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I wonder if, like me, you are vertically challenged. I used to be five feet two inches, not the tallest in the world — and me with six-foot brothers and a mother who was five feet eight inches. Now in my old age, I have shrunk to just barely over five feet. What happened here? Lots of people over the years have made teasing comments about me being so short. I have even been known to pray, God, when I get to eternity, can I have longer legs, please?
In thinking about my physical body being vertically challenged, I started thinking, Wow! We are all vertically challenged, spiritually. The Bible tells us that we start out in life as sinners, without a relationship with God. Through His grace, He calls us to look to Him for salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (NKJV)
Those who respond to His invitation have a direct vertical link to God, through His beloved Son Jesus.
Since that happened in my life, there have been days when I have felt tall in the Spirit and days when I have felt low in the Spirit — probably lower than my present five-foot stature. How about you: have you experienced days like that?
By this time in my life, I have come to accept my short stature. I know that God loves each and every one of us, no matter what our physical body may look like. Looks don't matter to Him, but it does matter to Him when we are low in the Spirit. I get very displeased with myself when that happens. Those are the days when things just don't seem to go right. When I feel tall in the Spirit, it seems that nothing can go wrong.
Let us always endeavour to cling tenaciously to the direct vertical connection that we have with God. When we do, we will feel tall, no matter what our stature is — yes, tall in Christ Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, help us, Your people, not to complain about ourselves, even when others tease us. May we realize that You formed us in the womb and You knew what we would be like, yet You loved us enough to send us into this world just as we were. We also ask, Father, that we would continue to walk in the Spirit alongside Your beloved Son Who died for us, that we may walk tall and free. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
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Good thoughts June.
Thanks for a thoughtful word today June. Blessings.
From one vertically challenged to another — Look Up!!
June thanks for this devotional. It amazes me how God can use our short stature to His glory! How well I can relate to your height analogy! I too am vertically challenged. Blessings.
Hi June,
I have gone back to the author search archives to read a few of your past devotionals. This one caught my eye first because you see I use to be 4’11and 1/2” but am now 4’9”
I could relate to being vertically challenged height wise, as well as feeling spiritually tall and low. Thank you for sharing this. It was a very good read.
I’m gonna go and read a couple more!
Bravo, June, for a strong inspiring devotional. I too need a higher stature in spiritual life, and now there is a dear sister in Christ who experiences low times but doesn’t let them stop her. Thank you so much. How about this: “Release the past to Jesus, and trust Him for the future.”
Dear June, I hope you had a unique Christmas and as we begin 2016 I would hope this New Year would be blessed. In the sight of God I believe our height is of little importance. Who we are in Christ is of the utmost importance. How what we do to bring glory to God through our witness our most important goal.
Well June
What a pleasant surprise to see you on the Daily once more! And also to learn and to share your self, helps us to grow in the Spirit as we grow older. Age really dosent make a huge difference spiritually. It just tunes down the flame a bit — not so bright. Take good care and may God bless you — I know He does. God bless.
Hello June.
Remember this story? One moment in the time to come, your eyes, with the many in Christ, will see Him as he is! Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus whom he had only heard about. His was satisfied fully, with what Jesus wanted to do! So also, will your soul be filled with joy in His presence, some moment.
(USA)
I must tell you of my friend.
Like you she was vertically challenged.
One day she was complaining to her husband and others – the shortest being 5 feet nine and some over 6 feet.
Then she said I am short because my legs only go up to my bottom.
The family asked her where she thought theirs went to. Caused much laughter.
Thank you for you devotional today. We are all so eager to be hard on ourselves. I always wanted to be shorter than my 5 foot 8 and now in my eighties I am getting my wish
Blessings.
Dear June:
I needed to hear that. Now have a stool in almost very room, have been complaining because I never needed one before. Time to stop complaining and be thankful I can stand up. Blessings.
Hello June,
Thank you for your creative thinking on height, turning it into a spiritual devotional. My, how I relate. At the doctor’s office I am 5′. No justice as I jokingly say. I used to wear medium height shoes, rarely real high ones, but now they’re all flat. But I have the JOY of the Lord in my life and what more do I need or want? I am 91 and enjoying good health and need to settle down and write stories of my wonderful life, as my children want me to do.
God bless you real good,
(So. California)
Amen to all that you have shared.
Dear June,
That’s the attitude Jesus wants us all to have — to be satisfied with the Lord’s creation of ourselves.
And thanks for the beautiful gospel message of salvation in Jesus Christ you included.
Keep writing.