Jesus’ Ministry
January 7, 2019
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you. –Isaiah 43:1-2
Oklahoma City received record breaking torrents of ice, rain, sleet and snow this week that began about the time I drove away from an auto dealership in a courtesy car having left my recently damaged car with them. The courtesy car was a much newer model of my seven-year-old car and was equipped with a lot of new stuff, mainly electronics, with which I was not familiar. When the man helping me with the loaner handed me a little rectangular thing instead of a key, I thought this is going to be interesting. He showed me how to use it to enter the car and explain how the push button starter worked. I had seen that type thing before many years ago as a child on a very old tractor. What goes around comes around. The car was already covered with ice cycles formed from the ice melting from the defrosting windows. I do not remember praying, as I gingerly back out of the parking place and headed for the street.
The first thing for which I was verbally thankful was that the wiper controls and lights were all in the same place as in my car. I then was thankful that the ground temperature was not cold enough yet to freeze further the slush through which I was driving. I settled into the patience required for stop and go traffic and making room for two fire trucks and one ambulance that sped through the throng of cars. Making it home safely, I did thank God for God’s wonderful presence whether I have enough sense to ask for it or not.
The promise in the above scripture is for real. Praying on the fly is often the norm through the greatest struggles. Continually working to improve our relationship with God gives us the faith to trust that God will be with us when we pass through the waters or its equivalent, unexpectedly.
Prayer: Thank you Lord, for your constant presence when we need it the most. Amen.