A Scribe on the Wall

Several years ago now, I believe that God gave me a message, He would be telling me things and it was up to me to tell others. To me, it's much like the Watchman on the Wall as described in the Old Testament. The Watchman was told that it was on him to warn others about any approaching dangers. God's apparently gifted me with being able to type and write. So I put the old definition of a writer along with the concept of a watchman together. Jesus is coming soon...are you ready?

Monday, June 15, 2026

Love Even Those You Think Are Undeserving

by David Brenneman

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48.

"You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:18.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Watching the evil and the good." Proverbs 15:3.

Our world teaches that our dealings with others should be direct and should be blunt and forceful. Some go as far as to certainly embrace the whole eye for an eye mentality.

The Lord Jesus Christ certainly doesn't adhere to any of these trains of thought let alone any others that are different from what He's said.

Ours is to love as He loved. Love as He loved us. To not take revenge but leave room for the wrath of God. It's not for us to do nor should it be something we ruminate on as well. Does not the Scriptures say "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay."?

We do not show Christ to this fallen world when our hearts are being lead astray towards anger, bitterness and wrath.

Ours is to follow Christ's example. Jesus had many and plenty of opportunities to take up wrath against those whom did Him wrong during His time on the Earth, especially during His crucifixion.

Yet we read in His prayer to His, our Father in Heaven, not His will but rather the will of the Father be done.

We see countless movies, television shows, novels written, where people have used these platforms to espouse revenge in all kinds of ways upon those 'evil' people in their stories.

The way of Jesus Christ says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit. Love your neighbor as yourself."

There's no room, or should be no room, in our hearts for anything but the grace and mercy shown to us that we should give this to others as Christ gave us.

This was something that God began teaching me long ago. I can recount many many times where part of me wanted to use my imagination to pour out my idea of vengeance and wrath upon others. Yet my God spoke louder in my heart and His words prevailed. Later, I saw what the Lord had done concerning these people and it was beyond whatever I had in mind.

When I get out of His way in these things, He does always deal with these types of people.

My Dear Reader...the Scriptures are plain...we aren't to seek revenge, we are to pray for those who persecute us. We aren't to scheme for payback but to pray for God to deal with them in however He sees fit.

Who knows, my Dear Reader, if the person or people doing such things is going to eventually come to Christ for salvation and maybe even be that last person who is to be saved before Jesus returns?

Add to this, we don't know what Jesus is doing in these moments in the lives of others.

We are not suggested to pray, we are commanded to pray.

Ours isn't to rip people on Facebook, Instagram, X, in person or on other websites. Ours is to truly only take the matter to the Lord in prayer and leave it there.

Ours is to obey Christ Jesus in all things. Ours is to live our lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. Ours isn't to play God.

What we deem as being justice may not come in our lifetime but rest assured nobody escapes the notice of our Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture says that He never slumbers nor sleeps. That He is always watching the whole Earth. He knows every aspect of every situation of every single man, woman, and child on this Earth.

So what if we have people coming down on us for this, that, or the other.

For anyone to get to us they must go through Jesus first.

If Jesus has allowed someone to impact our lives in adverse ways, then seek the Lord to understand why and what you should do in such things. Don't assume. Don't presume.

Several in the Old Testament had no idea why their lives were as they were. Yet we read of how God dealt with each in ways they never would have guessed.

Pray for those who persecute you.

Bless and do not curse.

Lastly...remember:

"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:8-11.

"By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Disguised Bitterness, Revealed Grace

by David Brenneman

As defined by many, God's grace is "God's Riches At Christ's Expense".

As Biblically defined its God's unmerited favor poured out upon those who've come to Christ for salvation.

For more than quite a few people there seems to be a forgetting of the grace that was poured out on them in that they aren't extending it to others, and their disobedience in this has been disguised as bitterness towards others. A lack of looking at the world through Christ's understanding eyes, Christ's understanding heart.

What's supposed to happen in the lives of all Believers is that the grace of God is supposed to flow from Jesus to us then from us to the world.

We are too easily embittered towards people in the world and aren't trying hard enough to be understanding or forgiving.

People do have bad days. Both the believing and the unbelieving alike.

