about to say the prayer when the phone rang.  I jumped up to answer the phone and answered, “God is great; God is good….uh…I mean…hello.”

I probably didn’t really think about the words a whole when I would pray that prayer as a child.  But I wonder, what if I would truly live with those words on the edge of my heart and tip of my tongue?  I think I’d be spending more time in worship of our great God who is so good.

Week 17 - Day 5

2 Kings 9-10; Psalm 94

*Click here to read these passages:

2 Kings 9-10 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 94 YouVersion(NIV)

I had the privilege recently to help with a local production of the musical “Les Miserable.”  Today certain verses in Psalm 94 reminded me of the story of redemption in what has become my favorite musical. 

“The Lord isn’t looking,” they say, “and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.” (vs.7 NLT)

“Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave.  I cried out, ‘I am slipping!’ but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.” (vs.17-18 NLT)

In the opening scene of Les Mis one of the prisoners has the line, “Sweet Jesus hear my prayer,” to which the others around him respond, “Sweet Jesus doesn’t care.”  And then they all have the line, “We’re standing in our grave.”

Jean Valjean, one of those prisoners, gets released but is on strict parole, and since he is labeled a criminal, struggles to find work, food, or shelter.  Until a bishop welcomes him to his home and treats him as a guest.  Valjean steals his silver in the night and flees, but is caught.  The bishop tells the authorities that he gave the silver as a gift; therefore, protecting Valjean from going back to prison. 

Valjean realizes that the bishop has taught him love, has given him his freedom, and given him hope.  He sings these words:

“He told me that I have a soul.  How does he know?

What spirit came to move my life?  Is there another way to go?

I am reaching but I fall.  And the night is closing in. 

As I stare into the void.  To the whirlpool of my sin.

I’ll escape now from that world.  From the world of Jean Valjean.

Jean Valjean is nothing now.  Another story must begin.” 

And he tears the papers that proclaim him a criminal.

I love this story because this is what Jesus does for us.  He shows us love.  He offers us freedom.  He tears the papers.  We’re standing in our grave, asking is there another way to go, and He provides the way.  The old has gone; the new has come.  Another story must begin!  A story where we show that same love and grace to others.  

Click here to watch the scene after Jean Valjean is released from prison from the 2012 movie "Les Miserable" with Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean.  Les Mis clip: Jean Valjean soliloquy 

Week 17 - Day 4

2 Kings 6-8; Psalm 93

*Click here to read these passages:

2 Kings 6-8 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 93 YouVersion(NIV)

Normally when I’m reading the scriptures for the day I read the psalm last, but today, for no apparent reason, I turned to the psalm first.  I stopped after I read the first line, knowing God led me there first today for a reason.  Yet another reminder He knew I needed: “The Lord reigns, He is robed in majesty.”  And then the next verse down, “Your throne was established long ago; You are from all eternity.”

He reigns over all.  He is on the throne.  There is nothing to fear.

Then I turned to 2 Kings 6 and read, ‘Don’t be afraid,’ the prophet answered.  ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’  And Elisha prayed, ‘O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.’  Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

Elisha’s servant was only looking at the trouble that was nearing, but God opened his eyes to see they had an army of God surrounding them far greater than anything that could threaten them. 

Thankful for His voice today speaking to my heart:  Don’t You know I’m in control?  I’m here.  I’m here in greater and bigger ways than you can possibly imagine!  Trust me.

God, open our eyes.  

Week 17 - Day 3

2 Kings 3-5; Psalm 92

*Click here to read these passages:

2 Kings 3-5 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 92 YouVersion(NIV)

“Make this valley full of ditches.  You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water.” (2 Kings 3:16-17)

When the kings sought out Elisha, they wanted God to send a downpour of rain for them.  Instead, God said to dig some ditches.  They didn’t know where the water was going to come from as they were digging, but they made the valley full of ditches, and God brought the water.      

