Peace for Travel and Transition Days - Your Nightly Prayer - June 3rd
Peace for Travel and Transition Days
Your Nightly Prayer
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
"The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." - Psalm 121:8
SOMETHING TO PONDER
My family and I recently began a major life change. Following the Lord’s guidance, we sold our house, I left my job, and we moved into a tiny cabin on the side of a mountain. We thought this move would be a temporary layover (a couple months tops) on our way to our final destination a few states away where God was calling us for ministry. After months of waiting for the Lord to provide a job in our future hometown, I realized that I had to let go of my timeline expectations. I was tapping my feet with one eye open, checking my watch, all while praying that God’s will be done in my life. This unmet expectation that He would quickly give the green light to move forward was robbing me of joy at minimum and, at worst, of trust in the One who guards our every transition. It took months, but I finally surrendered to His will AND His timing.
Tonight’s scripture is a reminder that He is not only aware of when we are on the move, but that He is actively involved. The Hebrew word for “watch” in Psalm 121:8 is shamar (pronounced: shaw-mar), and it’s a verb. It means to guard, to hedge with thorns, to protect. It paints a picture of God not just watching over your life from a distance, but actively building with His hands a hedge of protection around you. When we begin to question His involvement in our coming, going, or staying put, we can look for guidance in how the chapter or verse we're reading tonight begins. Psalm 121 begins with a question and proceeds to a confession of trust in God.
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
At the moment of writing these words, I am still waiting on the Lord to move our family. However, after laying down my own timeline and expectations, I have never trusted Him more to perfectly orchestrate our exit when He so pleases. If He can make heaven and earth, He can certainly help with my little move states away. Tonight, as we turn out the light on this day, we can rest knowing that He is actively helping, protecting, and guarding us now and forevermore. He is sovereign over our coming and going, and even our waiting. There is not a single transition that we make, whether to the grocery store or in a U-Haul, that goes unwatched by our loving Father.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Father,
I thank You that You do not watch my life from a distance, but You are active in putting a hedge of protection around me. Thank You that as I sleep through the night, Your Word says that You never slumber nor sleep, but are on guard keeping me. I confess that I often act as if I were solely in charge of my comings and goings. I yield to Your will and Your timing! Be my Helper both now and forevermore.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
- Is there an area of your life that you’re seeking help from someone or something other than the Lord? Confess that He alone is sovereign over your coming and going, and where you put your hope.
- What does it look like to fully trust God in the movement of your current circumstances?
- Are you resting well knowing that your Father is not asleep, but is on guard through the hours of the night?
Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
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