Thursday, January 01, 2009

He Leads Us for Another Year


"The land whither ye go to possess it is a land of hills and valleys and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: a land which the Lord thy God careth for: the eyes of the Lord are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year" (Deut. 11:11-12).

I like the Streams in the Desert devotional today. It speaks of the well known fact that we are standing on the verge of the unknown. There is a new year stretching out before us and we are going in now to possess it. Isn't that quite a thought? There are, in every year, hills and valleys and never can we expect everything to go smoothly. As we go in to possess this year and whatever it brings, my prayer for each of us is that we will never lose sight of the fact that it is our God who leads us in the year ahead, as He did in the year that we're journeying out of. Some of us have experienced the valleys and they have been deep ones. Some of us have had somewhat of a difficult time climbing the steep mountains. But He has been leading us, yes?

May you take the hand of your merciful, compassionate, and loving Lord through the days of 2009 and have the full awareness in your heart of hearts that He is leading you and me through each second, minute, and hour.

He leads us on by paths we did not know;
Upward He leads us, though our steps be slow,
Though oft we faint and falter on the way,
Though storms and darkness oft obscure the day;
Yet when the clouds are gone,
We know He leads us on.

He leads us on through all the unquiet years;
Past all our dreamland hopes, and doubts and fears,
He guides our steps, through all the tangled maze
Of losses, sorrows, and o'erclouded days;
We know His will is done;
And still He leads us on.
--N.L. Zinzendorf

16 comments:

Susan said...

The sold song says, "He leads me, or He leads me. Everywhere He leads me....."

I have just been quoting on the very scripture about the promise land flowing with milk & honey on the Hearts prayer blog :O)

God is certainly telling us to be prepared to fight the giants that will be (not may be) in the land!!! He will fight for us if we have His armor. Thank God!!!!

A wonderful New Year to you dear Maxine.
Susan

Donna J. Shepherd said...

Beautiful. I've been praying about a word for 2009, and had almost settled on 'leadership' and your post and the prose you posted confirmed it. Not focusing on my leadership, but His. Bless you in the days to come. May we surrender to God's steady hand as He leads in 2009.

Baptist Girl said...

Thank you for your forever encouraging words Maxine.You are a dear lady.

Cristina

Barbara said...

I love the song 'Where He Leads Me I will Follow'. Too many times we lose sight of the fact he is leading us, and we get sidetracked into worry and depression. I told my husband today that he needed to live life and quit worrying about things he had no control over and let God work it out. I told him we've always made it through and we would now. Thank the Lord I am not a worrier!

Great post, Maxine.

Wishing your a Happy and prosperous New Year.

Cathy said...

Very nice post, Maxine, thanks. I was looking for that book recently. I believe I ordered the "Springs in the Valley" devotional, as a gift for me from a gift card. I have heard that both are good.

Beverly said...

What a lovely and true poem! "We know He leads us on ..."

Susan Skitt said...

He leadeth me, what blessed thought...

Hugs to you dear sister :)

Denise said...

I have decided to follow Jesus........ I used to sing that at church camp many many years ago..(too many) haha and it stands firm today..... We awake each day with the opportunity to follow the one that knows us the best......... Follow HIM, HE knows the way home..

Tea with Tiffany said...

I read this devotional too. Loved it.

Thank you for stopping by my blog recently. I'm hoping to post words in the next couple days. I've been taking a break.

God bless your NEW YEAR!!

Brenda said...

He is a light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path (or visa versa...didn't look it up!) I just have to make sure my hiking boots are on so I'm ready!
God bless.

TO BECOME said...

Great Post!!! and I say, Amen and again Amen. connie

kris said...

Happy New Year, Maxine! We do face times in the valleys and times on the mountaintops. Our vision is clearer on top of the mountain and we feel on top of the world. Sometimes in the valleys we feel like the world is closing in on us, or the clouds and fog obscure our vision and we can't see anything but valley. But God is in the valleys and on the mountaintops - Praise God!

have a great day!

sparrow's song said...

Thank you. I'm going to grab hold of your sweet words with God's promises to always be there and lead me where I need to be. For lack of vision, His people perish. Not a vision that we create or conjure but one that's birthed from His heart and agenda.

Wishing you a blessed New Year.

Elise @A Path Made Straight said...

I love how you said "possess the year"! The Father expects us to name and claim our time for Him- I will do so, with a glad heart! Into the year 2009... in it, may you be blessed, my friend!

Vicki said...

Such good encouragement for my soul.
God bless you, sweet Maxine. May all His blessings overflow this year!

love,
Vicki

Mimi said...

We know that He leads us...if we will but follow!!!
I pray that I will be a better follower during the year ahead!!!
Have a wonderful 2009 Maxine,
Hugs,
Mimi