I Call

Psalm 55:16,17 As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress,and he hears my voice.

My son used to call out from his bedroom every night, as he drifted off to sleep.  Often, it was for a drink of water.  Sometimes, it was for another hug, or another song, or a plea to let him sleep in our room.  And there were times when we gave him another drink, and another hug, and another song.  But often, we reminded him that God loved him, we were just in the next room, and he was going to be okay.

The writer of these verses states that he calls to God in the evening, morning and at noon.  And God hears him every time.  I know that I call on God multiple times throughout the day, when I’m in distress.  And I know he hears me.

But sometimes, I think God might just want to still my cry and whisper to me that he does hear me, and he is right there beside me, even though I feel afraid and alone.  There are times he comforts me with a verse (a drink), another hug (a comforting thought), or his nearness (overwhelming presence.)

However, there are times when he is silent.  

And I have to know, just like I wanted my own son to know, that my father's silence is not his absence.  It’s just that it’s time for me to lie still and sleep, knowing all is well.

The One

I love these verses from Psalm 3:

But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

I picture the Lord high atop a mountain, watching over the beautiful valley below, where I lay sleeping in the comfort of my home.  It’s a safe, beautiful thought to know that God watches over me when I sleep.

God not only watches over us, but he is a shield around us, the one who lifts our head up high when it tends to hang down low.

God is the one who answers us when we call; in fact, his answer comes from his holy mountain.  Therefore, the answer is the best answer available.

God is the one who grants us sleep, and wakes us up daily, because it’s his breath inside of us that keeps us alive.

Are you looking down? Are you crying out?  Are you having trouble in the darkest of night as you try to sleep?

Call out to the Lord.  And listen for his answer.  It will be a comfort, and not condemnation.  Rest in Him.

Stand in Awe

I Samuel 12:17

Is it not wheat harvest now? I will call on the Lord to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the Lord when you asked for a king. Then Samuel called on the Lord, and that same day the Lord sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the Lord and of Samuel.

This man of God called up on the Lord to affect the weather, and in doing so, the people who experienced the storm stood in awe of God.

The only time I’ve ever called upon God to affect the weather was during the time of my son’s wedding.  The forecast was grim, with a huge change of rain, and we just didn’t really have accommodations for that kind of weather. Many of us called upon God in prayer, and he answered.  We had a sunny day for the wedding, when every day up until that time it rained. 

But what if God had not answered the prayer the way I “called upon him” to do?  What if a torrential downpour occurred? 

Many people call upon God for big things, like signs in the sky, and then stand disappointed when the signs don’t occur.

God hears every call we make, but he doesn’t answer with a yes, every time. 

Sometimes he miraculously comes through, at which time we stand in awe.  

Other times we feel severely disappointed, at which time we should also stand in awe.

God knows best.  He wants us to call out.  And he does indeed answer.

And when he does, stand in awe of his control and care that trumps all of our desires and disappointments.

The Burn

In Exodus 3 we see another man called out by God – Moses.

 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

God’s call this time came in a burning bush that was not consumed.  Fire represented holiness.  And when God spoke he simply called Moses’ name.  And note Moses’ response: “Here I am.”

God then instructed Moses to remove his sandals, because he was on holy ground before a holy God.

I love the imagery here, imagining a bush on fire yet not burning up, and Moses walking by, astonished at this sight.  I would be, too!  Moses went closer to check it out, and that’s when God called him.

I think it’s so cool that Moses went closer to check it out.  When holiness is near and we feel the heat of the burn, it would be best if we draw near and listen for God’s call out of that burning.

In other words, there are times when God will be so near that we can feel the heat of the flames and will be drawn in.  But as we draw closer, we will realize that in humility and honor we must come near, by removing that which is the dirtiest (symbolized by the sandals). 

Thank God for Jesus, who removes all our sin and filth, and because of his great sacrifice we can now enter into that flame of holiness and feel the burn, while experiencing the cleanse.

Draw near to the flame.  Listen for his voice calling your name.  Then allow Christ to remove the dirtiest part of you, while you stand before a holy God in awe and worship.

Then bask in the glow of the burn…

My Shepherd

Genesis 48:15 includes a father’s blessing on his sons:

“May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,

the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm—may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly on the earth.”

This father proclaims the faithfulness of God, calling him his shepherd “all my life to this day” so that his son can hear what a good God, God is. 

We are told over and over again in the Word to tell of God’s faithfulness in our lives to the ears our children, so that they hear and believe.  We must call it out, voice it, and proclaim it.

This father speaks a blessing over his boys, one of great increase over the earth.

Did you know that you have the authority to speak the same over your children?  When they are born, you can speak God’s faithfulness over their lives to come.  As they grow, you can relay of God’s faithfulness to you, so that they too recognize and grow in God’s faithfulness to them.   And even when they’re grown and have children of their own, as grandparents you can speak and bless your kids, by calling on the name of the Lord.

Speak to your kids today.  Tell them of Him.  Then speak a blessing over them.  And do it again tomorrow. And the next day.

May they hear, believe, and experience God as Shepherd over their own lives and then proclaim it to their children, as well!

Call Upon Him

Genesis 12 includes the call of Abram, and Abram’s calling back to the Lord.

The first few verses are the call of God on Abram’s life to leave what is known, and walk to what is shown, all directed by God.  He promises Abram blessing that extends throughout the earth (verses 1-3).

Next follows Abram’s obedience to that call. And notice, Abram was 75 when he began this journey.  He set out to where God lead him, and he arrived. (vs 5)

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.

Read here:

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him…There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord.

After Abram heard God’s call, listened, and obeyed, he then heard God promise blessing to his offspring.  And Abram’s response was to build an altar and call upon (proclaim) the name of the Lord.

Have you heard God calling you? Where is he leading?  Are you following?

Build an altar (kneel down and remember) and start calling on the Lord (proclaiming his name).

Then walk with him towards the promises, as he walks ahead of you to show you where to take the next step.

Amazing

Joshua 3:5 is a great verse.

Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

Sometimes I start with the letter A and go through to Z, just telling the Lord what I love about him, and often the A is that he's amazing.

I'm amazed at his love for me, that he was willing to die for my sins.

I'm amazed at his power displayed in the heavens and on the earth, in nature and in human beings.

However, I believe God has amazing things he wants to do "among" us all that surpass anything we've experienced yet.

The instruction here is to "consecrate yourselves." This means to "dedicate to a divine purpose."  

When we fully extend our heart, mind, and body to his service, then every tomorrow will be filled with amazing things that he does among us.

Amazing things await you.  Look for them.