Times of Refreshing

Psalm 1 Revisited

2008-08-03T06:48:00.001-07:00

Back to those first three verses in the Psalm.

The first verse talks about the world; we have to be totally separated from the world. There is no question of sitting, standing or walking with the unrighteous [unbelievers]. The second verse talks about the Word; we live by the Word of God; the Word is our delight. When we read and meditate upon the Word of God it should be like milk and honey to us! Do we have a taste for the Word of God? No, we have a relish for the world! Worldly thoughts, ideas, imaginations, schemes, plans, interests, etc. have infiltrated into the church. If only we meditated upon the Word of God, meditation would lead to revelation; God would speak to us; we would hear His still, small voice. The spoken word strengthens our faith and builds up our inner man.

The third verse talks about the Holy Spirit. We live by the Spirit of God. We draw our strength from the Spirit. He is the living water. He established us, as a tree planted by the water bears fruit in its season. In due time, God will lift us up and help us to bear fruit for His glory. We will always be fresh and green, because God has anointed us with His Spirit. We will not wither or fade, but will be like oaks of righteousness planted in God's field, Isa 61.3.

Whatever is of the world is like chaff before God's eyes. It is fit only to be burned. Worldly wisdom, worldly achievement, worldly influence, worldly power?all these will perish in God's fiery judgment. The wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.

The Lord knows or approves of the way of the righteous. It is He who has planned our way [the paths of righteousness], and He goes before us and brings us into His 'promised land'.

Groaning, or Prayer in the Spirit

2008-08-03T06:46:00.001-07:00

Prayer has to come from the bottom of our heart. We cannot pray merely with our lips. We have to put our heart and soul into our prayers. Especially when we pray alone. We need to groan and travail in prayer. Our prayer can be short, just 2 to 3 minutes, but if it is fervent and intense and from the bottom of our heart, I believe it touches the throne of grace. How many of our prayers merely hit the roof and bounce back! Oh, we need to get in touch with God. He hears prayer!

Prayer has to come forth like groaning. Oh, Lord, You must help me; You must deliver me; You must glorify Your name [as a prayer-hearing and prayer-answering God]! I do believe that we must prove God through prayer. Lack of earnest intense prayer is the greatest drawback in our spiritual life. Everything has to come from God. We live in and by and through Him. That is why it is written that Christ is our life, Colossians 3.4. And that is why He said, 'You have to eat Me and drink Me in order to experience eternal life.' May we learn to groan in the spirit.

En Route to Bijanbari

2006-12-11T02:24:00.000-08:00

En Route to Bijanbari
Originally uploaded by prolix6x.

En route to Bijanbari, it was raining. I saw these school children with their umbrellas. Their beaming smiles brightened the rainy day. It was a glorious time we had in Darjeeling district, over two years ago.
[Taken with old Philips camera, April-May 2004.]

I love this composition, because I was on the road above and these children were walking down the hill path to their village. They had these lovely umbrellas. I asked them to stop and look up and they obliged.

My Philips camera did more than oblige! It captured not just the children, but the atmosphere, the freshness of the hills in summer rain.

Bhelpuri Wallah, India Gate

2006-12-07T00:44:00.000-08:00

Bhelpuri Wallah, India Gate
Originally uploaded by prolix6x.

This bhelpuri stand is having brisk sales. I don't know why they encourage smoke. Is it to drive insects away?
Bhelpuri is made of puffed rice mixed with a lot of other spicy and tasty stuff. The young chap on the left is also selling something, but his eyes are on the bhelpuri stand.
Behind the bhelpuri stand, we see a family walking past, perhaps to chose a nice spot on the lawns to relax and let the kids play.

Cooking Rasam

2006-12-05T00:28:00.000-08:00

This man is cooking rasam in the pot in his outdoor kitchen. He is one of the contract labourers employed in the Park to prepare seedlings. As I was walking through the Park, I noticed these hovels and came near just to find this young man in a rather embarrassing situation. Cooking in this country is done by the women. But, obviously, he is helping out. Perhaps he is a good cook. I took some great shots of these people and their families. Hope to display them in this blog shortly.

