Tag: feet

Down, but Not Out

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

I trust in the Lord. I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. Psalm 31:6-8

God has seen all of it. All of your hesitations. Your unbelief. Your drama.

God has seen all of your afflictions and distress deep down in your soul.

YET – He has chosen to keep you close.

He has chosen to keep you safe.

He has kept His commitment to you.

What afflictions are we talking about? What distress? The Psalm doesn’t say.

It could be literal physical sickness. It could be enemies surrounding the camp.

It could be death building within his heart. The affliction could be wrapped up in unbelief deep within.

But it doesn’t matter. The reasons don’t exist or matter because God chooses to keep his servant close.

He does not deliver him into the hand of the enemy even though afflictions and distress present themselves.

Not only does God keep him safe, he increases his safety by setting his feet in a secure place.

Making him even more secure.

This truth is yours, too.

Look around. God has protected you from so much.

You could have wandered away from Him, but here you sit.

He has protected your very soul from death!

The enemy is not victorious, but crushed.

God has won, is winning, and will win.

Thank Him for seeing your afflictions. The distress deep within.

And thank Him for keeping you close, raising you up out of it all.

How has God set your feet in a broad place, despite the afflictions of your heart?

Photos by Pascal Debrunner, Jordan Whitt, Ben Hartley, & Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash

Remaining Fragrance

Published on by amylinneaLeave a comment

Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3

I wonder how long the expensive fragrance lingered on His feet.

If the smell remained days later.

Guessing for a few it did.

After bathing? Probably.

Nard was expensive due to its high quality.

It was usually reserved for royalty, sealed in an equally expensive alabaster jar to preserve the special fragrance.

It was the best money could buy.

Mary poured it out on Jesus because of Who He was.

The Son of God.

Our Messiah.

The King of Kings.

How about 6 days later.

Do you think the fragrance lingered still?

That’s when Jesus was arrested.

Through the trial?

Through the flogging?

Through the agony on the cross?

What if God’s timing allowed the fragrance to whiff here and there while Jesus suffered?

Reminding Him of His purpose and identity.

Whiffs of sacrifice and worship while enduring.

How about you?

Do you recognize when God does that for you?

Notice.

Notice the goodness of God amidst the suffering.

Notice the love of God while enduring.

Notice the fragrance of God, who goes before you, stands behind you, and is always right by your side.

Jesus was fully God, yet fully man.

And God was there for Him, too.

Photos by Elena G, Tom Crew, Alicia Quan, & Danie Franco on Unsplash