It's interesting how life nowadays is so filled with NOISE! We love noise and constantly crave it, especially now with wonderful technological advances that make listening to music incredibly easy. People can just turn on their iPods and plug in, pumping sound into their eardrums. For myself personally I cannot think of one time that I didn't have some song stuck in my head that I had listened to before.
There is so much noise everywhere we turn! Whether it's from our iPods, cars, computers, televisions, cell phones, bluetooths (blueteeth?), radios (yes people still do use those), and much more.
There are times when I literally have to will myself to silence. For example, a little known fact about when I write is that I always write while listening to music. It doesn't matter what music it is, but I just love the harmonious flow of my writing to the music I'm listening to. However for this post, I'm actually writing it in complete silence. No music, no YouTube videos, nothing. Just the sound of my keyboard pattering as I type it.
Here is a verse that God has been putting on my heart a lot lately: "The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent" (Exodus 14:14). The context of this verse is actually an interesting one. The Israelites, a people under the slavery of Egypt for years have finally been liberated and Moses is leading them away. Suddenly off in the distance those people see Egyptian troops approaching with Pharaoh at the lead. Their faith and excitement instantly vanishes as they immediately start complaining to Moses wishing they were back in the "comforts" of Egypt.
Then Moses says those words to these doubting and complaining people. Shortly after he says them, God does an amazing thing never seen before on planet earth. For an entire night, He takes a massive body of water weighing several tons and parts it with a strong east wind. He doesn't just part the water on top of the sea floor either with that wind, but the wind is so strong that it dries the very ground underneath that sea. This causes it to be sturdy and walkable for thousands of scared Israelites to cross to safety.
Though it doesn't say what the reaction of the Israelites was as this water parted, I wouldn't be surprised if there was an eerie hush over that crowd all night as they sat and watched the handiwork of the massive God they serve.
Has anyone ever felt like God has totally given up on them? Has anyone ever felt trapped by the circumstances around them wondering how they are ever going to get out?
For me, I have been there and I would be lying if I said I wasn't there now. I explained in my last post this dilemma I find myself in. I feel God has called me to minister to students at Eastern Connecticut State University (ECSU) and Manchester Community College (MCC). I say this because He got me this far already. In getting accepted to the EDGE Corps program, in being selected to go to these campuses I looked at them as signs of God's sovereign will and plan for this chapter of my life.
And now, here I stand looking out at this massive body of water filled with doubt, fear, discouragement, and maybe even depression. On the opposite shore is ECSU and MCC: two campuses that desperately need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. I have made calls, I have set appointments, and I have sent out letters. I have in many ways done everything I possibly can, and I will still do everything I possibly can.
However, according to that verse, God will fight for me. And right now, I have only to be silent, to wait. Wait on the sovereign and loving hand of God to make His move.
So what's it gonna be, Lord? I say that not in a challenging way, but in a trusting way.
God can move on these people's hearts. He can do it in New England, Florida, Texas, Ohio, California, Seattle, wherever He wants to, and if this is His will, which I believe that it is, then He will move.
Do you want to donate? Then right now make sure that God does. It is His money, not yours. If you don't believe in Christ and want to give then well...God bless you for your honesty and your charitable heart.
Time is short, but God is good.
God bless,
Steve
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