People are, again both groups, are prone to allow a bit or more than a bit of selfishness creep in where it shouldn't be when we deal with others.

We aren't aware that we're setting standards that aren't God's standards when it comes to our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ as well as those in the world in which we live.

We do all this and neglect to remember that we are supposed to be representing Christ to the world. We are supposed to be living lives in Christ in such a way that people see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven.

We really ought to do more, do better, at getting this vital aspect of living life because my Dear Reader, who knows if that person who's before you is the last person who will be saved before Jesus returns?

What if our feelings are getting in the way of being the light of Jesus Christ that we are supposed to be?

Paul said "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win." 1 Corinthians 9:19-24.

Jesus always presented grace to people. Sometimes it was received well other times people threw it back at Him but it never stopped Him from doing it.

Proclaiming what we will or won't do because of how we were treated...is going to cause us to withhold the grace we are commanded to give to all.

Jesus was obedient even to the point of death, death on a cross.

Grace still came from My Jesus to a thief on another cross who had in moments just before had been cussing Him out with the second thief on another cross.

We are also commanded to guard our hearts. This kind of situation is a very big reason why.

We won't be showing Christ to the world while we withhold His grace.

Consider your thoughts and actions. Consider whether you're more interested in personal justice rather than obeying as your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did regardless of His circumstances.

Consider whether or not you are being motivated by anything else that's causing you to justify your bitterness.

We live in a world where words get redefined at a breakneck pace.

For generations people both in and outside of the Church don't consider what they do, say or think, is exactly what the Bible says is idolatry. Yet that's what it is.

Holding a grudge, whether big or small, against people is still a root of bitterness.

The Bible is written for our instruction not for us to twist it to satisfy our way of thinking.

Bitterness is bitterness. No matter how the world wants to redefine it.

We are further warning in the Scriptures to never let any root of bitterness spring up within us.

We read directly from Jesus that if we don't forgive we won't be forgiven.

Ours in Christ is to take that grace we have been given and to give it to others just as we were once given it. To totally unworthy people just as we are unworthy to receive what we were given. Yet in Christ we are worthy because of the salvation we were given.

I do not think that all too many Believers truly look at others with the thought that the person in front of them just might be the last person who will be saved before Jesus returns.

This is what is meant by our hastening the return of Jesus Christ...our obedience in showing Christ to a lost world...that grace we were given...give it to others.

Show some grace and mercy to others as your Savior and Lord Jesus Christ did and daily does with...you.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Saturday, June 13, 2026

The Unexpected

by David Brenneman

Was a year ago two things happened in my life. Two things that had the same answer from the Lord Jesus Christ.

I had known for the several years that I was at my former employer that I wasn't meant to stay there. That place was a stepping stone, a means to an end, to support us in our move up to our new hometown.

While I had been actively looking for a new job, and had plans for a much different type of exit from there, God had a much different plan in mind for me.

A friend of mine and I share a similar belief when it comes to life and our seasons at employers. We will stay at a place until God makes it impossible to remain there.

Most decidedly this time last year Jesus made it impossible to stay.

What I also know from my faith history is that when Jesus is doing something His size, keep my fingers out of it. He will deal with those whom serve up injustice.

So while this time last year was unexpected as to the timing it was in God's timing for me.

I was reviewing my journal entries for those first several days this morning. It's interesting and amazing at the same time to see that perhaps yes, growth in Christ had been happening in me. My reactions to this experience were not like they were in days gone by. I can remember sitting in my truck praying. I was seriously going to trust in my Savior to save me, save us, again.

Looking back over the days since it's an incredible tapestry of things of blessings of even more learning about my faith and my Savior Jesus Christ.

The truth of God for us in Christ Jesus is there ARE NO UNEXPECTED THINGS in His mindset.

While we are the sheep being lead, He is the all-powerful, all-wise, all-knowing, all-everything who is never surprised by anything. No

Satan didn't get away with anything concerning me. My Savior chose at that time to lead me down a different path. The road less traveled by many because they are wanting to avoid the trials and tribulations that are coming.

My Dear Reader, don't ask God to take away what He's doing in your life to become more like Jesus.

Essentially that's what we do when we're thrown into adversity that's by His hand.

