Strength and a Clear Path

God – He clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect. – (Psalm 18:32, HCSB)

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. – (Psalm 18:32, NIV)

God is the one who gives me strength. He clears the path I need to take. – (Psalm 18:32, ERV)

The True God who encircled me with strength and made my pathway straight. – (Psalm 18:32, VOICE)

As so many of us return to school today after what felt like the first “real” summer in the last few years, may we be equipped with the strength of the Lord for all that lies ahead. Teaching through the pandemic made for challenge after challenge, and last year, as we all returned to buildings, there were even more trials through the process of having to reacclimate to being on campus and interacting with live humans. This morning, though it marks my 26th first day of school as a teacher, the nervousness and anticipation are still securely in place. How will I create community in my classroom, and how can I help each student feel as if they belong? We all need strength and clarity to navigate this new year, and a clear path to lead and guide well. May we all seek the Lord to be our strength and to show us the steps we need to take to help each student feel as if they belong.

O Lord, bring the new,

Better than before;

Please lead and guide us,

To open new doors.

Show us Your goodness,

Lead us in Your way;

Each step that we take,

Throughout each new day.

Help all who enter,

Feel welcomed and known;

Valued and noticed,

Let Your love be shown.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our strength and the Light that leads us in the direction You want us to go. Thank You that You go before us, remain with us, and walk beside us as we navigate each new day. Forgive us for our fearfulness of what is not yet known. Teach us to trust in You to be our strength and lead us well. Show us how to love those around us as You intended. Give us clear direction in our classrooms so that we might create a welcoming community where every child knows that they belong. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we depend on You to be our strength and seek You to direct our steps. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

Strength and a Sure Path

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. – (2 Samuel 22:33, NIV)

God is my strong fortress. He clears the path I need to take. – (2 Samuel 22:33, ERV)

God is my strong fortress; He has made me safe. – (2 Samuel 22:33, TLB)

 

Returning home after a long leave away, launched me into a season of scheduled busy that keeps me moving from early morning until the time I lie down to sleep each night. Though I would not trade it, on days such as this, I have to pause and reflect, and recognize that I only reached Friday by God’s grace and strength, with His guidance. He has protected my boys as they have begun the venture of driving solo, and granted each of us strength to return to the routine of the school year. Currently, this also includes crazy, busy weekends for all of us. God is good, and He knows our needs and is generous and kind to meet them. He makes a way for us to navigate securely, and shows us what to prioritize to maintain peace. May we ever seek our Savior to be our strength and fortress, and to show us the way that He is leading us to go.

As for mom, I imagine she is seeking the Lord to be her strength and security too, as she adapts to the new schedule in Oregon at my sister’s. With my nephews back at school, and sister and brother-in-love back to work, she has a “Visiting Angel” spending time with her during the day in their absence, and is continuing to adjust to discovering a new routine with new care-givers during the day. Mom is resilient and kind, and I know will continue to work tirelessly toward recovering with her eyes on the prize; ever pursuing her total independence again.

 

The Lord is our strength,

Keeps the way secure;

Grants hope for today,

Help so we endure.

In all our trials,

And each victory;

God will be present,

Love’s delivery.

All thanks be to God,

For His faithfulness;

As we are transformed,

By His graciousness.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our strength and that You make our path secure. Thank You that You provide and guide, even when we feel weary or wonder how the way will even be possible. Forgive us for the times that we allow the obstacles or heaviness to cloud our faith, rather than look to You. Teach us to trust You, for You are far greater than anything that lies before us or comes our way. Show us how to love those around us in a way that extends strength and hope and direction. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for Your guidance, strength and love that lead us well. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise Him, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him. – Exodus 15:2

Be Our Strength

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. – (Psalm 18:32, NIV)

God is the One who gives me strength. He clears the path I need to take. – (Psalm 18:32, ERV)

He fills me with strength and protects me wherever I go. – (Psalm 18:32, TLB)

 

There are days that I wonder how I am to navigate my way, as I feel depleted before I begin, leaving me uncertain about much of what lies before me. However, what I discover each day, much like today, is that as I turn to the Lord and rely on Him, He sustains me and strengthens me, and by the end of the day, I am able to look back and see His faithfulness that carried me throughout the duration of my day, as He was as near as each breath breathed. May we ever seek the Lord who fills us with strength and clears our path, as He is faithful to meet us each time we draw near.

