Grand Sweep Daily
Jeremiah 38:6b (NIV)
They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.
Jeremiah 38:20-22 (NIV)
20 Jeremiah replied, “Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared. 21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has revealed to me: 22 All the women left in the palace of the king of
Good morning!
Our grandchildren love to jump and play in the mud puddles, after a hard rain. I have one grandson who will stop at nothing to find a mud puddle to step in. He is all boy, and we love him all the more, especially when covered in mud.
My favorite time to dig in the dirt, is in the spring, after a rain shower. Weeds pull easily from the ground if the soil is saturated. Planting is not so hard on the back when the dirt is wet. This spring, while working in the garden bed, my tennis shoes got stuck in the mud and I actually had to step out of them, because I could not free my feet. Have you ever gotten stuck in the mud?
Jeremiah was in a fix. He had been faithful to the Lord and was willing to speak His Word, even when the people refused to listen. They judged this holy man of God with harsh words. That led to harsh treatment, and even premeditated murder. Yes, there were some so angry with Jeremiah that they sought to find a way to stuff out his life, silence the voice, and forget he had ever lived in their city. Jeremiah was beaten and imprisoned for a long time, because of his faith. And now, the king threw up his hands in despair, allowing the rebels to cast Jeremiah into an empty cistern. Jeremiah found himself stuck in the mud with no way out. Just when we feel there is no way to escape the mud in our life, God steps in and makes a new way.
It was an Ethiopian who provided a way out for our friend Jeremiah. A non-Jew, this man saw the plight of another human and felt the touch of the Holy Spirit to act on his behalf. When God taps you on the shoulder and asks you to help another friend in need, do not be afraid of the mud. This wet clay has healing potential. Women have been using it on their faces and bodies for years. Mud packs and mud baths have been known to take the signs of aging away. Hope is borne from the mud we find ourselves in. A conventional solution may not be readily available. Look for His miracle! God will send just the right person at the right moment, to help pull you from the place where you got stuck.
Are you in the mud pit this morning? Look up and rejoice! God is making a new way for you. There is grace, even when we find ourselves stuck in the mud.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Pray for: a miracle! God can use the mud of your life to get your attention. He will help you get unstuck if you will cry out to Him for help today.
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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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