When adversity is by our own hand that's a different matter.

But when you're being lead to green pastures, when you're being made to lie down, when you're being lead even through the valley of the shadow of death, do not fear because your Great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, is right there in it with you.

A year ago seems almost like forever ago.

In this moment I am blessed beyond my understanding. I am getting paid to learn how to help people by fixing their speech devices. I get to work with some really good people.

The journey to get here was absolutely wonderful and worth it...when there's the right perspective of being in it.

We can easily miss what the Spirit is doing, is teaching, when all we're doing is complaining about what we're in the middle of.

My Dear Reader...when the unexpected to you happens...rather than run to complain...run to ask what it is He's wanting to do in your life. Because no circumstances that you will ever face will be enough to thwart the plans that God has for you.

Ask God to show you what it is He's doing and continue to give of your best, as unto the Lord, while He does it.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

This, my Dear Reader, is for all who are in Christ: "For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Friday, June 12, 2026

Asking Him for More

by David Brenneman

"Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, But he who hates reproof is stupid." Proverbs 12:1.

Probably most don't like the idea of discipline. It's rules. It's not being allowed to do this or that.

Yet we all learned the discipline of learning. Learning to communicate with the world. Learning how to move about in our world. Some discipline was more tailored towards special needs. Some cannot speak yet learned how to talk with devices such as those that I work on.

The discipline of the Lord is the perfected version of the discipline we had as children from our parents or guardians.

We had those over us to teach us the things we would need to know to get on with living a life in our future in the world.

The similarities continue. Likely we have times when we don't understand the lessons being taught and ask questions. In the Lord we ask questions because of what we're going through isn't making much sense. .

To fight the discipline of the Lord is what's stupid. Fight what is absolutely going to be for our benefit?

Yet there are Believers out there who are doing just that. They aren't going to Church because of some incident that happened to them or others.

They aren't going for_______. Fill in the blank.

Excuses. No excuse will cut it when we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him.

That's just the truth about His promise of the discipline that's for our benefit.

There's no excuse that we might give that will be ok with Jesus for disobedience.

If God leads you to something He will lead you through it.

That theme is throughout the Bible.

Sometimes the things He wants us to do are incredibly difficult and we have no control over or context to relate to. Look at Peter and his learning to accept the Gentiles.

Our struggles are not against flesh and blood but rather against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

The disciplines we learn and absolutely do need to learn are for the spiritual battles that we will engage in.

We need to learn how to accurately identify our enemies. We need to learn how to lay hold of the promises of God in Christ Jesus. We need to go through the discipline of the Spirit’s Basic Training Course to know how to be a soldier in the armies of God. We have to learn how to walk with Jesus. How to not fall behind or get ahead of Him. We need to learn the aspect of building up endurance in that so that we can truly run the race set before us.

Realize there IS a race set before you.

You need the disciplines taught by the Spirit of God to build up your endurance to do so. You need to learn how to pace yourself with Jesus.

Paul wrote of a transformed life. This is the life that eagerly received the discipline of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ask for more. As odd as that sounds. Ask for more because of what you and I know of Psalms 23.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-6.

This is the will of God for us...our sanctification. Our transformation into being like Jesus. Our discipline, our learning in the Lord.

We should always want what God our Father wants for us. It's going to take us down roads that are going to be difficult at times and different.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Thursday, June 11, 2026

Safeguard Your Time With Jesus

by David Brenneman

"Job...was blameless, upright, fearing God" Job 1:1

Job knew what it meant to be caught off guard by disaster. He

lost family, property, and wealth all in a matter of moments. Yet somehow he managed to honor God with affirmations of trust.

How? We know that Job was a godly and upright man and that he

made sacrifices to the Lord. But here is the key to why Job was able

to endure: "This was Job's regular practice" (Job 1:5 NLT).

Certainly, Job had questions about his losses, but ultimately,

he trusted in God's goodness and sovereignty to the end because

he had a solid relationship with the Lord in the day-to-day. In this we see a valuable principle: never underestimate the value of a

God-honoring routine. Our daily times alone with the Father build

strength within us that sustains us when we're thrown headlong

into adversity.

