July 29, 2025 – Clouds
I made the mistake of turning on the TV this morning to see updates about the shooting that happened in NYC last night. In addition to that story, there were several other disturbing segments about the depravity in our society, and I told myself that’s why I typically start my day with God and not the news. I’m grateful for the people who can tolerate keeping the world informed but am so glad I don’t have to be one of them.
Max writes about Jesus seeing our sins and washing them away. Makes me think to ask, even the sins of the those in the news reports who attacked innocent people? I would assume so if they repent. “My grace is enough. I can cleanse these people. I will wash away their betrayals.” It’s rather easy to believe and take in reassurances like that when we are in a place of relative ease, but more difficult in times of stress.
JA – “Patient endurance can be developed only through hardship. So make every effort to welcome the very problem you dread. Bring it into My Presence with thanksgiving….” Lord, I thank You for inspiring people to come up with MRI machines to help diagnose problems. And thank You for insurance to help pay for these tests. Thank You for going with me today to keep me calm. “Ask Me to take this dark, ugly thing [the MRI tunnel] and transform it into something lovely.” Ok Lord – I’m asking – transform my trepidation into a peaceful calm. One of the JA verses for today is from Philippians 2:14-15 – “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation….” This was written long ago. It is not just our generation that feels like we live in depraved times. People all through time think their times are worse than in previous times. The brutality and sinfulness are part of our fallen world. We do best when hold God’s hand and trust Him to walk us through each season of our lives.
Utmost – Revelation 1:7 – “Behold, He cometh with clouds.” Chambers writes, “God’s purpose in the cloud is to simplify our belief until our relationship to Him is exactly that of a child.” That makes a lot of sense because children trust their parents to make decisions for them and guide and protect them. They don’t question where their provisions come from. They just benefit from them. “Unless we can look the darkest, blackest fact full in the face without damaging God’s character, we do not yet know Him.” I get that about children too – bad things happen at times – good parents help children get through those times.
I had to interrupt my devotion time to go to the MRI. Don drove me since I took an Ativan and I was glad he did because once I started signing the admission papers and saw that there would be an unexpected injection of contrast dye, I took the second Ativan that the dr had prescribed to help with anxiety (which I didn’t think I’d have but didn’t want to be unprepared in case I did). Everything went well thanks to the calm medical staff, the prayers, and the Ativan; however, I think it may have allowed me to be too calm because I fell asleep in the MRI and kept jerking awake and messing up the test making the images blurry! Lord, please be with the doctors as they read the results and give them insight and wisdom.
After lunch, I was still not quite myself so I took a nap, a long one, and then came back to finish my devotion time. As is the case quite often when I don’t get to my reading in the morning, I realize that I really do miss out when I don’t start my day with God and my devotion friends as is the case with the first book I picked up.
Prevail 210 is entitled “God Promises Peace” – that would have been a comforting reminder to carry with me, but that was truly already instilled in my psyche and He did go with me. I felt peaceful the whole time. This devotion picks up on my concerns earlier about all of the troubles in our world, “And at the right time, He will deal with the wicked, defend the weak, and deliver His people.” He always does. All through time He has…not always like we expect or want but in His way that works all things out for good (Romans 8:28).
JC – “Your mind will wander from Me, but the question is how far you allow it to wander….As you become increasingly attuned to My Presence, the length of rope on your soul’s Anchor is shortened.” That would have been a helpful reminder to carry with me into this unknown situation, but again I think my faith has gotten to such a better place that it doesn’t take me too long in tough situations to call on Him. I said the 23rd Psalm as I waited in my gown to be called back for the injection.
Power – “It is important to do the best you can out of your love for God, but since none of us are perfect, we will make mistakes. When we do, we can talk openly to our Father about them and maintain a relationship of peace with Him.” That is important to remember when I start out in a wrong direction. Like was mentioned in JC, I need to have a short anchor rope pulling me back to God sooner each time I drift away. Young wrote in JC, “You wander only a short distance before feeling that inner tug – telling you to return to your true Center in Me.” It’s important that going to Him is our first course of action not the last thing we “try”.
Streams – “Our trials are great opportunities, but all too often we simply see them as large obstacles.” Cowman picks up on what Chambers said about clouds earlier, “If we would look for the signs of His glorious handiwork, then every cloud would indeed become a rainbow….” That big white MRI machine did sort of feel like being in a cloud. Is it only me who is fascinated at how these devotions, these friends, pick up on and add to what the others have shared which knits together a very meaningful conversation and a great start to my day.
(I thought I was just barely making it under the July 29 wire, but apparently the host system for this blog site is not on central time because it’s just before midnight here in Alabama but the blog was stamped July 30. The Ativan nap left me with some late night energy. I guess it doesn’t really matter when I publish, just that I follow where I think I’m being led. I may not be the most consistent blogger, but I am willing to share as I can. Please go before and behind me Lord. Guide my writing and the reader’s understanding.)
