Luke 13:34b How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let Me.
I love this picture! The little chick looks safe and calm. We spend so much time running around, looking for “a word”, getting input from people, TV, podcasts, you name it. If, for just a moment, we were to sit with Jesus and talk with Him and get His word to us, we would find rest. He says to us:
Psalm 46:10a “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Know Him, sit in His presence.
My family and I like to imitate each others walk. A while back, Gabi was schlumping along. I asked her what she was doing and she said, “Walking like you!” We both started giggling and I realized I’d been walking like I was carrying a 100 pound pack on my back.
I was talking to Randy, the hospice chaplain, the other day and he shared something that the Lord had reminded him about. An oxen yoke on a donkey would make the donkey’s head bow down to the ground, but a donkey’s yoke on an ox would probably not even be noticed. Jesus said to take His yoke.
Matthew 11:29-30 Take My yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
When you don’t know what to do or are scared.
Isaiah 1:18a “Come, let’s reason together,” says the Lord.
Proverbs 1:33 “But all who listen to Me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”
Psalm 57:1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to You for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of Your wings until the danger passes by.
This reminds me of an instance in my life where this scripture came alive.
I was in South Dakota and had dropped Gabi at pre-K in our church building. It was up on a hill away from town and the homes were about a mile and a half away. It was winter. I decided to run to the houses and back for a change of scenery. I was wearing black running tights and a black anorak. I was just about to the houses when a creepy dude in a silver car slowed down and looked at me, then kept going. I said, “Lord, if that dude turns around, I’m out of here.” He started to turn around. Somehow, I ended up behind a pine bough that was heavy with snow. I felt a tangible protective shield around me. The dude drove really slow but he never saw me, so he took off. I waited a bit and then hoofed it to the church.
When I can’t sleep, I think about Him.
Psalm 63:6-8 I lie awake thinking of You, meditating on You through the night. Because You are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings. I cling to You; Your strong right hand holds me securely.
We want to hide when we’ve done something wrong even though He sees all. These guys did!
Genesis 3:8-10 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the LORD God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the LORD God among the trees. Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard You walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”
The Lord knew where they were and that they had disobeyed Him, but called out to them. He still wanted to hang out with them. Nothing we’ve done will make Him not want to hang out with us.
When we think He’ll ask us to do something we don’t want to do, we try to avoid hearing Him.
Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”
He knows what lights our fire. He put it there and he’ll send us to where our hearts ignite. All the while, He’ll cover us as a hen covers her chicks with her wings.
Psalm 36:7 How precious is Your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of Your wings.
Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Yahweh-Nissi, our covering, thank You for wanting to draw us near and cover us, even when we don’t always want to. Thank You for looking out for us, loving us and teaching us. We praise You for evermore. Amen and so be it.
