Guiding Pillar

Exodus 13: 21-22:

"The LORD was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people."

Exodus 14:19:

"The angel of God, who had been going before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them."

--Is 'the angel of God' Jesus?

God, please be my guiding pillar and MAKE me follow. When I look at clouds in the future, please remind me that you were once leading the Israelites in a pillar of cloud, and that you can guide us(me) today as well, although we're in a different context. Thank you.

God's Deliverance Awaits

Exodus 6:6-9

Here God says, "Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I will bring you to the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession; I am the LORD.'"So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account of their despondency and cruel bondage."

In dark times our clarity of vision can be shortsighted. It can be easy to forget the temporariness of life's burdens. Yet what a promise awaits. God will take us to a land...to the Heavenly Land. Nothing can compare. And HE can lighten our load. If we come to HIM, HE promises rest. As the (perhaps) somewhat famous Matthew 11:28 states: "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Another example of a Scriptural passage that notes God's deliverance is found in Psalm 34:17: "The righteous cry, and the LORD hears And delivers them out of all their troubles." However, 'The righteous' is in italics in my Bible, so let me try to find another verse that expresses this idea. Oh. Just verses earlier, in verse 4, it is noted that "I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears."

God in difficult times please help me not be consumed by them but instead please help me to remember that there is light up ahead. Joy is supposed to come in the morning, right? Isn't there a verse that says something to the extent that sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning? Help me to turn to you and help my inner being to be renewed daily. 2 Corinthians 4:16-- "Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." Please help me to be 'renewed day by day' and, if possible, can you help me to be aware of how it is being renewed? Thanks...please help scripture verses come to my mind and help me to think upon YOU more often. Thank you. Please help me to listen to You/Your Word even in the midst of my trials. Please let the difficulties not carry me further away from You.