Thoughts for another day

Dec. 14, 2012.

Today's verse: Ps 17:8. Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

He who birthed me is the One who keeps me whether I walk the narrow path or the wide one.  His hand of protection is upon me, no matter what dangers lurk beyond my eye-scape.  I may not even know how much He has done for me, when He brushes aside the dangers I don't see, but which were meant for me; and for all these, I don't even thank Him.

Years ago when small, I read Ps. 17, and my eye was on our verse above.  I meant it when I read it like David had done and I had also raised my eyes to heaven and sensed Him telling me, 'I will'.  It was great comfort; but being stupid as ever, I quickly forgot Him.  I went on to do things the world does: to shun good and love 'bad' which really speaking isn't bad for the world or me, for what's wrong if I crave a little wealth and in the process destroy a few lives by my cruelty and indifference to the pain I caused several people who came in my way.  When someone told me they cursed me, I laughed their curses to scorn.  When their curses were to take effect on me, His mighty Hand stayed them and I walked on thinking I was the master of myself and I could do as I pleased and I did just that.  In all this I was completely oblivious to the tears of pain, He shed for me…always, always asking me to repent, but I never did.  To the world, all I did was perfect and it acknowledged me as the ideal example of success and fame without a single blemish for the laws of the world had nothing that could indict me.  I was the 'Successful species!'

Then one day, suddenly, a paralytic stroke hit me.  Believe me, it can be the most wretched thing to happen to anyone and it happened to me.  Lying on my bed, like a vegetable, I thought to myself: what am I going to do, for believe me, life as a vegetable is terrible and isn't worth living; and death, the preferable option in the situation, was not to be seen.  As I slept, my limbs a drag on my body, my mind remembered God.  As in a flashback, my previous life reeled open before me, but now I saw that which was invisible to me before.  Every moment, I saw His hand over me and I heard Him say, 'You're Mine and I love you.'  I never realised He was so close to me; so true to His promise. Shame hit me.  I told Him, 'Lord if I am Yours, heal me, get me back and I will proclaim your Name to the nations.'  Two years later, I am on my feet, fit as a fiddle, my healing, miraculous and complete – both body and mind.  The world has stepped away from me, who wants to be with a vegetable anyway?  My wealth had dwindled; yet I felt rich and at peace.  Today, I roam about and I speak of Him, my God who says, 'I have carved you in the palm of My hand and I will never forsake you.'  I tell them about His sacrifice on Calvary by which He proved His love for me and really when I do that, I feel on top of the world with my Savior; and He and I both walk together, hand-in-hand, moving to the everlasting shore.