Don’t pray for more years… Pray for better years. Don’t pray for good times, or easy times. Pray for strength.”
–Brad Dennison (The Long Trail)
“…’Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.”
–Zechariah 4:6 (NKJV)
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I woke the other night and looked at the time; it was 12:15. Then an old hymn came to me, one of those “Hymns at Midnight.” I hadn’t heard or thought of this hymn in quite a spell, so thought I would take the time to look at all the verses. The song composed by Alameda Herrick details the journey of life that we all too often face.
“Is there a mountain in your way?
Do doubts and fears abound?
Press on, oh, hear the Spirit say,
This mountain shall come down.
Not by might; not by pow’r;
By my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts
Not by might; not by pow’r;
By my Spirit saith the Lord;
This mountain shall be removed;
This mountain shall be removed.
This mountain shall be removed,
By my Spirit saith the Lord.”
We know that the way to heaven is an upward way, but so often it seems that there is an unnecessary mountain in our way. One that we don’t think we can climb. When we get to that point we need to point to the word of God and allow the His Spirit to work for us. Don’t doubt, but trust. Don’t fear, but have faith. Then do as the writer said, “Press on.”
“Is there a river in your path,
A river deep and wide?
Step in, the waters will roll back,
You’ll reach the other side.”
Life is filled with rivers we must cross. Do we dare take the step of faith as the priests did carrying the ark and walk into the water? Step in, watch the hand of the Lord at work and before you know it you’ll be on the other side. Perhaps the words of another hymn come to mind, “You don’t have to cross Jordan alone…”. When we come to a river that tries to stop our progress step in, the Lord will walk with you. When you come to that final river to cross in life, don’t fear – the Lord will cross with you to the other side.
“Is there a fiery furnace trial
Far more than you can bear?
Behold the blessed Son of God,
Is walking with you there.”
“Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” (Daniel 3:24) Ah, but continue on to see what is next with the fiery trial that the Hebrew men faced. “…I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25, NKJV) Trials of all kinds come to us in life. Some of them are more harmful and terrible than others, but remember! Remember that the Son of God–Jesus Christ–is walking with you in and through that fiery trial.
“Then trust alone the mighty God,
He speaks the winds obey.
Take courage, then, oh fainting heart
For you He’ll make a way.”
Don’t trust in others or in your career. Friends can be a help or hindrance. Don’t trust in the government, or in your bank account. Especially don’t trust in the power of your own might. There may be a time when you are upon the sea of despair, when nothing will suffice except the calm, commanding words of Jesus–“peace be still.” Life is a journey, there are all kinds of troubles and obstacles along the way, but there is a Guide there beside us.
—————————–
I woke the other night and looked at the time; it was 12:15. Then an old hymn came to me, one of those “Hymns at Midnight.” I hadn’t heard or thought of this hymn in quite a spell, so thought I would take the time to look at all the verses. The song composed by Alameda Herrick details the journey of life that we all too often face.
“Is there a mountain in your way?
Do doubts and fears abound?
Press on, oh, hear the Spirit say,
This mountain shall come down.
Not by might; not by pow’r;
By my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts
Not by might; not by pow’r;
By my Spirit saith the Lord;
This mountain shall be removed;
This mountain shall be removed.
This mountain shall be removed,
By my Spirit saith the Lord.”
We know that the way to heaven is an upward way, but so often it seems that there is an unnecessary mountain in our way. One that we don’t think we can climb. When we get to that point we need to point to the word of God and allow the His Spirit to work for us. Don’t doubt, but trust. Don’t fear, but have faith. Then do as the writer said, “Press on.”
“Is there a river in your path,
A river deep and wide?
Step in, the waters will roll back,
You’ll reach the other side.”
Life is filled with rivers we must cross. Do we dare take the step of faith as the priests did carrying the ark and walk into the water? Step in, watch the hand of the Lord at work and before you know it you’ll be on the other side. Perhaps the words of another hymn come to mind, “You don’t have to cross Jordan alone…”. When we come to a river that tries to stop our progress step in, the Lord will walk with you. When you come to that final river to cross in life, don’t fear – the Lord will cross with you to the other side.
“Is there a fiery furnace trial
Far more than you can bear?
Behold the blessed Son of God,
Is walking with you there.”
“Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” (Daniel 3:24) Ah, but continue on to see what is next with the fiery trial that the Hebrew men faced. “…I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” (Daniel 3:25, NKJV) Trials of all kinds come to us in life. Some of them are more harmful and terrible than others, but remember! Remember that the Son of God–Jesus Christ–is walking with you in and through that fiery trial.
“Then trust alone the mighty God,
He speaks the winds obey.
Take courage, then, oh fainting heart
For you He’ll make a way.”
Don’t trust in others or in your career. Friends can be a help or hindrance. Don’t trust in the government, or in your bank account. Especially don’t trust in the power of your own might. There may be a time when you are upon the sea of despair, when nothing will suffice except the calm, commanding words of Jesus–“peace be still.” Life is a journey, there are all kinds of troubles and obstacles along the way, but there is a Guide there beside us.