Once before on the blog I posted a session from a Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit called “The Land Between” because it was one that really stuck with me and impacted my life.  I’m posting another one today for that same reason.  This session with Steven Furtick (author of Sun Stand Still) from GLS 2011 was based on 2 Kings 3, and it really challenged me.  I encourage you to put aside about 25 minutes when you can and watch.

Click here to watch: Steven Furtick - "Audacious Faith" (GLS 2011: Session 4)

Week 17 - Day 2

2 Kings 1-2; Psalm 91

*Click here to read these passages:

2 Kings 1-2 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 91 YouVersion(NIV)

“For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 

‘Because he loves me,’ says the Lord, ‘I will rescue him…I will be with him in trouble.’

(Psalm 91:11-15)

This was a reminder I needed today.  I have been feeling somewhat like the one being trampled.  I needed the image of being lifted up over the hazard, and even more than that, being the conqueror over it. 

The Lord says, “I will be with him in trouble;” not that there will be no trouble, but that He will be there in the midst of it.  He loves us so much to command his angels concerning us to lift us up and to protect us. 

Thank you Lord for lifting my spirit and strengthening my soul.  Thank you for your love.  Thank you that when I call you answer.      

Week 17 - Day 1

1 Kings 20-22

*Click here to read these passages:

1 Kings 20-22 YouVersion(NIV)

“Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

Two different times God tells Ahab (considered one of the most evil kings) that He will give him victory in battle so that Ahab would know that He was God.  Then God also showed a little mercy when it says Ahab humbled himself before the Lord. 

Even though Ahab was an evil king who disrespected God’s commands, God wanted him to understand that the Lord is the one true God.  He wanted Ahab to experience His power and His truth, and of course, God wanted Ahab to choose to follow Him.  Unfortunately, Ahab did not choose that. 

This made me think of the apostle Paul in the New Testament; or I should probably say Saul – before the change of name and heart.  Saul was one of the number one guys when it came to persecuting the followers of Jesus.  God revealed His power and His truth.  Paul did choose to follow, and soon became one of the number one guys in building the Christian church.

Praying for God’s power and truth to be revealed as well as His desire for relationship. 

Readers’ Reflections: A Guest Post from Brittney Gomez

 In response to 1Kings 11:

As a fairly new parent, I constantly think about how I’m parenting my child and how I’m going to face situations with him in the future.  There are a lot of traps the world makes it easy to fall into, and I’m already praying for him to seek God and resist falling for what the world says.  However, thoughts do cross my mind about how I’m going to handle certain situations with my son if/when they arise.

This week’s study through 1 Kings has been the journey of David’s son, Solomon, taking the throne, building the temple and his palace, and ultimately turning his back on God and worshipping the pagan gods of his many wives.  I’m sure had David been alive, he would have been incredibly disappointed to see Solomon make this mistake.  Of course he still would have loved him, but it’s hard to watch your child do something that you know isn’t what’s best for them.

Over the course of the Old Testament, the Israelites turned from God over and over and over again, but God never gave them His back.  He got angry, disappointed and frustrated, but His unfailing love triumphed.  How often do I go a different way than what God wants for me?  Yet God’s love for me stays the same, just as it did with the Israelites.  The week I’m so thankful for that unchanging, unfailing love that God shows us, and I pray that I can show even a portion of the same to my son.

Praise the Lord that His love never fails!  It never gives up on me!

**To share your own thoughts and reflections email me at ejmushlock@gmail.com**

Week 16 - Day 6

1 Kings 17-19; Psalm 90

*Click here to read these passages:

1 Kings 17-19 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 90 YouVersion(NIV)

Wow…so many incredible things packed within these three chapters of 1 Kings!

~God’s provision – Even when it may seem all hope is lost and what you need is impossible, God provides.

Elijah’s life was in danger because he was a prophet of God, and King Ahab and Queen Jezebel wanted him killed.  God told him where to go hide so he would be safe, and God provided food and water for him.  God said, “I have ordered the ravens to feed you,” so the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and at night. 

