Sept 12, 2025 – Leaning
Yesterday I encouraged my children to try to watch some of the 9/11 ceremonies and documentaries, telling them that I watch every year to mourn with the families of the victims and to be reminded of the resilience of our people and our country in the face of tragedies; and, then yesterday I didn’t watch any of them. In the evening, after trying to go about my day not glued to the news about Charlie Kirk’s tragic murder, I looked through the channels for 9/11 coverage but ended up drawn to watching the coverage of the search for the assassin. I hope it’s less about voyeurism and more that it was a way to be part of helping. As we watch these kinds of things, we are many times prompted to pray and that is the best thing we can do when we can’t be personally involved, as the Utah sheriff pointed out during the press conference this morning when they announced that they had the suspect in custody.
JC – “Receive My Peace….sit quietly in My Presence, trusting Me in every area of your life….release that problem or person into My care. Spending time alone with Me can be a difficult discipline because it goes against the activity addiction of this age….Living close to Me is a sure defense against evil.” 2 Corinthians 10:4 – “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world….” Charlie Kirk fought with words not weapons and I’ve heard that he and his family and team prayed before his events and that he spent time at the beginning of the gathering on Wed sharing his testimony and now more people than just the 1000s in attendance Wed know about his message. He exemplified deep faith and trust in God.
Power – “Your outer life is your reputation with people. Your inner life is your reputation with God….trying to please people gives them control and can cause you to lose the call that God has on your life. Focus on your relationship with God….”
Utmost – I have trouble at times fully understanding Chambers, but usually, as with today, after a few read throughs, (and sometimes remembering to ask God for discernment) I was pleased that it offered some insight into some of what was asked and discussed in the small group yesterday with us wanting to better understand God’s ways and wondering why God seems silent at times. “It is not a question of right and wrong, but a question of God taking you by a way which in the meantime you do not understand, and it is only by going through the confusion that you will get at what God wants….when God looks completely shrouded, will you hang in in confidence in Him? …hang into it that He will ultimately give His clear revealing and justify Himself in all that He permitted….stand off in faith believing that what Jesus said is true, though in the meantime you do not understand what God is doing.”
Prevail 255 – “When we identify more with our divisions than we do with our Savior’s deepest desire for unity, we’ve lost our way. [Charlie Kirk’s assassin lost his way when he turned to violence to express his anger and opposition.] When we answer the call to walk in biblical unity, God’s power becomes tangible….If unity matters so much to Him, shouldn’t it matter as much to us?”
Max’s devotion today is a prayer – a comforting prayer based on Isaiah 12:2 – “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.” Charlie Kirk surely believed this. Max’s prayer, “Father, our world seems increasingly evil, and we are in need of rescuing….You have provided a vessel of escape for all your children through Jesus….Each step and breath I take is because of the grace you have given me….I am in awe that when I was in trouble, you came near. Amen” Certainly that is what Charlie Kirk experienced.
JA – “Your times are in My hands. So trust in Me beloved. I am training you to feel secure in the midst of change and uncertainty.” This is indeed such a timely and poignant reminder. It even makes me think of my “change and uncertainty” in the Orlando airport on Sat. That is nothing compared to what Charlie Kirk’s family is going through, but it was training ground for me. I had handled the travel weather delays, but hours into it I was weakening. Realizing that He had been guiding me well before that day, and making a way for me, helped me find peace sooner than later and will hopefully serve me well in the future.
I pray for all who are so knocked sideways by this tragedy. Give them Your peace, Lord. “It can actually be a relief to realize you are not in control of your life….When you accept this human condition while resting in My sovereignty, you become increasingly free.” That HAS to be how Charlie Kirk was able to step out so boldly sharing his faith and beliefs. I still don’t understand though the bullet aimed at Trump was thwarted but not the one aimed at Charlie. It’s not for me to understand though. Chambers’ last sentence in today’s My Utmost For His Highest devotion is, “He has bigger issues at stake than the particular things you ask.” That is not to minimize our concerns, but perhaps it is to help us more easily accept what Isaiah shares in 55:8, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,, saith the Lord.” What must it be like for our Father to know all that is ahead for us…..Young continues in her interpretation of God’s voice, “I am not telling you to be passive or fatalistic. It’s important to use your energy and abilities, but I want you to do so prayerfully….you don’t have to be anxious about making things happen faster.”
Streams – Cowman writes about being at a prayer meeting in which a man prayed asking and thanking God for blessings and then “closed his prayer with this unusual petition: ‘And O Lord, support us! Yes, support us on every leaning side!’ …He saw God as always walking alongside the Christian, ready to extend His mighty arm to steady the weak on ‘every leaning side’ “ even, I suppose, when we are leaning in death ——I don’t suppose; I know.
