Tag: Noah

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Allowing God to Lift Us

Devils Tower National Monument in the background of a grove of pine trees.
Psalm 27:5 (ESV)—For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.

Though there are many formation theories of Devils Tower National Monument, my favorite is the Native American belief the Great Spirit made the rock rise from the ground to save a pair of girls running from giant bears. The steep rock lifted the girls too high for the bears to climb and the striations in the rocks are claw marks from the bears trying to chase the girls. (See the NPS website for the complete story and other stories.)

Like the Great Spirit, God lifts us from danger to put us in a place of safety. He lifted Noah and his family in an ark to survive the flood. He lifted people from the alienating bonds of sickness. He even lifted people from death.

Because God has our best in mind, we can trust he will lift us high on a rock in times of tension. In this safe space, we experience comfort in loss, celebration in overcoming, peace amid anxiousness, love during loneliness, and release of fear.

For these things and so much more, our God is worthy of praise. Today, let’s tell him the strife we’re facing and allow him to lift us high upon a rock.

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Stepping Off the Train

Genesis 7:5 (ESV)—And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.

I watched the flat prairie transform into grasslands with buttes in the distance and into mountainous terrain, where the train rolled into the Flagstaff station. I stared into the snowy streets and whispered to myself, “I don’t want to leave my cozy seat, but this is my stop.”

I often feel this way after meditating on God’s Word and learning about biblical figures such as Noah. I desire to stay on this adventure of learning and remain in my comfortable place. But, as I’ve learned from the Bible, these figures stepped off the train into God’s mission field and did as he commanded.

We learn from these stories of people like Noah that their pattern of life was pleasing to God. We can carry this knowledge off the train into God’s mission field and use it to guide us as we reach people in a world whose scenery includes a pattern of life different from our own.

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Writing to Obey

I write to sort through my feelings and to clarify parts of the Bible I don’t understand. I write because it’s my heart’s desire.

Most important, I write because I believe my writing is part of God’s divine plan.

Yes, our writing is a part of God’s plan. Like Noah gathered animals to house aboard the ark, we write stories, blogs, plays, and other forms of the art to obey God’s command.

Obeying the God who releases the rain from the clouds helps us to grow as writers. He gives us a safe space to express our feelings. He helps us to understand his Word better. He instructs us how to best use our heart’s desire.

Let’s do as Noah did and commit to write everything God commands.

Genesis 7:5 (ESV)—And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him.