“The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul. “This command I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, and it is not beyond your reach.” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:10-11‬ ‭NLT)

We over complicate the things of God. These verses in Deuteronomy simplify it quite a bit. I love how God says “this is not too difficult.” He’s our creator, He knows full-well our limitations. And He says we can do this.

He makes it extra easy. Not only are the instructions written in His book, they are confirmed in our own hearts.

“No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

We know right from wrong, we call it our conscience. It’s that little voice in our head that squawks when we entertain ungodly things. It takes effort to override that voice. But if we’ll listen closely, we’ll find it echoing the words of scripture.

The reality is that we are educated and equipped to live according to scripture. We have the Word of God and the Spirit of God. The question is, will we make the right choice? All of heaven is standing as witness while we navigate our one life either towards God or away from Him.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” (Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Lord, may we choose You in our everyday attitudes. May we live according to Your written Word and Your Spirit. May we honor heaven with every breath of our existence. Amen.

“Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.” (Luke 23:56 NIV)

“There is no grief as deep as grief that does not speak.” (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)

My heart always goes out to the Marys when I think about Black Saturday. These faithful women were forced to sit still in their sorrow while their minds and fingers ached to find ways to work out their pain. They had twenty-four full hours to grieve and no distractions to keep them from it.

Was it necessary? Wasn’t Jesus about to erupt from the grave and set all things right? Why did He wait three days, and one of them a Sabbath; a day of physical stillness and quiet reflection?

Perhaps grief is good for the soul? Maybe it’s helpful, even healthy to take the time to consider what we’ve lost and what it was worth to us? It’s possible that we can’t quite get to Easter without first addressing the aching places in our heart.

Black Saturdays must serve some purpose, or God wouldn’t allow for them. Perhaps it is only in the inky depth of Saturday that the marvelous light of Easter morning shines brighter? Beloved, one day joy will eclipse all grief, joy so pure and brilliant that we’ll barely be able to set eyes on it.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Lord, sustain us through black Saturdays. May the darkness not overtake us, but instead serve to remind us of the glorious light still on it’s way. Sunday is coming. No tears, no burdens, no sorrows, no loss. Lord, we live for that day, the day when our hearts are healed and we hurt no more. May today’s lack of light only stoke our longing for the day when Your light will chase away the darkness forever. Amen.

“The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes.” (Psalms‬ ‭33:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Have you ever noticed how our plans, when made apart from God, fall apart? Even fail? Yet when we take the time to align our agenda with God’s plans, we succeed. How do we align? Prayer and the Word. Prayer apart from the Word is self-tainted. The Word apart from prayer isn’t personal. Prayer plus the Word connects all the dots.

It’s a bit like Maggie’s timing chain; it needs to connect in all the correct places in order to run correctly. A smidge off can lead to big trouble: a dead car in a far away city. But perfect connection means we go where we are supposed to and home when we are done.

Prayer and the Word ensure proper connectivity. They get us safely to the right place at the right time and Home when we are through.

“But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.” (Psalms‬ ‭33:11‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

Lord, we want to succeed with You. Help us make the time to read Your Word and connect it with prayer. Align our plans with Your plans that we might participate in building something that will stand forever. Keep us connected and on course until You call us Home. Amen.

“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” (Psalm‬ ‭33:3‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Dr. George O. Wood’s thoughts on this scripture caught my heart in my throat this morning: “Lest we become rote and routine, we are encouraged to ‘sing a new song’ – each passage in life provides a fresh revelation of God’s presence and should therefore be included in our repertoire of worship.”

I am so thankful for a new season. The weather hasn’t quite got the memo, but my heart is thawing. I’ve been told you can see it in my countenance. Surviving this past year of sorrow and trial has released me in new territory; the skies are a bit bluer, the sun a bit brighter and my joy a bit richer. After I have endured such ugly, my appreciation for the every day, ordinary is even greater.

“For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.” (Psalm‬ ‭33:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

A year ago I knew this, but now I KNOW it. It’s like the difference between having a AAA member card in your wallet and actually utilizing the service for cross-country tow. I now trust what God is capable of because I have had to explore the extent of His benefits.

Our confidence in God soars when we’ve had to rely on Him extensively, exclusively, and when we’ve discovered in our most treacherous places, He is actually enough.

“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—” (Psalm‬ ‭103:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

Lord, we are thankful for seasons of ‘new song.’ We are thankful for the days on the other side of the awful when we can look up, a new version of us, with a fresh understanding of You. Your Word says You are good, and it’s truly exciting when our experiences reinforce Your Word. Thank You for the tremendous benefits we receive by faith, by belonging. We are grateful and our trust in You is ever-growing. Amen.