Tuesday 30 May 2023
I was awakened at 430 by birds singing early morning praise songs. Luke and I were on the beach at 515, alone with God, walking to the cadence of waves. My mind begins to race with thoughts of problems and issues and worries, and I know I need to just stop, to return to his presence. I cannot even give word to anything but this: “I love you. Help me hear you, feel you clearly, because I can’t shake all these worries, and they’re making me afraid.”
No sooner have I uttered these words, that I hear Psalm 56 (verses 3 and 4):
3 When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
Peace floods over us as we continue walking, the roaring thoughts simply vanish, and in the cool morning breeze, I feel held. “Praise, praise, praise you,” I am quietly singing.
Luke and I return to the truck, but when we get in and I shut the door, I feel an attack of worries and fears. Before I can blink, there are angels around us, outside. A large angel appears directly next to me on the driver’s side, and speaks clearly:
“Do not be afraid, for you are favored.”
There is complete calm and safety again, feelings of love and gratitude wash over me. And then I am dumb-struck with awe and holy fear, because His voice was so still, I thought I’d missed it:
Remember the Parable of the Trees, child.
“Yes, Lord. There are loud, idol-worshipping voices calling for a king. A thorny, bramblebush of a king. It feels like people want to make technology, even AI, into a king to be worshiped. Maybe there are many kings being worshiped.”
Bind them with the Word. Do not curse.