So don't wait until times of trouble hit to get ready spiritually-

that only leads to a more difficult battle. Train for those seasons

now by safeguarding your quiet times with the Lord. Because every

day that you enjoy His presence, delve into His Word, and pray

about what concerns you, He strengthens your soul. You may not

see the benefits immediately, but when the trials come, you`ll be

surprised at how He's prepared you.

Jesus, I love meeting with You daily. Thank You for strengthening my soul. Amen.

-Trusting God with Today. Dr. Charles Stanley.

One sure thing caught my attention in reading this last night.

A year ago tomorrow marks a time in my life where the unexpected happened. But in reading this: "So don't wait until times of trouble hit to get ready spiritually-

that only leads to a more difficult battle. Train for those seasons

now by safeguarding your quiet times with the Lord. Because every

day that you enjoy His presence, delve into His Word, and pray

about what concerns you, He strengthens your soul. You may not

see the benefits immediately, but when the trials come, you`ll be

surprised at how He's prepared you." I have a greater appreciation for these valley's and mountain tops that Jesus lead me through.

He taught me to safeguard my quiet times with Him. He taught me to run to Him first, not after trying other things.

I still remember being outside the building sitting in my truck wondering what in the world was going on. Reviewing everything, every word spoken, every choice, every decision. Not seeing anything amiss. So prayer began because I certainly needed my Savior to save once again.

It's been my practice to daily be spending time in my Bible every morning and every evening. Even if I lost some sleep in doing so.

My Dear Reader you too must guard, safeguard, your time with Jesus. There's nothing that will satisfy when things aren't going the way you're expecting than knowing you've got Jesus in your corner.

All too often people sacrifice this precious time with Jesus and long ago that was me.

How can we live lives that are full of grace and truth if we don't even know what God means by it?

Everything you have, have had, or ever will have or experience, is a fleeting vapor in time. All will become a memory either for you or those whom you know. All physical things will be consumed by the fires that will eventually come to this universe at the end of the thousand year reign of Jesus Christ.

What survives is what we know and have come to learn about our Savior Jesus Christ. What survives is our transformed life in Christ. What lives on in eternity after the final judgment at the end of that thousand year reign of Jesus Christ is the lives of those who put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.

All these things we spend, or rather expend, money on to keep or restore or to possess for a season are all going to turn to ashes.

What we do, what we learn, what we have in Christ is the only thing that's worth protecting. Job's integrity stayed intact during his tribulation. He lost practically everything in his life and clung to His Savior and Lord.

As Dr. Stanley pointed out, "as was his practice". Fast forward to Daniel. Those who died for their attempt to kill Daniel knew of his practice of prayer 3 times a day no matter what was going on in his life. It was his practice.

We have things that are our practice that by no means should be a part of our lives because Jesus is not honored in them. We follow the world in many practices that we should not. Excusing such things by referring to them by other names.

Protect your time with Jesus.

Safeguard your heart in Christ Jesus.

"Give of your best to the Master, give of your best to the King." as a line from a hymn says.

Jesus is ready to return to call His own to Himself. Will He find you as a very close friend or will He find you as one who really didn't try all that hard to get to know Him?

How you live your life shows your answer.

How well you guard your time with Jesus speaks volumes.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

A Thief in the Night or in the Day

by David Brenneman

"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen." 2 Peter 3:3-18.

A very much taught to all in the early Church is to be living lives in preparation for the return of Jesus Christ. "Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God".

"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Colossians 3:23-25.

In pretty much every book of the New Testament we can find something to stir up by way of reminder to live our lives in case today or even tonight were when Jesus would return.

As I was reading these last few days something else seemed to be connecting with these thoughts on the return of Jesus. John the Baptist stated that he must decrease and Jesus must increase. More of those thoughts we covered a short time ago concerning less of us in our lives and more of Jesus to be seen in us. The transformed life.

We indeed have a life ahead of us as long as we're breathing. Question is in who's eyes will it look or actually be considered successful? Ours or God's?

When, never 'if', we stand before Jesus to give an account of our lives before Him...who will be seen as the one glorified, Jesus or us?

If it's us...we're in trouble...because it will seriously diminish the crown of righteousness that we are to give back to Jesus for all He's done for us.