Faith, Waiting

2006-05-24T19:26:00.000-07:00

'Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.' Habakkuk 2.3

Many of us desire to pluck our fruit in June rather than wait until October, and so, of course, it is sour and immature; but God's purposes ripen slowly and fully, and faith waits while He tarries, knowing He will surely come and will not tarry too long.

It is perfect rest to fully learn and wholly trust this glorious promise. We may know without a question that His purposes shall be accomplished when we have fully committed our ways to Him, and are walking in watchful obedience to His every prompting. This faith will give a calm and tranquil poise to the spirit, and save us from the restless fret of trying to do too much ourselves.

Wait, and every wrong will righten;
Wait, and every cloud will brighten,
If you will only wait.
Dr. A.B. Simpson

[Extract from 'Springs in the Valley' by Mrs Charles Cowman. Devotional for 23rd May.]

After long rain

2006-04-12T01:46:00.000-07:00

After long rain
The sun showers its beauty;
The stars, diamond droplets,
Spangle a dark satin heaven.

Tom Prato

In the Rajah's Room, Darjeeling

2006-01-28T01:04:00.000-08:00

From 'The Measure of Christ' by TAS

2006-01-09T22:57:00.000-08:00

Why is spiritual growth so slow in some and so gloriously quick in others? Because some kick and question, or argue with God; go round and round the point asking, Does it mean this? Must I do this? Is it necessary? Can I, may I do this? and so on. Yet these very people are loudest in saying they want only the will of God; but their very affirmation often shows a struggle is going on, and their growth is fraught with a good deal of friction.

Others in a beautiful sincerity and purity of spirit are immediately letting go to the Lord, so He is able to lead them on, without waste of time in controversy with the will of God; and there is no weakness through there not being an utter abandonment and whole-hearted obedience and surrender to that will. There is a passion for the Lord Himself, and for Him to have His full way at whatever cost.

It all depends on our appreciation of the Lord Jesus. When we get a true value of Him, and see all that He is for us to the Father, and as by faith we appropriate Him, we quietly grow - "Beholding... the Lord, are changed (transformed from within) into the same image, from glory to glory" (2 Cor. 3:18).

The hindrance to growth is the regarding things as apart from the Person, the Lord Jesus. We would never walk round the Scripture, as we sometimes do, debating whether we would or would not, if we had a full appreciation of Him, if our passion was for Him to get the fullest glory possible; we should instantly yield, that Christ might get more glory.

Is not the difficulty often in our regarding aspects of the Christian life as something in themselves?

An adequate appreciation of the Lord Jesus gets rid of all the strain of spiritual growth. Christ is most glorified where Christ is most in the heart. Growth is bound up with the Beloved One; and growth is the outcome of being occupied with Him, giving the Lord Jesus His place in everything; He the first, and He all, and in all. Conclusively it is a matter of the measure of Christ, we must see that everything is bound up with the Lord Jesus Himself.

[Extracted from 'The Measure of Christ' by T. Austin-Sparks. It is worth reading the entire message on www.austin-sparks.net]

Delour Hotel, Kalimpong

2005-12-26T00:33:00.000-08:00

2 Thessalonians 3.16

2005-12-22T03:38:00.000-08:00

The Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. Or, as it is written in the NASB, ‘continually grant you peace in every circumstance.’ But the Amplified version brings out the full import of this promise. 'May the Lord of Peace grant you His peace at all times and in all ways, i.e. under all circumstances and conditions, whatever comes!'

He is the Lord of peace, and elsewhere in the Word, the God of peace, Prince of peace, and even, King of peace. He grants peace as an act of grace. Grace and peace come from the Lord Jesus Christ. How significant is the salutation of Paul in all his letters. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Always – in all times. And in all conditions – even in the worst situation you can enjoy His calm unruffled peace. Did not Peter enjoy that peace in prison, though chained to two soldiers? [Acts 12]. What about the Christian martyrs who went calmly and boldly to their deaths in the flames?

What is this peace? It is not just peace [or reconciliation] with god. It is the peace of God. The peace of God that passes all understanding, the peace that guards or garrisons our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. God’s peace as a garrison! This is for real! A felt peace! My peace I give unto you, Jn 14.27. Not the world’s fragile peace, but perfect peace, Isa 26.3. I believe that we can have this unshaken peace, peace like a river {Isa 66.12], ruling in our hearts [Col 3.15], a multiplied peace [2 Pet 1.2] – great peace! [Ps 119.165].