God then sends Elijah to a poor widow’s home who does not even have enough food for her and her son to survive.  The woman trusts God and the man of God, Elijah, enough to sacrifice some of her precious food.  God promised that the jar of flour would not be used up and the jug of oil would not run dry.  “So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

~God’s power – God doesn’t just show up; He dominates. 

“If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”  Elijah puts God’s power on display and reveals the lie they believe in their false god, Baal.  The wood on Elijah’s altar was doused with 12 large jars of water.  Fire from heaven burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the soil, and even licked up the water in the trench.

~God’s compassion – Even the greatest men and women of God get depressed.  God understands, He cares, and He offers what we need to get us back on our feet.

The same Elijah who had just stood up boldly in front of hundreds of false prophets and proclaimed the truth of the Lord, was afraid, discouraged, and overwhelmed to the point he wanted to die.  God patiently and gently strengthens Elijah by giving him warm bread to eat and water to drink along with the reassurance that he is not alone. 

~God’s presence – Elijah who had seen God’s great power, experiences God’s gentle whisper.

The Lord was not in the wind, or the earthquake, or the fire, but He came in a gentle whisper and gave Elijah the directions he needed.

I recommend reading the book by Bill Hybels, The Power of a Whisper.  Hybels says, “If you are waiting for some cosmic act of transcendent power, lower the ambient noise of your life and start listening for His still small voice.  Listen.  God still offers gentle invitations into relationships, gentle words of wisdom, gentle warnings; but the question is, will we listen?  Will we respond?”

Week 16 - Day 5

1 Kings 15-16; Psalm 89

*Click here to read these passages:

1 Kings 15-16 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 89 YouVersion(NIV)

King after king are listed as doing evil in the eyes of the Lord both in Israel and Judah…until Asa.  Asa is the third king of Judah.  Rehoboam and Abijah before him did not follow God’s commands and led people in idol worship.  Asa had grown up in a world of war and idol worship, but somehow in spite of his surroundings, He chose to follow the one true God.

According to “A Lineup of Rulers” in The Student Bible:

“Asa and his son Jehoshaphat were the only kings mentioned in 1 Kings who did ‘what was right in the eyes of the Lord.’  Asa began religious reforms that turned into a kind of wildfire revival.  He drove heathen cults out of the land-even removing his own grandmother as queen mother because of her idolatry.  Asa also welcomed to Judah many refugees from Israel.”

It says in 2 Chronicles 15 about Asa, that large numbers had come over to him from Israel when they saw that the Lord his God was with him.  “They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.  They took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns.  All Judah rejoiced about the oath because they had sworn it wholeheartedly.  They sought God eagerly, and he was found by them.” (2 Chronicles 15:12, 14-15)

A couple things I learned from Asa: 

~No matter who you are, where you are from, or what you’ve grown up believing, you can choose God.  He can show up in the least likely places!  Anyone who seeks Him will find Him!  It takes boldness and courage to step away from what you’ve always known.  It takes sacrifice.  But God will show up in amazing ways!

~What a difference one person can make!  “A mass movement never starts with the masses.  It starts with individuals.” –unknown.

Week 16 - Day 4

1 Kings 12-14; Psalm 88

*Click here to read these passages:

1 Kings 12-14 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 88 YouVersion(NIV)

When I’ve read the Old Testament before I remember being a little confused about Israel and Judah.  Here, after Solomon’s death, is when this split happens.  The north call themselves the land of Israel; the south, the land of Judah.  Jeroboam is the King of Israel, Rehoboam the King of Judah, and neither one is following the Lord.  Chapter 12:25-33 describes the multiple ways Jeroboam is going against God’s commands.  Chapter 14:21-28 describes how Rehoboam and Judah “did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”

Throughout this, even through their sin, we see that God still does not give up on them.  In chapter 12 he spoke through Shemaiah, the man of God, to Rehoboam saying, “Do not go up to fight against your brothers, the Israelites.  Go home.”  Then in chapter 13 God sends a man of God to speak against the altar Jeroboam had wrongfully built.   

