The Plumbline

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken. My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me. O my people, trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:5-8 NLT) Our psalmist gives us insight into victory in our lives. He says it quite clearly: "Let all that I am wait quietly before God." Why? There is no greater hope than his protection and his 'oversight' of our lives. We might think it is a bit of a waste of time to take time each day to center ourselves on him, studying his Word, and just getting his insight. If we want a life filled with the 'unknown' and 'chaos', this might be the way to go. If we want one of order and insight, we might want to try waiting quietly before him for even a little while! Waiting doesn't mean we aren't doing anything. It means ...

Times may seem bleak right now, but we can know that even when disaster abounds and emptiness seems to occupy spaces once fruitful, our hearts are filled with an everlasting peace. Empty 'barns' and lost 'flocks' may not be our worry today, but empty pantries and drained bank accounts may be our present worry. Even in the midst of these struggles, we can rejoice in the Lord. Why? He remains our strength when our weakness abounds! Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3:17-18) Joy comes when we worship him - it actually ushers in his peace and joy when we surrender our hearts in worship. In short order, we find our strength being renewed and our peace restored. These are found in his...