Take hope in the knowledge that you are cherished by the One who made you—you are sheltered in the shadow of His wing, close to His heart. It is my prayer that as we get to know one another you, too, will see beyond the veil and will learn to say, “Even so, I walk in the Presence of the Lord”
With joy,
Nan
The Voracious Thirst of a Nation Under Seige
My lips smacked together from the dryness of a voracious thirst. I had worked in the yard all afternoon beneath a blazing sun. Rivulets of sweat drenched me, adding to my thirst and need for water.
I came into the cool of the house, filled my glass with ice cubes and cold water, and gulped it down. The first glass made me want more — one glass was not enough. I quickly filled my glass again and practically inhaled the liquid refreshment. What joy as the cold water coursed through my lips and satisfied my thirst.
A Prayer When You Don’t Know What to Do
Lord, many are the afflictions of the righteous, but You have promised to deliver us out of them all. When I don’t know what to do, teach me to place my eyes on You — the Savior of my soul, the Almighty God, and my good, good Father.
I choose to trust You. I stand on the promises of Your Word — the promise to hear me when I cry out to You, the promise that You have plans and a future of hope for me … the promise that what was meant for evil against my loved one will be used for good.
The promise that You are our peace in the chaos and our Light in the darkness.
My Father’s Name is I Am. Can You Imagine?
I curled my bare toes into the freshly mowed grass. Stretched out, resting on my elbows, I thought about the Lord on this early fall day. So many needs. So many fears. Such despair from all corners of the earth. I would surely lose hope, but I remembered — I remembered my Father’s name is I AM.
I AM anything you have need of: protection, provision, strength, peace, healing …
A Prayer for The Eyes of The Lord to be Upon You
Lord, how magnificent is Your Name in all the earth! You are beyond wonderful. Even when life is ridiculously hard, You remain faithful — the eyes of the Lord are always upon me.
Thank You for Your watch-care, for Your tender mercies new every morning.
A Prayer When Heavy-Laden is Your Heart
Lord, I am so heavy-laden. My heart is overwhelmed. I’m drowning in fear and sorrow — slipping quickly into the pit of despair.
But I see Your hand reaching toward me. You have been a strong tower to me, O Lord. Do not leave me in my despair. When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I!
A Quest for Understanding Through a Frothy Veil of Fog
In my quest for understanding, I observed marshmallow clouds melting into a frothy veil of fog coming over the mountain ridge. The thick white blanket settled softly, blurring the line between heaven and earth. Dandelion wisps of cool foggy air moved in and out of the forest’s edge — the contrast of light and darkness exaggerated, spotlighted.
Indeed, there is a contrast.
This mystery of Light and darkness.
A Prayer When Silence is God’s Answer
Lord, You are my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in You. My soul finds rest in You, even when silence is Your response to me.
I still trust You.
But it’s hard.
Troubled and Weary? Live Within the Realm of God’s Love
My gaze landed on the mountaintop in the distance. Blue-purple ribbons of rolling hills surrounded the giant dome. Why are you troubled and weary, Nan? I asked myself. Why so downcast? Put your hope in God, Maker of heaven and earth.
I often lecture myself. I suppose King David did the same. Throughout the psalms his dialogue addresses the battle of spirit and flesh, faith and despair. Mountaintops reminded David of God, just like they do for me.
A Prayer When You’re Expecting Rain But Can’t See a Cloud
Lord, You search me and know me. You know all my anxious thoughts, my dreams, my desires. You know I’m expecting rain in my season of drought.
And You know I’m trying hard to walk by faith and not by sight.