OUR DAILY BREAD : THE WINDING ROAD

[cimi]

July 11
Thursday


THE WINDING
ROAD

READ:
Psalm 121
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He will not allow your
foot to be moved;
He who keeps you
will not slumber.
__Psalm 121:3
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In his book A Sweet and Bitter Providence, John Piper offers these thoughts about God's providence and guidance: "Life is not a straight line leading from one blessing to the next and then finally to heaven. Life is a winding and troubled road...God is not just showing up after the trouble and cleaning it up. He is plotting the course and managing the troubles with far-reaching purposes for our good and for the glory of Jesus Christ."

The Jews journeying to Jerusalem for the annual feasts (Deut. 16:16) had the assurance of knowing that the Lord was plotting their course and managing the winding and troubled roads for them. They expressed this assurance in Psalm 121, a pilgrim song. The question, "From whence comes my help?" did not express doubt but affirmation in the Lord who rules supreme (vv.1-2). Unlike a guard who sometimes slumbered, or the god Baal who needed to be rustled out of his stupor (1 Kings 18:27), the Lord was fully alert and secured the journey of His poeple with providential care (vv.3-4). The Lord, who rescued Israel, would continue to help, preserve, and walk with His people.

Life is a winding road with unknown perils and troubles, but we can be certain of God's providence, security, and care.

__Marvin Williams

`````````````Dear Lord, sometimes life seems to be full of perilous``````````````
```````````````and winding roads. Thank You for giving us the`````````````````
`````````````assurance that You have our course plotted and are````````````````
````````````````````````watching over our every step.```````````````````````
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Troubles are unknown; God's providence is certain.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Psalm 121*******************

1 I will lift up my eyes to
the hills__from whence
comes my help? 2 My help
comes from the LORD, who
made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your
foot to be moved; He who
keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who keeps
Israel shall neither slumber
nor sleep.

5 The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade at
your right hand. 6 The sun
shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

7 The LORD shall preserve
you from all evil; He shall
preserve your soul. 8 The
LORD shall preserve your
going out and your coming
in from this time forth, and
even forevermore.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Life can hold some very threatening circumstances. But today's
reading, Psalm 121, can be a source of peace and stability. It has been
called a "Psalm of Ascent." This title comes from the historic tradition
of Old Testament saints making their way up to the elevated site of
Jerusalem's temple. As they ascended the mount, they expressed their
worship with songs based on lyrics contained in this psalm. Verse 7
tells us how God protects His children from evil. Verse 8 expands
this to include the phrase "your going out and your coming in."
In our daily responsibilities and travel, praise and petition should
characterize our lives. We are on our way to the eternal and heavenly
Jerusalem (Rev. 20), and God Himself is our Protector and Guide.