 

When we are weary,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤

And our strength is gone;

The Lord shall supply,

Help us carry on.

He prepares the path,

We are meant to take;

Protects as He leads,

As we seek His face.

The Lord is faithful,

In love, freely gives;

All that is needed,

To trust, follow Him.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are the One who gives us strength and clears the path we need to take. Thank You that You are faithful to answer as we ask. Forgive us for attempting to power through in our own strength, rather than trust and rely on You. Teach us to trust You more, as You are the ultimate Source of strength and You show us the ways we are meant to go. Help us to love those around us in a way that strengthens and points people to the path You have prepared for them too. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You for strength and direction, and listen to Your leading. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. – Psalm 34:8.

 

 

Strength and Rest

God is the One who gives me strength. He clears the path I need to take. – (Psalm 18:32, ERV)
He fills me with strength and protects me wherever I go. – (Psalm 18:32, TLB)
It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. – (Psalm 18:32, NIV)

The need for strength seems to be a recurring theme this week, as the intensity of my time commitments and lack of sleep seem to be catching up with me. I am in a space of not having time to be sick, yet my body is fighting a bug that has claimed my voice and my energy. It is a challenge to navigate between seeking Him for the strength I need to get through the day, and using wisdom to know when rest is needed. My mode of operation is to say, “Oh God, help me get through this day,” and then suck it up and press on. Yesterday evening, there was time for rest. As my fiancee and I got together to spend a few hours catching up, our conversation soon turned into a nice nap for me, snuggled beside him on the couch. With a gentle hand on my shoulder, he simply let me sleep. About an hour later, he encouraged me to head home so that I could get a full night’s sleep. My body has become so accustomed to lack of sleep, that I woke at 1am, thinking that it was time to rise for the day. The gift of a few more hours of sleep did strengthen me, and I woke this morning feeling a bit more refreshed than I have the last few days. Whatever I end up needing to do, I trust that He will provide the way for it to be done. May we ever seek the Lord, who is our strength, and trust in Him to clear the path we need to take.

The Lord is my strength,
When my strength is gone;
He makes clear a way,
To keep keeping on.
He fills where I lack,
Makes my way secure;
Loves me by His grace,
Remains ever near.
He meets all my needs,
Shows me what to do;
He faithfully gives,
As He makes me new.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your kindness and grace. Thank You that You give us strength and keep our way secure, as You show us what we need to do. Forgive us for not seeking You for strength or wisdom in our space of need, and teach us to trust You more. Help us to listen to Your leading so that we may be refreshed and renewed in You. Show us how to love those around us in a way that gives strength and rest where it is needed most. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we seek You for strength and direction in all things, as You refresh and renew those who seek You. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. – Psalm 145:8

Strength to Stay the Course

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. – (2 Samuel 22:33)

 

When we seek the Lord, He not only is our Strong Fortress, but He grants us the strength that we need. The second half of the verse, “and makes my way perfect“, had me hung up for a few moments. As I dug a bit deeper and read several different translations of the Bible for the same verse, I gained a clearer picture of what David was actually saying. In the ERV, it says “He clears the path I need to take.” In TLB it states “He has made me safe.” Lastly, in The Voice, He “puts the upright on His way.” The “perfect” is the path that the Lord has for us. His plans, not our own. Though we may not see the obstacles and hurdles that we have to overcome as anything near perfect, they are often allowed as part of His perfect plan to grow us and refine us to become a clearer reflection of Him. He keeps us safe and arms us with His strength as He leads us on His way. May we trust in Him who equips us with what we need, and shows us which way we are meant to go.

 

The Lord is our strength,

those in Him, He’ll arm;

He’ll show us His path,

and keep us from harm.

He calls us upright,

and leads us along;

when we seek His face,

the Lord makes us strong.

So trust in the Lord,

and seek Him alone;

His path will be clear,

and strength shall be shown.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our strong fortress, and that You show us the path that we are meant to take. Thank You that You do not merely show us where to go, but You lead us, equip us, strengthen and protect us, every step of the way. Thank You that You are our strength and our power, and all that we need to walk in Your way. Forgive us for fearing the rough road before us, and teach us to trust in You, our strength and our safety. Lead us to walk boldly wherever You call us to go, and help us to love others with the same fearlessness. May many find faith in You as we walk in obedience to where You call us. Be glorified O God, as we trust You to arm us with strength and may our way be made perfect in You. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy. – Hebrews 4:16