Seeds of the Kingdom 19 August 2022 Daily Devotional || By Ellel Ministries International
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by John Sainsbury
SCRIPTURE: I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip. Psalm 121:1a-3, NIV
Seeds of the Kingdom 19 August 2022 MESSAGE
Right in the middle of the Bible there is a collection of psalms which we know as the Song of Ascents: Psalms 120-134. They are thought to be the songs sung by worshippers as they ascended the road to Jerusalem to attend one of the pilgrim festivals. The title is especially fitting, as Jerusalem’s lofty geographical position meant that worshippers would have to climb to reach it.
But climbing isn’t always easy.
Recently my wife and I undertook quite a long walk in a mountainous region. Whilst the views were fantastic, the journey to see them was far from easy. Indeed, there was one section that involved us scaling a virtually sheer rock face and struggling to find footholds and handholds that would enable us to make the ascent. In all honesty, we were both terrified; especially as a very strong gusty wind threatened to tear us off the side of the mountain as we climbed.
If we could have turned round and gone back, we would have. But that would have meant getting caught out, exposed, in the darkness on the hostile barren mountainside. We both genuinely wondered if we were going to make it. All we could do was to cry out to God and keep telling ourselves not to look up, not to look down, but simply concentrate on the next step. As we did so, little by little, we made our ascent until, finally, we reached the summit.
I think life can feel like that sometimes. To look ahead is too terrifying. To look back provides no comfort. What then? Sometimes all we can do is to simply concentrate on the next step and then the next and then the next, even when it feels that we could slip at any moment. And, as we do, we cry out to God to guide our feet and hold us safely in His everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).
There are other moments in our journey through life when we’re not in mortal peril and we can enjoy taking in the view, even though it might feel like a steep climb. There are even times when we delight in the many seasons and terrains, walking, resting, and playing along the way. All seems to be well.
Wherever we are on the journey today, the truth of God’s goodness and faithfulness is the same. Our help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. And He will not let our foot slip.
Seeds of the Kingdom 19 August 2022 PRAYER
Dear LORD, thank You that You know exactly where I am in my journey through life. You know the challenges. You know the joys. You know when I feel anxious and afraid. You know when all I can do is to cling on and pray. Lord God, help me to remember always that my help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth. Thank You that You guide my steps. Please help me to journey through this day, knowing that You watch over my coming and going both now and evermore (Psalm 121:8). Amen.
Seeds of the Kingdom 19 August 2022 Daily Devotional written by John Sainsbury. After a 16-year career in banking, John went to London Bible College where he completed a degree in theology and met his wife Sue. John then worked for 20 years in a number of church and other Christian contexts including establishing and leading a Missional Community in the Lake District before becoming the Lead Pastor at Garstang Free Methodist Church in 2012.
Whilst on a sabbatical break in 2019, John and Sue attended a wonderful marriage retreat, Time Out, at Ellel Ministries Canada and subsequently heard a call to join the team. They joined the Flagship school in the Autumn of 2020 and now serve on the Leadership team at Ellel Grange. John has a real passion for the Word of God and longs to see people become life-long followers of Christ.