The Lord Jesus Christ ruling in our hearts is our Peace [Eph 2.14]; in Him, we have peace [John 16.33]. The Amplified Bible expands 2 Pet 1.2 as follows: ‘Freedom from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts/dilemmas.’ Christ is ruling in our hearts; His kingdom is being experienced in a spiritual way [See Rom 14.17]; it is righteous and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. There is a profound undisturbedness of spirit found in God Himself. Like Him, we are ‘far above all’.

I believe the key word is ‘peace’ because it is repeated twice in this promise. The God of peace will crush Satan under our feet. If only we will learn to abide in Him and obey Him in all things. He truly is our Lord.

Idolatry

2005-12-12T00:02:00.000-08:00

Paul says, Flee idolatry, 1 Cor 10.14. He goes on to say that sacrifices offered to idols are sacrifices offered to demons, 1 Cor 10.20. He says further that we cannot partake in the Lord's Table and in the table of demons. John also warns us, saying, Little children, guard yourselves from idols, 1 John 5.21. There are also serious warnings by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in the book of Revelation about eating food sacrificed to idols, Rev 2.14 and 2.20.

Idolatry is a very serious matter. At Bethel, in Genesis 35, we see how Jacob's family buried their idols and ear-rings [charms] under the oak tree in Shechem. We saw how the power of God was released on their behalf, for the terror of God fell upon their enemies. Idolatry is a kind of bondage [Gal 4.8; Col 2.8], and we have to be released from that bondage. We have to be redeemed from vain customs and traditions [1 Pet 1.18]. Idolatry brings a curse [Deut 7.26; 27.15], prevents us from entering the kingdom of God [1 Cor 6.9] and destines us for the lake of fire [Rev 21.8].

Yet despite all the warnings of Moses [in Deuteronomy], and all the warnings of the prophets, we find a strong tendency among God's people [Israel] to worship idols. The sacred place, Bethel, became the site of the golden calf set up by Jeroboam. It was because of this idolatry [worship of the golden calf, worship of Baal] that Israel went into captivity.

During the reign of Josiah, the idolatrous altar and high place at Bethel was destroyed [2 Kings 23.15] Subsequently they celebrated the Passover, and it is written that such a glorious Passover was not observed since the days of the Judges. No king in Judah or Israel had observed such a wonderful Passover. Don't we see the connection? If the Passover speaks of Christ and His great [finished] work on the Cross, then surely our understanding and appreciation of Christ is hindered by our 'idolatry' - by the idols that lurk in our hearts. Whatever may be this idolatry - whether physical or spiritual - it is a great barrier to understanding the merits of the great sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Idolatry brings blindness. The Spirit is grieved. We are unable to experience the loving Presence of the Lord. This idolatry may be in the form of images [pictures of Christ]; in passions and obsessions [love of fashions, sports, hero-worship, hobbies and pastimes]; in celebrating so-called Christian festivals of Lent, Easter and Christmas - which are actually heathen customs; in observing auspicious days, holding to popular superstitions, and following the ways of the world.

Spiritual idolatry [the obsessions in our heart] is a great barrier to knowing Christ. We fall into deception; we become blind and deaf; and our heart becomes hardened to the truth of God's word. We may read without being spoken to; we may apprehend [only mentally], without being enlightened in our heart.

What is the reason for this idolatry? It is an unwillingness to accept the work of the cross in our lives. Unless there is an inward cross, we cannot cannot experience open heaven, we cannot comprehend Christ, we cannot worship in spirit and truth.

Japanese Pagoda, Darjeeling

2005-12-09T01:13:00.000-08:00

An Adventure in Canada

2005-12-03T02:22:00.000-08:00

You'd like to hear this! I was in Canada, in Montreal. I wanted to go to church. Quebec is a Roman Catholic province. Most Canadians in this region don't go to church. I was not happy with the biggest evangelical church in Montreal; it was too smug and superficial.

What to do? I was a stranger in Canada. The nearest assembly was in Ottawa, two hours away. And there was another in Toronto, 500-600 kms away, where a pastor from Lansing, Michigan was visiting! There was a burden in my heart. I must go to church on Sunday!

