“I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. Jeremiah 1:8.

Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in You; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to You I lift up my soul. Psalm 143:8.

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. Luke 10:38-40.

And continuing our 351 Old Testament prophecies, promises of God, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 72: The resurrection predicted. Psalm 17:15: As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake. And, Luke 24:6: He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee.

Reading the 3rd Scripture verse cited above with Martha and Mary and Jesus, reminds me of the change that happens in all of us as we turn to Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. We begin to realize what is truly important. Being willing to be taught by God. Watching the news last night and seeing the devastation of earthquakes, fires, and also of cities bombed to rubble by other enemy countries, and talks of ceasefires even as bombings continue, or watching the happenings in our own country – instead of leaning toward condemnation as though I have all understanding, which I don’t, God asked me in prayer this morning to pray in love for them. How can we love God and not love His way of love? His way of love is to bring healing to hearts and minds. It feels like we’re watching the destruction of civilizations from within, just as has happened to all former civilizations of old; and we can join in condemning and condemnation only and thus stumble and fall ourselves, or we can pray as God would have us pray – for them in God’s love.

Martha, like me, could see only what she saw, and reasoned only what she reasoned to be good and needed, but look how limiting that is. “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me!” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42. Think of all the things that will be taken away that need to be taken away from our fallen world that are not of God’s kingdom. The one thing necessary will remain. God’s love bringing healing and teaching and help so needed for our good always.

***WALKING WITH GOD Dear God, thank You for Your great love and blessing over our lives. Thank You that Your favor has no end, but it lasts for our entire lifetime. Forgive us, for sometimes we forget that You are intimately acquainted with all of our ways, that You know what concerns us, and that You cover us, as with a shield. We ask for Your guidance so that we might walk fully in Your blessing and goodness today. We ask that Your face would shine on us. That You would open the right doors for our lives and for our loved ones, that You would close the wrong doors and guide us away from those we need to walk away from. Establish the work of our hands, and bring to fulfillment all that You have given us to do in these days. We pray that, out of Your goodness and love, You would make our way purposeful and our footsteps firm. Give us a heart of wisdom to hear Your voice, and make us strong by Your huge favor and grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Debbie McDaniel, “40 Good Night Prayers for Peaceful Rest in the Evening,” Crosswalk, July 5, 2024, crosswalk.com.***