From the Edges – Morning Devotions
Pastor Calvin Cook – May 28, 2024
Maneuvering Curves
Scripture focus – Ezekiel 37:1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.
Recently a person was sharing with me the distance they were feeling from God. Because of some obligations, work, family, and mainly distractions of the world they had taken their eyes off of what their relationship with Jesus had meant to them. Not that they had left the relationship or rebuked God in anyway they just realized they were no longer in the place that they once were. This happens all the time, it happened to my friend, it happens to me, and being honest with yourself it happens to you.
In this morning’s early hours this conversation came to mind and I thought and prayed for this situation that has beset all of us. This condition has bleed into society in a way that we, our marriages, our families, our communities, and even the church that was so focused on being the people that God has created and called us to be, have become distant in our relationship with God. We put it off with excuses that are certainly not changing the condition and even at times is moving us further from God’s will.
As I prayed about the conversation, for the person, for this situation affecting us all I was reminded of the 37th chapter of Ezekiel. The opening verse describing a great vision given to Ezekiel describing the situation Ezekiel and the people of Israel was in and how this entire chapter and prophecy can be related to our present condition today. I immediately was drawn to the imagery of maneuvering curves.
The area we have always lived are some rather concerning, sharp curves that some times people are unable to maneuver and end up in a ditch, over the hill, hurt in an accident and some cases even the loss of life occurs because of an accident. Most of the time and most of the people are able to maneuver these curves, because either you have experience and have had to maneuver the curve many times before or you have observed the warning signs. There should be something about a big flashing sign that reads “Dangerous Curve Ahead” that should alert and warn you. However …. well you know the answer to this however.
I realized that what my friend was sharing with me about the distractions they were experiencing is about maneuvering the curves of life. We all will have them. Some we are prepared for some we are not. Regardless, we will have to be careful how we enter the curve, maneuver the curve, and exit the curve back on to the straight and narrow way for the rest of our journey. If we enter and come out of the curves with a heart set on Jesus and follow the direction of the Holy Spirit we will be better, stronger, bolder in our faith prepared for the journey. If we go off course, we will end up in a ditch or over the hill and need some help out, that help will also be supplied by the Holy Spirit. However there is that chance that we will end up in the valley of despair wondering how we got there and praying even pleading for rescue. That rescue will come but we will need to leave that valley of death for the life that is promised if we receive.
Be prepared for the curves ahead. The prayer from Psalm 143:10 is worthy of praying as we begin this new day – “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground! In Jesus mighty name I pray Amen
Thoughts from the Edges 
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