From the Edges – Delivered

A personal note from Calvin - These contributions From the Edges are from my personal morning devotion, prayer, and worship time. These are written journaled personal thoughts that I choose to share with the churches I serve in Kane PA. Kane Community Methodist Church and East Kane Methodist Church. This is my way to share that we all are in unique relationships with God but to find where we are we have to make that appointment with God to experience God to the fullest. May God fill you today with all mercy and peace !

From the Edges – Delivered   (composed February 9, 2024 at 5:00 – 7:00AM

Scripture focus – Jeremiah 31:10-14

I had a restless night’s sleep. Tossing and turning, consumed with some concerns, thinking of others, paying bills, etc. It seemed like my morning appointment with God would never come. I consider my time between 5AM and 8AM as my time with God. I have made that commitment and try hard without failing to find that place whether it is in prayer, music, scripture reading, a walk with God, a time to shut off the world and spend time with God.  I have a certain place that I refer to as my sanctuary, that this alone time with God takes place. This morning the physical place is different .

Finding sanctuary this morning seemed harder. Not because of where I am physically but where I am mentally. The things I cannot let go of so my attention is fully, wholly, and holy on God my relationship and feeling the places that I need to empty to be filled by God.

The last few days the words of someone who is in a difficult place, said three words that keep circling in my mind. The three words were this; “ I feel trapped “.  I’ve prayed with all my heart these last couple of days for this person that feels trapped. In this case the person feels trapped by an addictive lifestyle. That is what addiction does, traps us. To be honest we are all trapped by something. Seeking a way out, waiting for someone or something to come and free us from this oppression. To some this prison looks like a dead-end job, a bad relationship, to my young friends -feeling trapped by school and status, it is finances, and oh so much more that is different for each of us.

When evil shows up in the disguise of being good then we get further into this prison that we need delivered from. All of this has been swirling around for quite some time, but more lately, with hearing and experiencing those who are seeking a way of deliverance but not yet wanting to receive the hope that is found in Jesus. We must wait for the authentic deliverer.

Now the good news – as the Spirit spoke this morning. I turned to my daily bible reading and the place I am this morning in my verse-by-verse reading. Praying first Lord speak to me from your word, marked for today’s reading  Jeremiah 31:10-14.

As always, the Holy Spirit never disappoints as I read, verse 11 came to life, jumped off the page – “For the Lord will deliver Jacob and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.”

Suddenly I began praying “For the Lord will deliver Calvin and redeem him from the hand of those stronger than me.”  I would encourage you to stop right now and insert your name into this prayer and pray it.

This is more than prayer; this is prayer and receiving that prayer. This is acknowledging that your prayer for deliverance is not just a prayer but acknowledgement that God answers prayer and will be faithful with an answer. This is trust, faith, hope and receiving joy all rolled into one. That you will ask (knock) and receive (the door opened) now walk through and acknowledge as verse 12 reads “shout for joy” because you have received, you have been set free.

The other way the Holy Spirit spoke this morning. At the same time all of this was happening with God speaking through his holy word, music was playing. On my playlist this morning was Rich Mullins and as the song – “My Deliverer” is playing, seemingly louder than some of the other songs playing in the background – the words “my deliverer is coming my deliverer is standing by”. One of the lines being “Though I doubt my heart, I doubt my eyes, my deliverer is coming, my deliverer is standing by.”

My dear friends, there is so much more to life than what meets the eye or fills our mind. The best is in store for us through this relationship with Jesus and then growing in that relationship every day. For you who do not know your deliverer is here his name is Jesus.