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Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Wednesday, June 18, 2003 "Power Walk" |
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Frontline Devotion for Wednesday, June 18, 2003 By Penny Risen
Text for the day: Mark 6: 47-52, Mark 4: 35-41
Surely you have a few in your neighborhood or you see them in the park: Those earnest folks in shorts or sweats, zooming past you and your leashed dog, with their measured-athletic-shoed steps and swinging arms to rival Andre Agassi. They are the Power Walkers, most with headphones filled with music or hypnotized with some daily agenda, pacing, pumping, and leaving you in their dust.
I admire these sweaty, early morning soldiers and dusk commandos. They hope that a daily physical discipline can keep their brains clear and hearts churning. I'm not one of them, yet. But I've found a few daily spiritual disciplines that I hope can keep my head clear for life's journey: Prayer and intercession for others, reading the Bible (well, if I remember), and Power Walking with Jesus.
Our passages in Mark 6 and Mark 4 tell how Jesus showed his terrified disciples His supreme power and bolstered their faith:
He walks on water -- awesome!
With three words "Peace! Be still!" He quiets the storm -- majestic!
Few occasions in our lives can measure up in words used in the Bible to describe acts of the Father, Son and Spirit. Words like "awesome," "majestic," "fearsome," "miracle" -- you can think of countless other "God words" that match perfectly these mighty deeds. We've heard over and over since childhood about how Jesus walked on water and calmed the winds and waves -- because we've need to know from Day One that He is the most powerful thing in our lives. He's there for us every moment as He was for his disciples, we're reminded.
"Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid," Jesus tells us simply. He is here to Power Walk with us, along side us, whether in a real life crisis or just in a petty dispute with our own egos. Choose to let Him walk with you each day as your Savior and feel His power.
It's wonderful and mysterious that walking with Jesus should be such a simple and blessed spiritual discipline.
Did you know? When they hold one of those first grim/then joyful public jazz funerals in New Orleans, the Dixieland band strolls and plays the anonymous hymn "Just a Closer Walk With Thee." And in the face of immense daily trials of slavery and degradation, one of the most common African American spirituals was "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me."
You can find "awesome" power and calm at the same time: Ask Jesus to walk with you.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Lord, let us not be shy to "Power Walk" with you each day.
Let our hearts hear the hymn's words as we stride along with you:
"Just a closer walk with Thee. Grant it, Jesus, is my plea.
Daily walking close to Thee. Let it be, Lord , let it be.
I am weak, but Thou art strong. Jesus, keep me from all wrong.
I'll be satisfied as long, as I can walk, dear Lord, close to Thee."
Amen
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All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry. Pastor Dave welcomes and appreciates feedback. pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org.