Just a burden! Just a longing! For fellowship, for worship! The Lord can do wonders. He provided me with Sri Lankan friends [I had never met them before! It is just that we loved Christ! We went to different churches, but we had one thing in common: we loved Christ!]

They took me by road in their car, all the way, with a spicy Sri Lankan lunch in the bargain! En route we witnessed to people by giving out tracts! And so I landed at Toronto,Friday night, in a house where I had never been before! [But my friends, Indians, were friends in Christ!]

The next day my Lansing friends [whom I had never seen before! but they loved the Lord!] arrived and took me to Niagara Falls. The Falls are bigger on the Canadian side! [And we witnessed to people! and had a great time!]

Sunday, worship at Missisauga, a splendid dinner, [I almost missed the train!] and I came back to Montreal Monday morning! What a whirlwind trip! What a Lord! [Psalm 136.4]

Jacob and his new name, Israel

2005-11-28T00:25:00.000-08:00

It was at Peniel that Jacob was given a new name, Israel, 'for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.' Israel can mean 'he who strives with God' or 'God strives'. In some versions of the Bible, Israel means 'prince with God'.

We find that God appears to Jacob at El-Bethel and again reiterates the new name, Israel. Yet we find that Jacob is referred to as Jacob most times, and only in a few places the Spirit of God refers to him as Israel.

In Gen 35.20, we find that Jacob sets up a pillar over the grave of Rachel, but in the next verse it says, 'Israel journeyed on'. The pillar of Jacob seems to point towards heavenly things, and it is clear that at Bethlehem Jacob has a heavenly vision for, though Rachel sorrows in earthly fashion, by a bold and clear faith in God he names his last son, Benjamin, 'the son of the right hand'. The right hand of God, the place reserved for God's first-born. But in verse 22, we observe the failure of Reuben, Jacob's first born, an embodiment of the flesh, even as his father, Israel, is being slowly transformed into a man of the Spirit.

We come to chapter 37, where we observe the relationship of father and son, patterned no doubt on the heavenly relationship between Father and Son. So we find that 'Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons', 37.3; and once again, Israel telling Joseph, 'Come and I will send you to your brothers', and Joseph replying, 'I will go.' The Lord Jesus was fully aware that when he would come to His own, His own would reject Him.

In chapter 43 we find Israel shining when he says, 'Take, take, take.' [Gen 43.11,12,13]. He is prepared to give up his beloved son, Benjamin, 43.13. So the heavenly Father was prepared to give up His beloved Son for our sakes.

In Gen 45.26 Israel declares, after his spirit revives on seeing the wagons that Joseph had sent to him, 'It is enough; my son Jospeh is still alive; I will go and see him before I die.' But now Israel is under the discipline of God, and he will not rush into Egypt. He waits at Beersheba, and only when God speaks will he go down to Egypt. He is not the old Jacob, but one who moves in the presence of God.

In the relationship between Israel and Joseph we find a hint of the heavenly bond between the Father and the Son. So Joseph meets his father Israel and falls on his neck and weeps a long time; and Israel says, 'Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.' For Israel, seeing Joseph is like resurrection!

In Gen 47.29, it is time for Israel to die, but he does not want to be buried in Egypt. He wants to be buried in the cave of Macpelah with his fathers. Nothing shall remain in Egypt. We are not of this world. We belong to heaven.

In chapter 48, we see Israel blessing Joseph's two sons, crossing his hands, 48.14. Though his eyes are so dim that he cannot see, he is not like his father Isaac. Guided by the Spirit of God, he puts Ephraim before Manasseh. First the spiritual, then the natural. The Cross which has worked so deeply in Jacob's life has transformed him into a spiritual and heavenly man, truly a Prince with God. He says, 'I am about to die, but God will be with you, and will bring you back to the land of your fathers.' Such is the faith of the patriach, whose eyes are open to the heavenly realities.

In chapter 48 he blesses his sons, each with the blessing appropriate to him, 49.28. That is heavenly wisdom. What a contrast with Isaac!

We find that Jacob dies. He drew his feet into the bed and breathed his last, 48.33. And yet, it is stated, in 50.2 that the physicians embalmed Israel. He is a Prince with God.

