Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.
For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.
(Psalm 33:3-4, 11 NIV)
(A brief story from “The Silver Chair” by C.S. Lewis. Puddleglum, Scrubb and Jill were sent with very specific directions by Aslan [the Jesus character] on a journey to rescue a kidnapped prince. Unfortunately, after arduous travels, they do not remember the directions, and the people they meet give them different ones.)
“We had been told to look for a message on the stones of the City Ruinous,” said Scrubb. “And we saw the words UNDER ME.”
The Knight laughed even more heartily than before.
“You were the more deceived,” he said. “Those words meant nothing to your purpose. Had you but asked my Lady, she could have given you better counsel. For those words are all that is left of a longer script, which in ancient times, as she well remembers, expressed this verse:
Though under Earth and throneless now I be,
Yet, while I lived, all Earth was under me.
From which it is plain that some great king of the ancient giants who lies buried there caused this boast to be cut in the stone over his sepulchre; though the breaking up of some stones, and the carrying away of others for new buildings, and the filling up of the cuts with rubble has left only two words that can still be read. Is it not the merriest jest in the world that you should have thought they were written to you?”
This was like cold water down the back to Scrubb and Jill; for it seemed to them very likely that the words had nothing to do with their quest at all, and that they had been taken in by a mere accident.
“Don’t you mind him,” said Puddleglum. “There are no accidents. Our guide is Aslan; and he was there when the giant King caused the letters to be cut, and he knew already all things that would come of them; including this.”
Today, if you are going through a time of confusion, disillusionment, or discouragement, I invite you to remember what God has told you. Whether in his Word, through prayer, by prophecy, or in the still, small Voice within you, his guidance in your life is sure and perfect. He will never fail you. His promises are true. His heart for you is huge and you are not forgotten.
God,
We sing and shout new and skillful songs to you in praise. You are faithful and will never fail us. Your plans stand firm forever. Thank you for the ways in which you reveal yourself and teach us in your Word, through prayer, through prophecy, and through the Holy Spirit’s Voice within us. Thank you that you want us to always remember who we are in you, and that your purposes and plans and directions are always right, true, and for our good. Holy Spirit, help us discern whether what we hear is of you or not. Help us to follow you wherever, whenever, and through whatever we go. Bless us with a deep sense of your Peace and Presence as we trust you with our lives. We ask this in Jesus’s name, AMEN.