Day 83 Valleys

 

3/24/2026

 "If we pray for anything according to the will 

of God, we already have what we pray for the moment 

we ask it. We do not know exactly when it will arrive; but we

have learned to know God through the Spirit of God, and have

learned to leave this in His hands, and to live just as happily 

whether the answer arrives immediately or later." 

O. Hallesby

"Before they call, I will answer; and while they

are yet speaking, I will hear."

Isaiah 65:24

 

I fell asleep peacefully last night listening to the fifth season of The Chosen. As I mentioned, we have been watching the entire five seasons during Lent in preparation for the premiere of Season 6, but much more than that! Walking with Jesus during His three years of ministry, in an abbreviated manner, and getting to know the personalities of His followers, or at least considering their many feelings and struggles as His disciples, makes the Bible more alive. Dallas Jenkins has done a brilliant job in putting this production together, and it gives me comfort being part of a worthwhile project. I have always loved movies, because I could escape into life, dream, discover love, or find support during a difficult time. I have always been very selective in what I watch, because I don't want to watch filth, plus Jesus doesn't want to watch it, and Holy Spirit is right here inside of me, sharing the popcorn and Junior Mints, if that's possible. 

Alex came in for breakfast and decided to stay awhile, finding his spot near my Bible and devotional while I enjoyed a cup of coffee and listened to music. It's really interesting to me how both Mia and Alex enjoy listening to music, sleeping on my bed. Since Mia is taking up his spot on the bed tonight, he wanted to go back outside, even though it's cold. Too bad, because he missed one of his favorite worship singers on Tuesday nights. He will actually come up closely to the computer, and he loves it when I sing along. Mia just enjoys sleeping. Does that mean that Alex has more class than Mia? I better not visit that thought!

Tuesday mornings I tune in to the Kehilat HaCarmel Worship Watch in Israel and join in the prayers for Israel. They have endured repetitive alerts and bombings over the last few days as they are situated near Haifa on the shore, and the nuclear research facility there was a target. Besides that they were being systematically targeted as were Tel Aviv and Jerusalem with rockets from the areas mentioned in my previous post - Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran. Today they did not have to interrupt the watch to dash to the bomb shelter, so it was a wonderful time of worship, prayer, scripture reading and sharing. It's a great way to begin my day, followed an hour later by the global prayer call. Before the first and in between the other, I spend quiet time doing what I do, basically more of the same. I love my life, and I am jealous for my time with Jesus. It seems as if Israel has become more of my church than any I have attended locally here, as it is all consuming. I may not be seen or known, but they are my family, the Messianic family of God.

Josie from the worship watch was sharing the tense times they were enduring, but she looked past any worries or concerns to see the greater picture. She said when they were tested, their faith grew; as their faith grew, they were strengthened spiritually and emotionally. Because they would contact each other as they sat, sometimes for hours, in the shelters, the bonds with each other grew even deeper, and she said they even found things to laugh about and lessen the intensity of the moments of waiting. It has even helped give them empathy for the others nations who are being attacked by Iran, and their love for the resilient people of Israel and love of the land has increased. Contending for the faith increases their ability to remain vigilant and steadfast, stubborn and determined not to give up. The capacity to endure intensified, and they became more aware of the spiritual benefits. She said "Above it all is Jesus!"

It seemed as if everything God gave me to read today reinforced the other thoughts, and the prayer calls each reinforced the other. When we pray it is not simply for Israel, because we know the significance of prophecy and of everything happening at this time in history. Although it may be an intense time, one of uncertainty especially when bombs are dropping everywhere, there is also a peace that indeed transcends all understanding. Karen, who leads worship, said that as she played the piano, the booms and the flashes of lightning and thunder, as this is their rainy season, called Isaiah 30:29-32 to mind:

"You shall have a song as in the night when a holy festival is kept, and gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute, to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the Mighty One of Israel. The LORD will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and show the descent of His arm, with the indignation of His anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, tempest, and hailstones. For through the voice of the LORD Assyria will be beaten down, as He strikes with the rod. And in every place where the staff of punishment passes, which the LORD lays on him, it will be with tambourines and harps; and in battles of brandishing He will fight with it." 

This passage speaks of the Lord bringing judgment on Assyria of which Iran is a huge part, along with other Middle Eastern countries that made up Biblical Assyria. As I have mentioned many times God has plans to restore Assyria and Egypt with Israel in end time prophecy. Scripture reveals amazing truths, and when we look at the words of the Lord spoken to His chosen people we can understand that this is a righteous war, and the one waging the war is not Israel, it is the Lord God Himself. We have to understand that the Bible was written by the Jewish people, for the Jewish people. The Church has not replaced Israel, the covenant belongs to them; however, when we receive the gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus by faith, we share in their covenant, not by birth, but by faith. We need to remember that. We are grafted in, and I am so grateful. Once this truth becomes alive in our hearts, the love for God's chosen people and the desire to see them receive Christ as Savior and Lord, as Messiah, becomes our great desire. 

All the promises of God are yes and amen, but the timing of these are in His eternal plan. We are obedient, surrendered to His will, trusting that His plan is better than ours. In our society today everyone wants a quick fix. In the Christian life we journey across the desert, through the valleys, before we can climb up the mountain to the top. It has been my experience that once God brings me to the top of the mountain, I am only allowed a brief respite, because after the joy, there always comes another step I must take, and that can only happen in the valleys of life where we learn to persevere, grow in His grace, and grow spiritually. I am much older now, but I find that each day is an adventure, and I am forever grateful that He is with me, leading me, guiding me, so that I can in turn share with others, fulfilling His great commission to "Go...!"