Posted on January 31, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters
“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:16)
Knowing and being confident that ‘God has ordained all my days for me’, is what enables me to put one foot in front of the other. If it were not for this assurance, I know I would have fallen long ago. We don’t know what each day will bring, but we do know and can trust Him who has ordained the day, as well as the provision necessary for that day.
With all that’s going on, I did not see this coming. Dempsey is Laura’s service dog; he was given to her by a little girl who died of cancer. Rachel loved Laura and together they celebrated the last days of her life. Dempsey was a gift to her for making those days special. Even though he was Laura’s dog, Dempsey had ‘licked’ his way into the rest of our hearts! He made sure, no matter what you were feeling, that you knew you were loved and welcomed home. We lost Dempsey last night in a car accident… none of us saw this coming. He never leaves the yard around the house without one of us with him. He was always a kind of ‘close walker’ having to be in your space.
I don’t know why this happened now, one more thing that we don’t need… but these are the words God gave me after a restless night…
“How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand— when I awake, I am still with you.” (Psalm 139:17-18)
I am sure there will be many more tears and hurdles to overcome, some that we won’t see coming; but we are not alone in them. Our God and Savior, who endured much more than we will ever comprehend, He has promised to be with us. He goes ahead of us, providing everything we need for life and godliness. Because of Him, we can, ‘put one foot in front of the other, and soon we will be walking across the floor…. again, in His strength, grace, and love.
There is hope… and His name is Jesus.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Praying 4 U!
Written by David Brown: David Brown is a husband, father, grandfather, Pastor with a Masters of Religious Studies and a Professor of Philosophy and Comparative Religions. Dave is the Associate Pastor of Pemberton’s First Baptist Church. He is the author of two devotional books, “From a Chair by the Window.” And “#PrayerWinsThe Day”.
Think About This: “Your work can’t give you God but God can give you work. Stay close to where your Church is rather than your work.” – Bishop Justice Kojo Bentil
The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 13-15 You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.” Psalm 40:11
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