Daily, temptations arise, to draw us away from living a life representing Christ to this world.

Daily, we can be caught off guard, and a God provided moment to glorify Him is missed.

Daily, we can miss opportunities that the Spirit is bringing into our lives to bring us closer to Christ.

Remember: after we come to Christ for salvation the work being done in us is our sanctification. We are either going to be transformed or we're going to fight the transformation. We are either going to willingly grow in Christ or we will hinder that by living selfishly in our flesh.

Something that I am finding, after the drastic change in my life a year ago, is to learn to say no to things that I normally wasn't giving a second thought to.

There's never been a person who's saved, who's ever seen regret at pursuing a greater life in Christ over their own personal desires.

Never.

Are you satisfied with how you will look when you stand before Jesus?

Isn't there more you can be doing to let there be less of you and more of Jesus for yourself and the world to see?

Move away from evening television and move towards more dedicated time in God's Word.

Move away from other things and towards a more personal time in prayer with your Savior Jesus Christ.

Move with the Spirit more. Listening for His promptings rather than dismissing them.

Ask your Father in Heaven what it is He's wanting you to really be doing for Him then ask the Spirit, in Jesus's Name, to empower you to do it.

These are the things that will bring glory to God, in Christ Jesus, and not ourselves.

Jesus is returning.

Pursue a life in godliness in Christ Jesus that shows the world this promise is true and that you really believe it.

Live a life that glorifies Jesus and less of one that glorifies you.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

The Road Less Traveled...One of a Lack of Understanding

by David Brenneman

As I sit n have read what was in my reading plan...something different dawned on me after reading in 1 Samuel when the Philistines are about to attack Israel and the lords of the Philistines don't want him there. What I now understood about this decision was certainly from the Spirit.

Before this particular battle and afterwards David refused to reach forth his hand against King Saul because "he's the Lord’s anointed". David didn't see nor understand this battle from the Lord Jesus Christ's perspective.

Which we too are prone to do. The Lord didn't want David to have any part of His judgment against King Saul. Had he been there his hands would have been against King Saul.

Right above our fireplace mantel is one of those decorative pieces you get from places like Hobby Lobby. " Take the road less traveled."

In reading these two pieces, I was lead to a particular Scripture passage.

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14.

Narrow road, narrow gate...the way isn't big. It's not for everyone.

Many today believe that Jesus is going to save everyone who ever lived. It's His teachings on this that tell a different story.

There's not going to be everyone saved, just those who've truly received the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Just those people who know that Jesus is the forgiver of their sins and is the Leader of their lives.

These are those traveling the narrow road. The road is wide that leads to destruction...also to be understood as Hell.

We often are going to be in a position, a place, where we don't understand the why's of what we are going through. A year ago this week I most certainly was in this place. Was doing exactly as told and found myself unemployed and wondering how it happened. Wondering why it happened.

My memory isn't like my brother's. He can remember details and can review books he read in the years before.

Yet the Spirit brings to remembrance those times and places where it was the Lord who spared, who provided, who lead us through uncertain or just plain difficult times.

In Psalms 23 we read of what He makes us do. Leads us beside still waters. Makes us lie down in green pastures. Restores our soul.

In all that...likely without understanding.

Those who are saved in Christ Jesus are on this narrow road. We walk this way with our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Guided by His Spirit.

This is perfectly corresponding to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6.

We don't always know, or better still, need to know in the moment what the Lord is doing. We probably wouldn't fully understand.

Ours is to trust and obey.

Ours is to be lead and to do.

Ours is to walk this narrow way...His way...believing that Jesus has the best in mind for us.

In soon-to-be King David's life...he was kept from reaching out against the Lord's anointed even by proxy.

In our lives we're kept from things in life in the same way and allowed to endure other things all without understanding. This is where we're not to lean on our own understanding.

While not everyone will be saved...we're to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. We're to continue on in telling others about Jesus and the way to be saved.

We don't know nor could understand when Jesus is to return. We are to live each day as if today were that day.

The narrow way is to be walked with Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

So if you're going through a season of not understanding, you're in good company...and it's ok. We have as our Savior the One who does and that makes everything alright.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.

New American Standard Bible

A corporation not for profit.

www.lockman.org