Hearing from my nephew in prison or getting an update through my sister (his mother), I never tire of hearing what amazing work the Lord is accomplishing. However, there are those times when I fall on my face crying out for God’s great hand of protection or deliverance even from a line up. Those are the times I am driven more and more to the very throne of God (maybe that is His plan all along). So how thankful I am for God’s command to “Boldly enter”! To not wring my hands in despair but, based on what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross I can go right in the very presence of God and bare my soul. I have free access anytime of the day or night; still, He prefaces my free access with the attitude in which I enter; My posture should be that of a sincere trusting heart with full assurance that He will bring about the best outcome for all involved. He never leaves us to clean up a mess on our own and His heart is for battle wary soldiers (Hebrews 10:19-22).

And so, with the news that came to me through my sister on behalf of my nephew and his line up, God’s providential hand has been at work despite our blind spots, and Jacque’s included! God answered prayer in such a way as to show us—”I had it all under control—you finite brained creatures were flapping and squawking about something of which you knew very little.” PRAISING and THANKSGIVING erupted!

And with that another passage of Scripture which is ALWAYS pertinent: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding of the situation (Proverbs 3:5).

The goal is always to LINE UP and take my stand in trusting Him instead of leaning on MY understanding. He is Creator God, perfect in counsel and knowledge, knowing the beginning from the end. I must remind myself (some days, repeatedly) that my understanding has been marred by the effects of sin, not to mention that without sin I still would never reach the level of insight the God of Creation possesses. His attributes infinitely exhaust our understanding—to make something out of nothing, to know everything and be everywhere, and to never change. That is the kind of understanding I want to lean on!

I wrote a post last year, Let Us Submit, No Longer Resisting, pointing to the service we can offer our Heavenly Father.  The bottom line is, we can resist all we want but the Lord’s plan will come about with us or without us. When we submit to God’s Rule, we gain strength and power to bring Him glory in whatever way He sees fit!

Throughout my fast earlier this year, God’s providential hand was evident especially with the answered prayer for my granddaughter hospitalized with pneumonia. This month of fasting has likewise brought much to give Him praise for; however, we need to always be alert and expectant so we do not miss out on what He is doing.  

So, for my nephew in prison, praise and thanksgiving erupted as the news reached us of his new position as administrative trustee of his dorm, has a job, and can have Bible study with the fellow inmates.

The bottom line: God works through the prayers of His people (Philippians 2:13; 4:6; Romans 12:12). So, LINE UP and pray, people!

You can read more concerning my nephew in prison here and here and here !