He is still speaking to them.  He is still sending men of God, prophets, to speak wisdom to these leaders whether they listen or not. 

Today’s revelation about God’s character:  His patience … which of course goes hand in hand with His grace and never-ending love.  As always, I don’t really understand it, but tremendously thankful for it!  

Week 16 - Day 3

1 Kings 10-11; Psalm 87

*Click here to read these passages:

1 Kings 10-11 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 87 YouVersion(NIV)

“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.  Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.”  Ecclesiastes 2:10a, 11 (Solomon’s writing)

“Meaningless!  Meaningless!  Utterly meaningless!  Everything is meaningless." Ecclesiastes 1:2.

God blessed Solomon with great wisdom; people from all over would come seeking his wisdom.  But I guess Solomon didn’t trust in God’s wisdom for the decisions he made in his own life.  He disobeyed God’s command in several areas of his life, one of which was taking so many wives, ultimately pulling him away from God and even into worshiping foreign idols. 

Solomon had everything and anything one could want, but still he felt empty…that everything under the sun was meaningless.  The greatest riches in the world could never compare to a relationship with God.  A life apart from Him is a life without purpose.

Week 16 - Day 2

1 Kings 8-9; Psalm 86

*Click here to read these passages:

1 Kings 8-9 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 86 YouVersion(NIV)

The Ark of the Covenant is brought to the temple and placed in the Most Holy Place.  Then the glory of the Lord fills the temple. 

Solomon recognizes that God couldn’t fully dwell in a building, but that His presence would be there.  He says in verse 27-30:

“But will God really dwell on earth?  The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.  How much less this temple I have built!  Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, O Lord my God.  Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.  May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, this place of which you said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that you will hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place…..and when you hear, forgive.”

“My Name shall be there” … It hit me that when someone becomes a follower of Jesus, instead of a building, He says about that person, “My Name shall be there.”  What an amazing gift!  What an incredible responsibility!  To carry the Name of Jesus!

Week 16 - Day 1

1 Kings 6-7; Psalm 85

*Click here to read these passages:

1 Kings 6-7 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 85 YouVersion(NIV)

Back in 2 Samuel 7, it says that David was settled in his palace and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him.  David says, “Here I am living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.”  He wanted to build the temple then, but God told him that David’s son would be the one to build it. 

Here in 1 Kings 6, it is recorded that Solomon builds the temple.  Then it says that Solomon built his palace.  He spent much more time in the building of his palace than God’s temple; it was also much larger and more elaborate. 

I find it interesting that David was concerned that he was living in a palace when there was a tent for the house of God, whereas Solomon seemed concerned more about his own luxuries.

David wanted to lift God on high; Solomon wanted himself to be lifted high. 

Where do I fall on this?  Am I more concerned about glorifying God or myself?

Lord, may I disappear, and may You shine.

Readers' Reflections: A Guest Post from Rebecca Rohrscheib

 Rebecca posted this on her blog “Randomly Rebecca,” in response to Week 13 – Day 1 (Psalm 69).

“The Bible Trail”

i love how God’s word can take you on a journey sometimes.  much like a rabbit trail, where one thought leads to another.

but unlike the randomness of a conversational rabbit trail, God’s word truly takes you on a journey to the destination that you need to go.

there are times when different situations are going on in my life and i have to stop the “doable” side of me and go right to the Source.  i have to go to God and seek Him.  when that happens, it always seems to take me on a bible trail.  a trail through His Word that leads me to exactly what He has for me.

this happened just this morning for me when i read a post by emily mushlock on her blog “thirsty”.  she shared from psalm 69 where it says the “waters have come up to my neck.”  that passage seemed to give a clear picture of how i’m feeling and the season that i'm in.  i currently feel a bit engulfed in the daily.  that i'm being swallowed up by the waters of life.

but as it always happens, when i seek Him through His word, God’s word took me on a trail that led me to lift up my head and the final destination was worship. 

isaiah 41:10b   “i will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

psalm 3:3   “but You, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”

psalm 123:1a   “i will lift up my eyes to You.”

so, while at the beginning of this day, and this writing i felt under the water, kind of buried in the daily.

in the middle, He lifted my head.

in the end, i worshipped.

and worship is the final destination for today’s journey.

