Little Hands

Posted on September 26, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters

“So hold my hand tight. Hold my hand with confidence. For this love can last forever. For this love, we shall share together.” ~ Dawson

Some of the most distinctive moments in life are shared hand in hand. Walking to the bus with the kids is time spent I look forward too; we step off the porch, and they grab my hand as we head towards the road and all the challenges of the day. There is a sense of security that flows through this union, one that says, ‘I can face any giant that crosses my path because I know who holds my hand.’ When they arrive home again, as the bus pulls away, that little hand grasps mine as they tell of the many conquests of the day. This is the bond God desires of us if only we would take the time to walk with Him.

David speaks of whose hand he holds in the 23rd Psalm. He writes, ‘The Lord is the Shepherd that provides rest for us in green pastures. When we grasp His hand, Christ leads us beside still waters, and there the Spirit restores our souls. And when we are strengthened, He leads us on paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Even though we must pass through the valley of the shadow of death, where the world tries to distract and consume us, we fear no evil, for Christ walks before us, He holds tightly to our hand. He bears His rod and staff, in which we find comfort.
David understood that his victories in this life depended on the time he resolved to spend in God’s presence. He also realized the opposite was also true, he would fail and falter in every battle because he chooses to leave God behind. When we decide not to make time for God in our lives and instead, depend on ourselves, our friends, our vocation, our possessions, our pleasures, or any other temporary thing to make us happy, we will only find empty promises and diminishing hope.

There in the 23rd Psalm is a phrase that gets overshadowed by the ‘Valley of the Shadow of death.’ It affirms God ‘restores my soul and leads me to just what I need.’ How often our souls are drained of the strength to walk by faith… it’s our own fault too, we don’t take the time necessary to be filled up with the fuel our souls require. The Spirit is always there and ready to fill us to the level we make available in our lives, we just don’t make an effort. It’s like running your car till it’s empty… and then we go in search of the fuel needed only because we were forced to stop. Our souls require to be renewed like our cars need to be fueled. We need to be fueled with all God provides for us through the Spirit. He will not force us to stop and spend the time, He will whisper our name all day long, waiting for us to take the time to rest in His presence. We fail and struggle each day because we choose to.

When we take the time to be renewed by God, then while in the presence of our enemies and amid the battle, God prepares a table of His divine provisions before us. When we grasp hold His hand, the Spirit anoints our heads with oil; and our lives overflow with His goodness and mercy. When we choose to rest in His presence, these things shall follow us all the days of our lives; and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen (Psalms 23:2-6 ESV)

Some of the most distinctive moments in life are shared hand in hand. Walking by faith requires our souls to be renewed by abiding in Christ. A time spent resting in His grip, hearing from His Word, and humbly trusting in the work of the Spirit. It is from this position we know victory in Jesus, our Saviour, who forever holds out His hand for us to grasp.

There is hope, and His name is Jesus, won’t you take His hand and be renewed in His strength today..?

Choose wisely…

 

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”.

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This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 9:27-28