- Details
- Written by: Don Goulding
Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they can see my glory that you gave me because you loved me before the creation of the world. (John 17:24)
For years I heard Venice, Italy was the most romantic city in the world. Friends spewed about the gondolas, cathedrals, and blah, blah, blah. Their descriptions and pictures bored me.
Then one year we visited the famous “City of Light” for ourselves. Only when I floated on the canals, heard orchestral music bounce from the walls of an ancient church, and watched fireworks drape golden sparks over St. Mark’s Square did I realize how understated the descriptions had been.
Like my difficulty with Venice, I have a tough time gaining a full appreciation for all that Jesus is. The reason I live with doubt, fear, and conflict is because I underestimate the scope of his majesty. If I truly grasped his sufficiency to absolve sin, I wouldn’t worry about how others judge me. If I would fully see the glory God gave to Jesus after his trials, I would rest in what God is doing through my own trials.
Jesus existed before there was time. He currently holds everything together. He is Immanuel (God with us), and I Am (the name God gave himself), and Jesus (which means God saves). He is the Righteous Judge all men are destined to face, the Word of God, and the light in paradise.
But these encyclopedic facts on their own don’t make their way into my core. Only when I clutch his hand over the stony paths of life do I begin to grasp the breadth of Jesus. Faith is best lived experientially, not studied in others. And so it is in the press of today’s desperation that the facts about Jesus’s majesty will solidify in my heart.
Prayer: All glorious Jesus, may I know you firsthand in my present challenges.
- Details
- Written by: Don Goulding
His left arm is under my head, and his right arm embraces me. (Song of Solomon 2:6) (NIV)
We were three man-friends trapped in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. A rogue bear had cleaned out our treed food cache. The shortest way out was to cram two days of hiking into one day and climb over a fourteen thousand foot peak. Survival mode kicked in and we plied the stream for fish and combed the meadow for edible roots.
Drawing on our wilderness savvy to overcome a bit of peril bonded us as friends. It was a grand adventure. We emerged from the woods a few pounds lighter, but flush with male victory grunts.
I might act the competent survivalist, but spiritually I’m a fledgling chick fallen from the nest. Demons swoop about my head while my own flesh threatens to dash my faith on the rocks of sin. I’m defenseless and weak willed, exposed and shaking. So I don’t need a distant God who will only be near when I get to heaven. I need one who can hold me through this howling dark night.
Jesus pulls me into his embrace and tells me to stay low. If I rise to my feet of self-effort, he can’t guarantee protection. His left hand cushions my skull against the hardness of life. His right arm—the symbol of his might and power—is around my waist. It protects me from attacks, and keeps me from bolting.
This is the Savior I need. I’ll never survive the horror of the world if I squirm away. The manly thing to do is to curl under his mighty embrace until the storms are over.
Prayer: Lover of my soul, don’t let go of me.
- Details
- Written by: Don Goulding
Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. Even all the hairs on your head are numbered. So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)
The night was thick with hot air and loud worship music. As the evangelistic festival in Tamil Nadu unwound, three Indian college students pressed through the crowd for prayer.
“The Hindu landlords won’t rent to Christian girls and for months we’ve tried to find a safe place to live.”
The ladies pulled their shawls over their heads and bowed while I lifted a prayer to heaven on their behalf. Swirling into the muggy ether was faith—mostly theirs—and doubt—mostly mine. After I said amen, I could see their fear was gone. They knew Father God would take care of them. Even if nothing more happened, our prayer was already a success.
When Jesus compared us to sparrows he said we’re precious to God. We matter and we’re not ignored. We are encouraged to pray for our needs, then wait on God’s answer. My job is to trust that his reply and timing are better than my understanding of what is best. I have to transfer responsibility for the outcome from me to him. When that happens, my prayer is successful no matter what the outcome.
Jesus never said we’d always make sense of God’s answers, but he unequivocally promised we’d never have cause to fear. Prayer that takes away fear is the definition of successful prayer.
The girls returned the next evening bubbling with excitement. Our prayer had been answered that morning and they had a place to call home. I knew it was really answered the night before when trust had chased fear from their hearts.
Prayer: Compassionate Father, thank you that I can wholly trust you.