I love how Rebecca took me through the journey that God sent her on through His word, His voice, and His Spirit speaking to her soul.  It is so cool how He does that!  And before you know it when it feels like you’re going to sink, you realize the Rock is right there under your feet!

Week 15 - Day 6

1 Kings 3-5; Psalm 84

*Click here to read these passages:

1 Kings 3-5 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 84 YouVersion(NIV)

“Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.”  (Psalm 84:10)

I was challenged again recently to think about what my life would be like if I didn’t know Jesus.  (I’ve actually written about that on here before – check out Week 5 –Day 5.)  And just as it says in the psalm today, I can truly say, being in His presence is better than anything else.  When I think about what my life would be like without Him, first of all, I praise the Lord for what He’s done in my life.  But it also brings to mind pictures of people I know who do not know Him.

Someone very dear to me told me they didn’t believe God could hear their prayers or could do anything to help them.  It broke my heart.  I can’t imagine how lonely that must make them feel…how hopeless.  After we talked and I was alone, I just started crying because I wanted so badly for them to know Him and to be able to feel His presence.  The verse from yesterday came back – O God, do not keep silent!  Speak to them right now!  Let them know You are there, You are real, You hear them, You love them!

Then I realized how long it had been since I cried over someone not knowing the Lord.  And other names and faces started popping up on my heart.  Why hadn’t I prayed like that for them?  It should break my heart.  I should be crying out to the Lord on their behalf…and bringing others into His courts.   

Week 15 - Day 5

1 Kings 1-2; Psalm 83

*Click here to read these passages:

1 Kings 1-2 YouVersion(NIV)

Psalm 83 YouVersion(NIV)

I love how God shows up when I read the Bible.  I love how I can read a certain passage at one time and have a specific part really move me, and then I can read that same passage another day and get something else from it.  God knows what I need to be hearing from Him and what I need to be learning from Him.

Today one verse shined on the page while everything else kind of faded in the background.  The first verse of Psalm 83:

                  “O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still.”

This is a psalm of Asaph, and I know that it meant something somewhat different to Asaph than what it meant to me today… but still God used it to remind me of something I needed to be reminded of.  I think that is pretty cool…and I guess why the Bible is called the living word of God!

God reminded me that I need to be sacrificing some time asking Him to move some mountains.  There are things I need to ask God to not keep silent about, to not be still, but to move in mighty ways.  Things in my own life and in my family, in our city, in our country, and in the nations…. “O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still.”  

Week 15 - Day 4

2 Samuel 22-24

*Click here to read this passage:

2 Samuel 22-24 YouVersion(NIV)

As I was reading David's song in chapter 22 today a picture came to my mind like a scene in a movie.  I’m sure you know the scene…the part where the main character or characters end up falling into some quicksand.  Or instead of quicksand, a living vine starts to wrap around their feet, legs, and arms, and suddenly they can’t move.  They are completely stuck; trapped without hope. 

This is what I imagined when I read David’s words: “The waves of death swirled about me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.  The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.”

But then my favorite verse: “He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.”

A good friend of mine who is also one of the worship leaders at my church wrote a song based on this scripture.  Taking time today to remember how he drew me out of the deep and made a way…

Made a Way – Lindy Weatherly  

Listen here: "Made a Way" on Soundcloud

You drew me out of the deep,

Reached down from on high, took hold of me.

You rescued me from my past,

Turned darkness to light, and made a way.

You gave me a new name,

Cleansed me within, marked me with grace

I have a hope that is true;

My heart is renewed.  You made a way.

You are the way, the truth, the life

You are my shield, my shelter, Savior Lord

You are the truth, the light, the path

You are my strength, my rock, my fortress

You are holy, holy

Who was and is to come

You are worthy, worthy

My Lord and My God, you are good.