Nov 21, 2025 – Fortress
Two months ago, if someone had brought up the subject of pendulums and pulleys, I would have thought I was in store for hearing about, or even watching, an industrial documentary. Instead, pendulums and pulleys are now part of my daily physical therapy routine as I recover from rotator cuff surgery. As stiff as I was for quite a time after surgery, I found it difficult to grasp that I would be able to move my arm, or really do any of the exercises, like the other people at the therapy office who were a little further along on the path of recovery.
But, there I was just a little while ago, sitting with my back to the porch door that was holding the pulley in place, letting my left arm help my right arm move up and down. Three slow sets of ten in three directions left me a bit of time to notice things I could only notice while facing a direction I don’t usually face, at least not for very long at a time. [Ahhhh, sunrise on Red Mountain across the valley. Sorry. Just had to pause to appreciate God’s painting this morning!]
There’s a wall of frames across from the pulley station with some empty slots that need filling. The dining room table and the counter are begging to be cleared (especially because next week folks will be wanting to have places to sit for Thanksgiving). And, at my feet, are two planters that we (Don) brought in from the porch when the temperatures dropped last week. I paused the pulling to reach for the closest planter thinking I could wrangle it with one hand to get it out of the walkway, but I couldn’t; and, had to remind myself that I still can’t do a right-handed assist. I have begun brushing my teeth again with my right hand but still can’t lift it high enough to do much more than brush the ends of my hair. As I may have mentioned once or twice already, I have often thought that I may be quite ambidextrous by the time I’m “fully” recovered. Whether that manifests or not, this season of altered abilities has given me a new level of understanding and empathy for folks who deal with much worse.
Prevail #325 – Hebrews 3:1 – “Think carefully about this Jesus whom we declare to be God’s messenger and High Priest.” Larson writes, “Some of the Israelites idolized Moses and yet completely missed Jesus. Whenever we drift from a deep and intimate walk with God, we construct a Savior that fits our preferences. But the author of Hebrews charges us to think carefully about this Jesus, the One who actually came to save us…. He’s not soft on sin, but He’s full of compassion for the Sinner. He says, ‘Follow me and live’, and yet He also bids us come and die – die to our imagined rights, our self-preservation, our self-promoting ways. He wants us to live free, secure, and whole. He calls us to love ourselves and to love our enemies. He offers us no leniency for grudges, unforgiveness, or dishonor. He’s not impressed with passionate worship if the life behind it is secretly living in sin…. He sees all, knows all, and continually calls us higher, to be more like Him. Do you really want to follow Jesus? Because He’ll ask for everything. But what He offers is beyond your wildest dreams.” I trust Him to walk me (and my loved ones who call on Him for the things they are facing) through this season of healing that feels somewhat unstable.
New p.118– Psalm 144:2 ESV – “He is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.” Slawson writes, “Fear is a part of every woman’s life at some point, if not a constant for many…. Fear robs us of the freedom that Christ has given us. God is faithful to prepare us for the next step in our lives, to lead us through dark places, and to come to our aid when we want to cower in the face of intimidation. Through Christ, every force that causes fear has been subdued. Nothing has authority in our lives except God. Rehearse His love in your life. Remember times of kindness and protection…. He has been your fortress…. When you remember Him this way, your fears begin to subside.”
Power is entitled, “Freedom from Anxiety.” Seems to be our theme today.
Philippians 4:6 – “Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.” Joyce encourages us, “I highly recommend speaking the word of God when a ‘worry attack’ comes upon you. Doing this is what it means to wield the two-edged sword against the enemy (see Hebrews 4:12 and Ephesians 6:17). A sword in its sheath won’t do any good during an attack; God has given us the sword of His Word so we can use it…. the single most effective weapon that can be used to win the war against worry and anxiety.”
Streams – Psalm 37:5 – “Commit your way to the Lord.” Cowman quotes R. Leighton, “Talk to God about whatever may be pressuring you and then commit the entire matter into His hands. Do this so that you will be free from the confusion, conflicts, and cares that fill the world today…. From that point forward, exercise quiet, sweet diligence in your work, recognizing your dependence on Him to carry the matter for you.” Cowman continues from selected, unnamed, sources, “Also, this committing of your way to Him must be continuous, not just one isolated action. And no matter how unexpected or extraordinary His guidance may seem and no matter how close to the edge of the cliff He may lead you, never snatch the guiding reins from His hands…. And that is why some Christians are so anxious and fearful. They have obviously not truly committed their way to the Lord and left it with Him. They took it to Him but walked away with it again.”
JC – “Thank Me through this day for My Presence and My Peace…. Thanksgiving and praise put you in proper relationship with Me, opening the way for My riches to flow into you.”
Utmost – “The death of Jesus Christ is the performance in history of the very mind of God. There is no room for looking on Jesus Christ as a martyr; His death was not something that happened to Him which might have been prevented. His death was the very reason He came. Never build your preaching of forgiveness on the fact that God is our Father and He will forgive us because He loves us…. God could forgive men in no other way than by the death of His Son, and Jesus is exalted to be Saviour because of His death.”
[Note: I’m glad I stopped to enjoy the colorful view earlier, because now Red Mountain is white-washed in a fog. We should try our best to pay attention to the blessings and directions God offers daily, all day.]