In his old age, ever since his experience at Peniel he shines as a father who cares for his sons. There is a new nature here, that is spiritual, heavenly and divine. Here is a man of God, not the old, carnal, grasping Jacob. He is ready to die, he is not afraid of death, because he knows that he will straightaway go into the arms of God.

There is much to be learnt about the transformation of Jacob into Israel. May the Lord continue to speak to us from the life of this great patriarch, from whose loins the children of Israel were born.

Blind Man of Bethsaida

2005-11-11T22:25:00.000-08:00

You know the story in Mark chapter 8. Just five verses, from 22 to 26.

The blind man was honest. He said, 'I cannot see clearly. Things are blurred.'

Are we honest? Do we admit to God that we cannot see clearly? The Bible talks a lot about spiritual sight. The eyes of our understanding being open. Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. We need sight, we need revelation; we need to see clearly. We have come out of darkness into His marvellous light. The light must grow, Prov 4.18.

Yet we live in darkness. We live in a kind of twilight zone. We can't see clearly. Job says, in chapter 42.5, 'Now my eyes sees You!'. Now Job can see clearly, after the terrible and devastating experience of the Cross.

Jesus wants an honest answer. Lord, open my eyes that I may see wondrous things out of Your law [word], Psalm 119.18. If we are honest about our inability to see, then He will be gracious and touch our eyes once again. There is need for a second touch. We need to see the heavenly things, the spiritual things, and experience resurrection life, ascension life, heavenly life. Did not Elisha see in 2 Kings 6.17,18? There is a spiritual dimension, a pure and heavenly dimension, where we can experience the Presence of the Lord and appreciate the things of heaven. But we are satisfied with earthly things, with a limited and hazy vision; we claim to see, but in reality we are blind [John 9.39-41]

Cottage Resort in Mirik, April 2004

2005-10-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

Isaiah 41.10 - A Great Promise

2005-10-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

A. This is one of the greatest promises of God in the Bible.

'Fear not, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you.
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Comments:
1. Fear and faith are contradictory. If you fear, you have no faith. Fear is a powerful weapon of Satan. God says, Fear not. Why? Because God is with us; He is our Immanuel God. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. He is with us, as He was with Joseph in Egypt, and Israel in the wilderness. Lo, I am with you always, Jesus tells His disciples. Always.

2. Don't be anxious. Don't look here and there. Don't look at the circumstances. Look unto Me. Looking unto Jesus. 'They looked unto Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed.' [Ps 34]. Keep your eyes on the Lord.

3. I am your God. He is my God. The Lord Jesus is my Saviour. He is mine, and I am His. He is God, God Almighty, the El Shaddai God, the all-powerful God, the Omnipotent God who reigns forever.

4. I will strengthen you. He will strengthen your heart, Ps 27. Your heart will be established by His grace, Heb 13. His grace is abundant; His grace is sufficient. When we come to the throne of grace, we will obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need, Heb 4.16. God will never fail.

5. He will uphold us, or hold us up. There is no fear of falling. Underneath are the everlasting arms, Deut 33. Nobody can snatch us out of His hands, John 10.28,29.

6. The right hand of His righteousness. He means what He says. God is true and righteous. He is a faithful God. He is the everlasting Rock. The eternal God is our refuge. He will surely perform what He has promised.

7. Oh, that we would keep trusting in Him at all times! That we would keep 'looking unto Him'. That we would keep praising Him for this great promise.

8. This promise will never fail. Haven't you noticed? God is saying, 'Surely', 'surely'! This is more than a promise, it is an assurance. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Little Church at Mirik

2005-10-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

Keep Knocking

2005-10-12T21:59:00.000-07:00

The Lord Jesus Christ speaking in Rev 3.7 refers to Himself as the One 'who has the key of David, [the One] who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.’ He opens and no one shuts. So He set before the church at Philadelphia an ‘open door, and no one can shut it.’

But the same Jesus shuts and no one opens. There are many doors that He shuts in our lives – doors which we would gladly go through, not realizing that they are portals to self-seeking and self-gratification, avenues which are outside the will of God. God has a plan for us, and if we desire to be in the will of God and in the plan of God, then He will shut the doors that we would fain open. Often we feel frustrated because the doors are not opening. We never ask, ‘Is this the will of God? Is this the plan of God for me?’ We have many aspirations and ambitions, but we never seek to know the will of God.

