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
A Prayer When You’re Just Plain Tired
Lord, I am so tired I can barely think. It’s hard to do the things I need and want to do. But You are my strength! You are my God who has shown me Your might and power. I know of Your mercy and grace. And I rely on Your faithfulness to sustain me.
These things I know, and yet I am so tired.
My soul thirsts for You and my flesh longs for You in my weariness. You have taught me to seek Your Presence —
Finding God’s Presence ~ Experiencing Transforming Glory From the Sweat Of My Brow
I struggled through the fallen limbs and briars cluttering the mountain trail. Droplets trickled down my face from the sweat of my brow, the arduous journey almost over. The ridgetop was in view — just a little farther and the struggle would be worth it.
The height would offer a glorious view of my beloved Blue Ridge Mountains.
Taking hold of a crevice in a nearby boulder, I hoisted myself onto the rock, using it as a stepping stone to climb along the rock ledge. A few feet over I found a comfortable place to sit. The stone felt warmed by the sun. I hugged my knees and looked out over the vast beauty of the mountain range.
A Prayer When It’s Hard to Love Like God
Lord, You are mighty. You are good. You are love — pure love, everlasting love, love that never fails. Help me walk in — live-out — Your love.
At all times.
Especially in the ugly places and especially when no one is looking.
That’s when it really counts, isn’t it? That’s when it bears fruit, because that kind of love is of You and certainly not of ourselves.
Finding God’s Presence ~ When God Sends a Message in the Wind
I stood beneath the pine grove at the crest of the hill. Autumn leaves shimmied on the wings of the wind. Floating. Twirling. Submitting to the authority of the breeze.
Storm clouds pressed eastward leaving an October indigo sky in its wake.
I closed my eyes.
A Prayer When You Don’t Want to Fret Anymore
Lord, return me to a place of peace. Forgive me for stepping out of Your peace, for it is available to me always. You, Lord, remain faithful. But I shift my focus and my thoughts on the obstacles and difficult places — I choose to fret — and soon forget that You are the Great God, Ruler of all things.
You teach us to trust You, to know that our relationship with You is founded in great love — a love that surpasses all understanding.
Therefore, trust can be and should be a natural response.
Finding God’s Presence ~ How to Counter the Enemy’s Attack
Huddled beneath the covers wishing the morning away, I recognized His sweet whisper, “I am for you, not against you. You are my child. You have not been forsaken.” I squeezed my eyes and scrunched up my face because, although I believed what the Lord was speaking to me, my reality felt very different.
I felt alone in many ways.
I definitely felt overwhelmed. Heavy-laden. Crumpling beneath life’s burdens.
But again, He said, “I am for you, not against you.”
A Prayer When Battles Rage and Endurance Wanes
Lord, I’m so thankful for Your mighty power that moves mountains for me, that guards me fiercely in the battles, that parts the Red Sea when I would otherwise drown. You are mighty!
And Your love is steadfast and true.
I depend on the strength of Your love. Thank You.
Sometimes I feel like I don’t have the strength to take another step. The battles rage around me — fiery darts bouncing loudly off my shield of faith, my legs bogged down with the weight pressing against my shoulders.
Finding God’s Presence ~ The Juxtapositions Creating Dew, Grace, and Hope
The morning dew lay heavy upon the grass, glistening drops of refreshment clinging to each blade. In each tiny globe of moisture, the light of a new day reflected like glitter scattered across the field.
I thought of how the dew was formed — the warm air rising from the earth clashing with the cooler air of descending darkness.
I thought of the juxtaposition of one season to another — the warmth of summer wrestling with the chill of fall much like the dark of night softens to morning light.
And I thought of God’s grace — His mercies new every morning, especially it seems, in the clash of life’s seasons, the juxtapositions that challenge our faith.
A Prayer When Finding Truth Isn’t as Easy as it Seems
Lord, You are the great God,mighty and true. All of Your ways are perfect. All of Your ways are righteous and just. You are the God of Truth.
There is so much deception permeating our world. It clutters our minds and veils our knowledge of You and Your ways. May it never be, Lord!
Stir within us the gift of discernment that we might walk sure in Your ways. Keep our feet on the path of truth — our eyes on You, our ears open to Your voice of instruction.