Week 49 Wednesday

The Way

Today’s scripture selection: Psalms 140-142

Key verse: Psalm 142:3

“When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way.”

Now and then, we all lose our way.

At least, that’s been my life experience.  No matter who you are; what answers you have found; sooner or later – you are going to come up against something, or someone, who has you stumped.

That’s when it’s more than just helpful to hear words like this from the Psalms – it may be life-saving.

When you are “spiritually” faint; when you just can’t seem to find the energy or strength to do what needs to be done; when you can’t find your way back onto a path that makes sense – that’s when God can step in.  That’s if you let Him.

You may find it in any number of ways.

By

  • Taking another look at the Scriptures
  • Talking to a friend who seems to have found something in his or her faith
  • Reaching out to someone who has also lost his or her way
  • Finding someone you can help; someone who is in an even worse situation than you are in
  • By praying one of the most simple and profound prayers you can pray: “Lord, please show me the way.”

But however you find your way back onto a sound path – know this – God loves you and celebrates that you have found your way back home – each and every time.

Prayer: Lord, when I am tired and lost; show me the way back to your love.  AMEN.

By Paul Simrell

The Reverend Paul W. Simrell has served for over thirty years in a variety of congregational and institutional settings. He is a recognized minister with standing in the Virginia region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada and is nationally endorsed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for specialized ministry in both pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Ordained in 1982, he has served congregations in Kentucky, Texas, Florida, and Virginia. He currently serves as the pastor of Elpis Christian Church, a small, historic congregation located just a few miles west of Richmond, Virginia. Elpis is the Greek word meaning “expectant hope.” He also serves on the associate clinical staff of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, Richmond, Virginia, both as a pastoral counselor and a ministerial assessment specialist, specializing in executive, clergy and relationship coaching. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and Lexington Theological Seminary and has done advanced clinical training in chaplaincy and pastoral counseling at the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, Children’s Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas and the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in Richmond, Virginia. He is a Certified Pastoral Counselor, an ACPE Practitioner, and a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. He is a Certified Facilitator of the Prepare-Enrich relationship assessment and skills-building program and served as a volunteer chaplain for over twenty years with the CJW Medical Center campuses in Richmond, Virginia. His avocational interests include playing the piano and drawing. He is very happily married to his wife Elizabeth Yeamans Simrell, a free-lance writer, who is also a Certified Facilitator for the Prepare-Enrich program. Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

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