Reach Up and Take His Hand

“…and he felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him.”

- Ezekiel 1:3

I have two sons.  The older is 12-years old and is in 6^th grade – middle school!  My other son is only 6 and is in kindergarten.  Having an older son who has become be a pre-teen in the blink of an eye, I find myself cherishing every mother-son moment I have with my younger son – especially those of affection.  One of my favorite things is when my young son reaches up to take my hand when we’re together.  Sometimes he reaches up for a sense of security, or out of habit for safety when we’re crossing traffic or walking through a parking lot, but often he wants to hold hands just because it feels good to do so.  And I love feeling his soft, still chubby-like hand in mine.  I’m never the first to let go!   

As grown-ups, we don’t think about reaching up to take someone’s hand like we did when we were young, but we should because the Lord is always there offering His hand to us.  Ezekiel 1:3 tells us Ezekiel “…felt the hand of the Lord take hold of him.”  This happened while Ezekiel, a faithful priest enduring a time of exile, was about to be given a vision of the glory of the Lord to encourage him.  The Lord extends His hand to us everyday, too, in hopes that we, like Ezekiel, will feel His glory and respond well to His touch.  Maybe He is extending His hand to offer assurance or direction, or maybe He just wants to hold our hands because He loves us and wants to be near us, showing us His love.

My favorite image of Christ is in the stained glass window of our church that sits high above the sanctuary for all to see.  It shows Jesus in a white robe standing among the lilies.  One knee is slightly bent – which makes him appear to be coming near, and both arms are reaching out with His palms up.  Do you suppose He’s reaching out to give or to receive?  I believe it’s both. His outstretched arms welcome those who need to be received.   And to those who need to receive Him, He’s reaching out to take by the hand those who seek His touch.

Would it feel good to hold someone’s hand?  Then think about that image of Jesus and reach out to take His hand.  He wants to be there for you and with you in all that you do.  Just as my young son does with me, you can hold on to the Lord for security, safety, or just because it feels good to do so.  I can assure you that it feels good to Him, too, and He won’t be the first to let go!  

Dear Lord, Nothing feels better than knowing You hold my hand securely in Yours.  Thank You for always having Your hands outstretched and ready to hold mine. What a privilege and blessing it is to be held by the Savior Himself!  In Your heavenly name I pray.  Amen. 

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The 23rd Psalm

Below are two versions of the 23rd Psalm, a classic for bringing comfort and soothing the soul.  The first version is as it appears in the bible.  The second version is a paraphrase I wrote to make it more personal when claiming it for oneself in thought or prayer. 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil, My cup runs over.   Surely goodness and mercy will follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Claiming its truths (my paraphrased version):

The Lord will tend to me, I will want for nothing.  He calls me to rest in the cool and comforting softness of His beauty.  He takes me to a place of calm where even the waters are stilled by His presence.

He refreshes my soul. He calls for me to follow Him along the ways that are right and good To bring glory to His name.

Although I face the depths of death around me, Evil will not scare me; For You are with me; Your direction and protection give me comfort.

You bless me in view of my enemies; You claim me by anointing me with oil, I am blessed in abundance. 

In Him, I can be sure that goodness and mercy will be with me forever, And forever I will remain in Him.       Amen. 

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