God forms each of us in our mother’s wombs, and knows us intimately from the earliest stages of our existence. The prophet Jeremiah learned this truth from the Lord’s own mouth:

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

A prophet to the nations—Jeremiah wanted no part. He sputtered, Alas, Sovereign Lord, I do not know how to speak; I am too young. Anything, God, but don’t make me go yell in the streets to jeering crowds. The Lord rolled over Jeremiah’s feeble objections:

Do not say, “I am too young.” You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do be be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you.

Then the Lord reached out and touched Jeremiah’s mouth, sending a wave of power and confidence through his entire being. The Lord finished Jeremiah’s commissioning with this charge: I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.

Jeremiah took on the mantle of prophet and doggedly proclaimed God’s message through the reigns of three kings, faithful even to the exile of Jerusalem. He moved at God’s direction all his life.

I never received dramatic instructions like Jeremiah. But I find comfort knowing that from the womb the Lord knew me and held plans for me. Many of us spend a lot of time searching for God’s will, but even as we search we can enjoy the Lord, who stays with us all along the way.

The promise I am with you held true for Jeremiah throughout his tumultuous life, and holds true for you and me today.

Jeremiah 1 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Viviana Rishe

Folks who hold to God, who turn their thoughts beyond themselves, ever hope to attract the Lord’s kindly attention.

King David wrote of this desire: I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you. May my prayer be set before you like incense, may the lifting of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

David’s prayers and worship rose to the Lord like incense. Revelation chapter five also describes the prayers of the saints as incense, swirling around the throne of God.

But prayers aren’t the only thing rising. Asaph, begging the Lord to show up and defeat those who oppress the people of the Lord, closed one of his psalms this way: Rise up, God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries, the uproar of your enemies which rises continually.

The appeals of the saints rise to the Lord, along with the racket of those who oppose him. It’s comforting to know the Lord catches both. No one escapes his notice, good or bad.

Sweet smelling incense, or the din of unrelenting clamor—how might the Lord recognize you and me from his throne?

Psalm 141 & 74 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Enache Georgiana

Habakkuk wrote during a time of intense suffering and pain. The Judean empire was collapsing and invaders menaced the land. Hope hid her face and prayers remained unanswered. Yet in the midst of his lament, Habakkuk remained clear-eyed.

He told of his fear: I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled.

But despite the looming horror of vicious conquerers, Habakkuk dug his fingers into the Lord and refused to let go:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will by joyful in God my Savior.

The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.

Habakkuk returned to past promises the Lord made concerning his people. God will eventually hear the prayers of those who seek him, but it may be awhile. In the meantime Habakkuk stubbornly stuck with the Lord. His language smacks of defiance—bring the worst, I don’t care. There’s only one source of strength and Habakkuk knew upon whom to place his faith.

It’s difficult to stick with the Lord through hardship. It’s tempting to shove my faith in a closet when God fails to show himself on my schedule. However, it’s more powerful, and eventually much more rewarding, to follow the dogged example of Habakkuk.

An ornery cuss, Habakkuk stuck with the Lord through the worse. Let his fierce commitment to the Lord fire our faith today.

Habakkuk 3 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Dikaseva

Last weekend I stayed up late to watch a football game between Colorado State University and the University of Colorado—the Rocky Mountain Showdown. The game started at 8 pm and lasted into the night. I’m not a late night person, but the thrilling game kept me energized. About 11:30 I made a distinct decision that I was watching the end of the game no matter how late it ran. After two overtimes I got to bed just before 1 am. So worth it.

Part of a journey of faith involves distinct decisions to follow the Lord along the way, especially when the way grows challenging. Here’s how the psalmist wrote of such resolve:

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you. But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

The writer describes a conscious decision. We choose to make the Lord our refuge, to cling to him when our strength fails and our heart wilts. Faith is not a feeling, but rather resolute choice after resolute choice.

I’ve heard this common put-down of religious people—Christianity is just a crutch for the weak. In reality, we all need a crutch, but the true Christian faith is way better than a crutch. It’s more like the full body suit worn by Tony Stark in the Iron Man movies. The faith engulfs us, empowers us and turns away flaming missiles of the enemy. The more we wear it the more the Holy Spirit changes us.

Later the psalmist writes, as for me, it is good to be near God. The decisions we make daily either pull us closer to the Lord or allow us to drift away.

And as for me personally? I’ll grab my crutch, put on my body suit, and choose to limp toward the Lord, my refuge and my strength.

Psalm 71 & 73 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Lance Grandahl