For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:16-17.

It’s good to remember in the vast sweep of our history and the confusion of this worlds systems that God is Sovereign and His will will be done on earth. That is my prayer for this world so in need of hope. Real hope, real joy, real goodness; and above all the kind of worship Jesus spoke of to the woman at the well. “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:21-24.

How do we worship in the Spirit and in truth? We read God’s truth and listen as the Holy Spirit guides our hearts and minds. He can bring to fruit what we read so that His word is enlarged in our minds. We are so distracted in this world. Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, brings His peace and enables us to experience His love. The writer of our psalm, Psalm 71, knew that peace that surpasses understanding because he knew from our God that he was loved and that God cared for him. That is why we go to God for every need. He’s here. In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame…In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me…v. 1, 2. Have you ever given thought to God’s righteousness? His righteousness saves us. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress…Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel…v. 3, 4. The wicked and cruel who do evil are all too visible in our world. God is spirit. Yet His love reaches easily into hearts longing for Him. For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth…From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb…I will ever praise you, I have become a sign to many; you are my strong refuge…My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long…v. 5-8. How can we know God in this way unless we turn to Him and ask? The benefit of growing old is that life turns our bodies and minds in the progression of aging that realizes there is more that we don’t understand even with our many years of experience. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come…Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens, you who have done great things…Who is like you, God?…Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up…You will increase my honor and comfort me once more…v. 18-21. We don’t consider these things when our bodies are young and bristling with energy. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you – I whom you have delivered. v. 23. Only God can deliver us. Only God sustains us and holds all things together. In God all is well and we will be restored.

I want to be like the ones described by Jesus in the parable of the Ten Bridesmaids, Matthew 25:1-13. The wise ones were prepared. They had oil in their lamps and oil in jars they could bring with them. They could see when at midnight all was in darkness. Can we see how vital and important God’s truth and His love is for us? His truth lights the way in this world darkened by so many cares drawing us away from faith in our Creator God. With His truth and His love lighting our way, we can say with faith, no matter the circumstances surrounding us, in our God, all is well and He is right here with us always.