Where Do I Desire to Be – Morning Devotional – And It Came to Pass

And It Came to Pass – Devotionals
Prepared by Pastor Calvin Cook – January 7, 2025
Where Do I Desire to Be

Psalm 91 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

Several years ago, when I was still rather fresh into pastoral ministry, my District Superintendent asked me “If you can go anywhere and serve as Pastor where would it be?” Without hesitation I said, “Hawaii!” He laughed and assured me that I would not be going to Hawaii and asked that I be serious with an answer. I told him the places that I would be interested in, all of them for my own comfort. The conversation ended with the assurance that I was in a good place, doing a good job, and would not have anything to worry about immediately regarding a move. Three days later, this DS called me and said, “change of plans, we would like you to go to “and I was told the place of my next appointment. Here was the kicker, it was in the least likely of places, the complete opposite direction and setting that I was desiring. But here I am 8 and a half years later. Often, more than once in my life, I have been called to a place where I did not want to be and needed to make the best of it. Of course, looking back, I see the plan that God has for us are always greater than the ones we make for ourselves.

On Saturday, I conducted the Celebration of Life for a great man of our church and community, John Simons. John was a great friend to me here in the early days of Gail and I came to Kane and the legacy that he left is huge, and hard to fill. One of the scriptures that John selected to be read at his service was from Psalm 91 that I share with you this morning. The words “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty” spoke loudly to me this morning. The only choice that we can make on this earthly pilgrimage of where we want to be or should be is in “the shelter of the most high”. But are we living there or just visiting occasionally. Are we living fully into being sheltered and cared for by and in the presence of God.

We also receive the assurance that when we decide to live and be where God wants us to be, instead of vesting all of our interest and living in this warzone called life we will never experience the “and it came to pass” theme that we have been focusing on in these devotionals. God does not, let me be very clear in saying did not plan this type of a life for His people. I know all of the excuses of the why nots, but what are the why for ? When simply all we have to do is move and focus on the place God has prepared for us, that which God has called us to and live it out.

In a final thought – John endured through some very extensive cancer that claimed his life. All through that battle, John remained with his heart and mind set on that which had been destined for John since birth. John actually was living in the shelter of the highest God, before his last breath on this side of eternity. I desire to do the same, and I hope you desire to move into that God centered neighborhood as well. This is truly what will change our lives, our family’s lives, our communities, and everything we struggle with.

Is where we are where we need to be? as we desire, hopefully to be the shelter of the Most High God that we focus on Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Say your own prayer here for the things that you need to surrender to experience the fullness of God.