Putting Shadows Behind Us
PUTTING SHADOWS BEHIND US
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” - Lamentations 3:22-23.
The sunrise this morning was spectacular. Every morning the sun announces the new day. With a yawn and stretch of brilliant color, it rises from its bed behind our back hill, to begin marching its way across the sky toward evening slumber.
This morning, what caught my attention, within the comforting faithfulness of this routine, were the shadows. The oak trees that stand guard between us and the rising sun were silhouetted against a fiery backdrop of sky. The outline of every branch and twig were perfectly defined.
Trailing out from the trees, like the train of a wedding dress, were elongated shadows that draped down the shoulders of the hill. The shadows were much larger than the trees. And while there was a similarity between the shadows and the trees which cast them, there was clearly a distortion. The shadows were far more commanding and ominous than the beautiful, old trees from which they came.
This trick of light and shadow can also be seen across the landscape of our lives. The things that we allow to stand between us and the light of God’s truth, cast distorting and frightening shadows. While nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38), when we allow anything to stand between us and Him, these poorly placed things will warp our perspective and we will fail to see things as they truly are. The resulting shadows can strike fear in our hearts, whether danger actually exists or not.
Perhaps that was why, in Matthew 16, when Peter pulled Jesus aside, suggesting a future in conflict with the plan of God, that Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.” – Matthew 16:23 WEB
Jesus refused to allow anything or anyone to be idolatrously positioned between Himself and the Father. Everything else was put behind Him, preserving an unobstructed view of the Father and preventing the casting of warping shadows.
The Psalmist penned it well when he wrote, “I always keep the LORD in front of me. When he is by my side, I cannot be moved.” - Psalm 16:8. When we do not allow anything to come between us and our unobstructed view of God, we will remain unmoved and unintimidated by deceptive shadows.
Father, together with Your child reading this, we come before You. Give us eyes to see where we have allowed things to come between us and You, whether fears, failures or anxieties, desires, cravings or unconstrained longings. Show us everything that steals our attention from seeking Your face — anything that casts paralyzing shadows that keep us imprisoned to longings or fear.
Strengthen us to push those things behind us, so there is nothing that stands between us. In repositioning things to their proper places, give us eyes to see both our fears and longings in their correct light, that we will regain our perspective.
Father, for the needs in our lives today, help us to see our needs in the light of our Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10).
Teach us to view our fears, failures and suffering through the light of, Your benefits of forgiveness, healing redemption, compassion and love (Psalm 103:1-5).
In regaining right perspective, reignite our faith and restore our peace. We cling to the promise that, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose thoughts are fixed on you, because he trusts in you.” - Isaiah 26:3.
Thank You, Lord, that You are eternally unchanging — yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). You are the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end. You have been, You are and will always be, faithful.
Show us how to put the enemy’s distractions behind us, and to keep the light of Your perfect love before us (Ps 26:3). In Jesus’ Name ❤️
Beloved, are you distracted or afraid? Are you held prisoner by longings, hurts or past failures? When we put our focus on anything other than God, even good things will cast distorting and often paralyzing shadows. Put it all behind you and set your eyes firmly on God alone. The torment evaporates along with the disappearance of shadows. 💡
If you have been encouraged or challenged, please repost and further His kingdom! Then come, follow and be refreshed at:
https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/
“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” - Lamentations 3:22-23.
The sunrise this morning was spectacular. Every morning the sun announces the new day. With a yawn and stretch of brilliant color, it rises from its bed behind our back hill, to begin marching its way across the sky toward evening slumber.
This morning, what caught my attention, within the comforting faithfulness of this routine, were the shadows. The oak trees that stand guard between us and the rising sun were silhouetted against a fiery backdrop of sky. The outline of every branch and twig were perfectly defined.
Trailing out from the trees, like the train of a wedding dress, were elongated shadows that draped down the shoulders of the hill. The shadows were much larger than the trees. And while there was a similarity between the shadows and the trees which cast them, there was clearly a distortion. The shadows were far more commanding and ominous than the beautiful, old trees from which they came.
This trick of light and shadow can also be seen across the landscape of our lives. The things that we allow to stand between us and the light of God’s truth, cast distorting and frightening shadows. While nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38), when we allow anything to stand between us and Him, these poorly placed things will warp our perspective and we will fail to see things as they truly are. The resulting shadows can strike fear in our hearts, whether danger actually exists or not.
Perhaps that was why, in Matthew 16, when Peter pulled Jesus aside, suggesting a future in conflict with the plan of God, that Jesus said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men.” – Matthew 16:23 WEB
Jesus refused to allow anything or anyone to be idolatrously positioned between Himself and the Father. Everything else was put behind Him, preserving an unobstructed view of the Father and preventing the casting of warping shadows.
The Psalmist penned it well when he wrote, “I always keep the LORD in front of me. When he is by my side, I cannot be moved.” - Psalm 16:8. When we do not allow anything to come between us and our unobstructed view of God, we will remain unmoved and unintimidated by deceptive shadows.
Father, together with Your child reading this, we come before You. Give us eyes to see where we have allowed things to come between us and You, whether fears, failures or anxieties, desires, cravings or unconstrained longings. Show us everything that steals our attention from seeking Your face — anything that casts paralyzing shadows that keep us imprisoned to longings or fear.
Strengthen us to push those things behind us, so there is nothing that stands between us. In repositioning things to their proper places, give us eyes to see both our fears and longings in their correct light, that we will regain our perspective.
Father, for the needs in our lives today, help us to see our needs in the light of our Father who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10).
Teach us to view our fears, failures and suffering through the light of, Your benefits of forgiveness, healing redemption, compassion and love (Psalm 103:1-5).
In regaining right perspective, reignite our faith and restore our peace. We cling to the promise that, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose thoughts are fixed on you, because he trusts in you.” - Isaiah 26:3.
Thank You, Lord, that You are eternally unchanging — yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). You are the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end. You have been, You are and will always be, faithful.
Show us how to put the enemy’s distractions behind us, and to keep the light of Your perfect love before us (Ps 26:3). In Jesus’ Name ❤️
Beloved, are you distracted or afraid? Are you held prisoner by longings, hurts or past failures? When we put our focus on anything other than God, even good things will cast distorting and often paralyzing shadows. Put it all behind you and set your eyes firmly on God alone. The torment evaporates along with the disappearance of shadows. 💡
If you have been encouraged or challenged, please repost and further His kingdom! Then come, follow and be refreshed at:
https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/
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