Pathways Press.com

MEDITATION:

Written by Joel Muddamalle, a contemporary pastor, theologian, author, and teacher. This is an excerpt from his article “Longing for Security.”

Take a moment and consider what makes you feel safe. For some of us, it’s a particular person or people, like our family. For others, it’s the comfort and familiarity of home. Still, for others, it’s access to tangible resources or objects that provide a sense of stability in what can often feel like a very unstable world…After years of insecurity and captivity in Egypt, the Israelites surely held to God’s promise that He would give them their own home, a place flowing with “milk and honey” (Exodus 3:17). And yet, after their captivity in Egypt, they spent much of their time wandering and waiting to arrive at the land God promised. As we follow the story of the Israelites, we discover that their journey to the promised land was as important, if not more important than their actual arrival in the promised land. Why? Because along the way the Israelites learned how to trust. They had to trust in God’s direction, protection, and provision…God used the Israelite’s journey as an opportunity for them to learn to trust in Him as their God who provided for and protected them. This was an important lesson to learn before they experienced the abundance in the promised land. Afterward, it would have been easy for them to shift their trust from God as their source of security to cities, walls, armies, and kingdoms…What if the journey or wilderness that we’re experiencing right now is God’s invitation to put our reliance and confidence in Him? If we view our experience through this lens, we may gain a security that enables us to sleep soundly through the night because it’s grounded in the knowledge that God is in control and nothing can fall out of His grip. Therefore, all is well.

PRAYER:

Written by Brigid of Kildare (451-525), one of Ireland’s patron saints, a nun and foundress of several monasteries of nuns.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength:

God’s power to guide me,

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s eyes to watch over me;

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to give me speech,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s shield to shelter me,

God’s host to secure me.