The darkness deepens. Lord, with me abide! When others fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless, O, abide with me! “
The following letter was written by Rev. Henry F. Lyte to his friend, Julia. On the right side of the letter, you can make out the Old English-style cry of the author’s heart.
We now sing this timeless hymn (see below with music), yet how often do we really consider the words and what they could mean in our daily lives?
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
I Thessalonians 5:11
“Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path . . .”
Psalm 27:11
Of course, the paths of life are not often this plainly marked, but God will certainly show you where and how to walk in His ways. The Word of God, the Bible, is the guide for every step. The principles of living are given in examples, proverbs, and words of Jesus. Isn’t it wonderful to know we can follow a guide who loves us so much?
If you are struggling to know Him, we encourage you to seek him with your whole heart: He said He will be found! Jeremiah 29:13
For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11
If God himself has good thoughts of us, His creation, what sort of thoughts should we entertain of ourselves?
He literally wants us to be with him so much that he made a plan to rescue us out of the guilt and sinfulness passed on to us from our forefather, Adam.
See John 3:16 for more on this amazing gift of love! (Reach out to us for a Bible if you do not have one of your own!)
In the stillness of the morning, God is already at work. Sometimes, there is no visible action . . . just as these snowdrops began their journey underground, the workings of God are out of sight. One day, the blossoms appear, and we know that there was something stirring all along.
As difficult as it is to wait, we simply must be patient with our Heavenly Father. He is working on our behalf . . . he said so in II Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.”
Is your heart clear and perfect toward the God of Heaven? He will show you as you seek His guidance and obey His Word . . . in all the ways.
Shepherd and his flock in the Holy Land
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd . . . Imagine a hillside of dry grasses with only a few green clumps here and there. How can a band of sheep find enough nourishment for themselves, let alone their young? Ah, but look a little closer! Their shepherd is watching. He sees the situation from his viewpoint above the flock, and they never need to worry. When the grass is gone, he already has a plan to move them to greener pastures. The sheep do not even need to know the plan; they only need to trust their caretaker.
I shall not want . . . There will never be a lack of provisions. I may not have all the trinkets or fun I desire, but my Heavenly Shepherd, Jesus will take care of me. I only need to trust his plan and follow Him daily. You might be asking “What is the value of the dry place in which I find myself?” Maybe there are nutrients there that cannot be found anywhere else . . . maybe a lesson in patience, or maybe the circumstance is not for you, but another soul who is watching you and learning to trust the Great Shepherd. Whatever the case, keep trusting . . . keep obeying . . and keep sweet!
Nations Therapy Note I am doing full time tele-mental health and want to start a daily blog. So, I am jumping in not really knowing what I am dong… we will see how it goes. Would like to share a daily thought and maybe short devotional as an encouragement to all of us in these…
Nations Integrated Therapy 