God teaches us in practical ways and through painful experience. The difficult circumstances are allowed by Him in our life, even the ‘shut doors’. This is how He chastens us, and makes us learn to wait on Him.

What do we do when we confront a ‘shut door’? Try knocking on the door. God doesn’t want us to be passive. He says, Ask, Seek, Knock. Prayer is not just asking, not just seeking, but knocking. Keep knocking.

We want something from God, we desire it earnestly, we plead with God; and if our heart is really in it, and if it is God’s will, then surely He will do it. However, if it is not God’s will, then He will not answer. And He will take away the desire for it, so that our knocking becomes half-hearted and slack as the days go by. But where we are in earnest and where God wills, it will surely be done.

There is something called a ‘burden’. This is a weight put on the heart. We are burdened about the matter. As we pray earnestly the burden increases. And not just that! But our prayer increases. Our dependence on the Lord increases. It becomes an issue that is ‘according to His will’ and accomplished ‘by His grace’.

So the Friend at Midnight kept knocking, because his need was great [he needed food for himself and his family, as much as for his friend] – and the God who supplies every need according to Philippians 4.19 met that need promptly and abundantly. The door opened to fervent and persistent knocking. The question is: ‘Do we know what we need?’ Is it ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness’ or is it ‘Seek worldly riches, worldly name and fame, worldly security – the things of this world’?

May we know what to pray for, may we desire the things that are above, may we glorify God in all that we do, may we enjoy the abundance of His grace, may we be blessed in every way and become a blessing to many - through the power of persistent prayer! Keep knocking.

Mirik Lake, April 2004

2005-10-12T21:56:00.000-07:00

Stand Still

2005-10-10T05:22:00.000-07:00

Stand still.
Don't go back, don't give up.
Don't run hither and thither. Don't fret. Don't worry.
Don't rush forward.
Just stand still.

In times of uncertainty, wait.
If you have any doubt, wait.
Don't force yourself into a fret or hurry.
If you have a restraint in your spirit, wait.

Wait till all is clear.
Things are bound to clear up.
God is faithful.
He will do it.

God moves in mysterious ways

2005-10-10T05:19:00.000-07:00

God moves in mysterious ways,
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

William Cowper, 18th century, English poet and hymn-writer.

Mirik, Tea Garden workers, relaxing

2005-10-10T05:05:00.000-07:00

Psalm 77

2005-10-10T04:48:00.000-07:00

This is Asaph's Psalm. He wrote some powerful psalms. They come from the bottom of his heart. When we pray do we really mean what we pray? Do we put our heart into our prayers?

'My voice rises to God. I will cry aloud. And He will hear me.' How intense can you be? He is crying out from his heart. He wants God to hear him. He says, God will hear me. When you put your heart into your prayers, you get the assurance that God has heard you.

What was his trouble? This is anguish at night. He 'stretched out his hand without weariness'. How soon we give up! We can't pray for long.

His soul refuses to be comforted. This is really anguish. He is praying earnestly, crying out to God, yet there is no comfort. He is touching the point of despair. Where is God's grace and mercy? Where is His loving-kindness and compassion? Is it to going to be only wrath and darkness?

Then he remembers God. He remembers, remembers. Do you remember the past? The great Red Sea experience in your life. Not just coming out of Egypt, but passing through the Red Sea. This is the experience of every true child of God. We have to pass through the Red Sea. That promise, the great promise of Exodus 14.13,14, has to be tested and proved in our lives. Not just once, but twice...and again and again, till we know that God is true, that God is faithful. And though we pass through the waters, He will be with us.

How was I saved? Was it by mere mental acceptance? No, it was the truth that went into my heart. I was saved by the sheer grace and mercy of God. And I experienced the power of His deliverance, even as the enemy pursued me as I left his kingdom. Our faith is a battle. The Christian life is a battle. There is spiritual reality and spiritual forces are working behind this life of circumstances. But, praise God, He fights our battles and we only have to hold our peace.

Eventhough God's ways are unsearchable - His footsteps are not known - we know that He cares for us, even as a shepherd cares for his sheep, even as He led us out of Egypt and through the Red Sea and through the Wilderness into the Promised Land.