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Listen while you read: "Come Let Us To The Lord Our God"1 (Lyrics) |
Proverbs 3:5-8 – Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! (MSG)
Do you ever feel like you have no idea where you are going? You plan, prioritize, and schedule your activities, but then still wonder, Where am I really going with all of this?
Now, you may be saying, "This is no help at all! I read these devotionals to get help and grow my confidence — not to have someone tell me to doubt myself!" If that's what you are thinking, don't stop reading just yet.
Believe it or not, having no idea where you are going may be the very quality needed to open up a pathway for moving forward. Now take the next couple of minutes and read through Thomas Merton's prayer (maybe a couple of times). As you read and reflect, answer this question:
"What character qualities expressed in this prayer would I like to develop more deeply?"
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Character Qualities Worth Developing
1. Not knowing opens doors to exploring new possibilities.
2. Not knowing puts us on our knees in dependence on God.
3. Over-confidence of what should happen may block deep change.
4. To please God as our top priority sets us up to perform for an audience of One.
5. It is often darkest before a breakthrough.
6. If we walk with Jesus and fully depend on Him, He promises never to leave us to walk alone.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for always knowing what we need to do and who we need to be. Shine Your guiding light on our paths, and show us the way to live and how to be today and in the days ahead. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Fabulous, thanks.
Thank you for today’s message, Cam.
A wonderful challenge Cam. Enjoyed reading this devotion.
Thank you Cam for the message in today’s Devotional. Jesus is the way.
Wow — “Great”.
God bless.
Wonderful, thank you for putting this devotional together!
Blessings.
Good morning, Cam: Thank you for a wonderful message this morning!
All praise belongs to Him who reins on high!
Thank you, Cam, for drawing me to this prayer by Merton with your straight-forward remarks on it.
May God continue to bless you.
Dear Cam Taylor,
Thanks for a devotional that set me jotting notes and praying even before I reached the prayer.
Keep writing.
Dear Cam,
Right now I am caring for my husband who has Alzheimer’s. I definitely don’t know where I’m going or what will happen. Your devotional spoke to me. We want to think that we can plan for every eventuality. We can’t. We’re not supposed to.
Hi Cam,
Today’s little homily is going into my devotionals file. It is just what most people need every day of their lives. And if they don’t need it …they need it badly.
Talk a bout words in good season! These absolutely are.
Blessings.
Hi Cam,
Found inspiration in your words today. Better to be a bit lost and forced to trust God, than to trust our own ideas.
Actually implementing some change in my walk based on your words and the bible verse.
Thanks.
Hello Cam,
Thank you so much for today’s devotional. It really speaks to me in the situation our congregation are facing right now. Because of the congregation’s financial difficulties the minister is taking early retirement on much reduced pension. Both parties are facing challenges and this devotional, I think, will be very reassuring.
I would like to print it in either our bulletin or newsletter in its entirety.
Blessings.
Thank you for this devotional, it echoes what has been going on in me these past few weeks. My desire is to be fully surrendered to God but I know that I by my own efforts cannot achieve my desire. So in my prayers I have been telling Father that it is my desire to be surrendered fully to him. That way I can be at peace and let him direct my ways. I am freed
from the continual striving on my part because I realize that I am made holy and acceptable by what he has and is doing in me and I am more likely to be directed into his will.
Bless you for your gift to me.
Cam. Thank you for your timely and thoughtful devotional and the Character Qualities worth developing. Good thoughts. I will share your email with my friends and leaders to encourage them also in their walk.
The devotionals of the last two days have really spoken to my needs at this time and encouraged me. My desire is to always serve and please God but sometimes we do feel lost in life and wonder if we’re on the right path that God wants us to be on. I like what you said on this line: Believe it or not, having no idea where you are going may be the very quality needed to open up a pathway for moving forward.
We always want to have control of our future and our life situations; to know what is around the corner. But sometimes, it’s not possible. I am learning more and more that we have to walk the talk and give it all up to God and trust Him for everything. I’m sure, while this may be very uncomfortable for us at times, this is where our God wants us to be. In total surrender. And total trust. With no reservations about His care and His best for us. I will contemplate on your words for the day to stay encouraged in Spirit.
Thanks and may our Lord continue to bless you and use you to encourage His people.
(BC Canada)
Cam, Thank you for highlighting the possibilities to be found in uncertainty when we depend up Christ Jesus. Blessings.
Wow! This devotional was just what I needed at this moment. I am trying to have the courage to oppose an action which has harmed me. I have no idea whether it is really the right thing to do or not. It helps to know that even if I am being foolish, God knows my heart and knows I desire to do His will. Thanks!
One of the instructions always on my mind is in Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”. He will always answer our prayers though we know not when of how.
Our Benedictine group are doing a review of Thomas Merton’s book – The New Seeds of Contemplation.
We are wandering along the path, with God as our guide to ‘live the contemplative’ actions of the Gospel.
Thanks for sharing your message.
I read this devotional and found that it spoke to me and the context in which I minister. Thank you for this insightful piece.