Joey's Journal - August 31, 2006

Father, I thank You for watching over us while we slept and encamping Your angels to protect us from the evil that’s out there. We ask for Your continued provision and guidance for this day. Remind us at all times whenever we are in decision making situations this question – What Would Jesus Do? (WWJD?) May we stay in the path of following You. Keep my son, Joel, safe in school and my wife, Annabel, safe when she out of the house. May You manifest Your glory to her that You are in control of her life. May You keep my relatives safe as they travel back to Manila this afternoon. All these I pray in Jesus Name. Amen.

My Reading - Psalm 29 The voice of the Lord is powerful; hear Him.

The voice of the Lord echoes above the sea. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord splits the mighty cedars; shatters the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf and Mount Hermon to leap like a young bull. The voice of the Lord strikes with lightning bolts. The voice of the Lord makes the desert quake; the Lord shakes the desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists mighty oaks and strips the forests bare.

The Lord rules over the floodwaters. The Lord reigns as king forever. He gives his people strength and blesses them with peace.

My Reflection – After reading this psalm, I can’t help but think about a drill sergeant’s booming voice as he welcomes new recruits in military service. The voice of the drill sergeant is a new recruit’s first taste of military training and true enough, it is the voice that will grip fear in his mind to follow and obey orders. Should the new recruit fall short of the drill sergeant’s expectations, he will surely be required to take the punishment. His voice is the authority in the camp and everyone gets to recognize it without fail, even in their sleep.

Just like what the psalmist said, God’s voice is powerful and full of majesty. The psalmist goes to describing God’s powerful voice like a strong axe that can split the mighty cedars of Lebanon, and commanding enough to make Lebanon’s mountains skip like a calf and Mount Hermon leap like a young bull. His voice is thundering enough and shoots lightning bolts and make the deserts shake and twists mighty oaks leaving them bare.

The powerful voices of the drill sergeant and the Lord accomplish two things – for us to hear it and obey it. Yet, God’s voice supercedes the drill sergeant’s in that, we are spiritually strengthened and blessed with the assurance of peace when we follow Him. Let us hear and obey His Word!

My Prayer – Heavenly Father, let me be reminded of Your mighty power through Your voice. As You speak, let me hear and obey You! In my sinful ways, may Your powerful voice make me turn and rebuke the evil one. Do not let me listen to the temptation of the enemy because I will again distance myself to You. Lord God, guide me through the path of righteousness and living a godly life. May I always fear not hearing Your voice! All in Jesus Name. Amen.

By : Joey B.