When Stuck in a Muddy Pit

My Light and My Stronghold

“The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life — of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:1 (NIV) We all need light in order to walk. That’s why I am thankful that the Lord is my Light, and He helps me to “see” as I walk through this life. He is also my salvation — Jesus Christ has forgiven my sins, which I am very well aware of. I am also aware of my fears, but through God’s Word, He gives me His strength to face them. I sometimes wonder what it would like to be totally by myself. I’m sure there would be a lot of fear. In my ministry I have traveled a lot, visiting northern communities where my people live. There have been times when I felt like I was surrounded by people who were against me, wanting me to leave, or even to hurt me. It may have sometimes just been my imagination but, whatever the case, I was confident of the Lord’s presence. If it wasn’t for the Lord being my Stronghold, I’m sure I would fall under the weight in hard times. But those hard times are part of life. My desire is to live for Jesus daily. In the Psalms, men wrote about being in God’s temple. That’s where I would want to be. Jesus Christ truly is my Rock in hard times. Sometimes, in troubled times, I still do cry. One of them was years ago when my wife, Laura, and I lost our adult son in a car accident. But the Lord is forever with me. He will never leave me. There are sacrifices in the Christian life, but it is only the Lord who gives true joy to my soul and spirit. Over the years, I have gained a deep desire for God’s Word. As I read God’s Word, He speaks to me. So I give Him praise. — Gilbert Bekkatla   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

A Half-Written Song

“We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.” John 9:4 (NLT) I remember sitting with my songwriter friend and talking about the song that he and I wanted to write. We laughed, tuned, strummed, picked, drank coffee, and started writing, but only got about half a verse done before getting sidetracked by someone dropping in to visit. So we told each other we’d finish it “next time.” The next time I saw him was at his funeral. I never thought we’d lose him so soon! There was no more chance to write that song together, no more jamming, no more picking, no trying to hit that high harmony with an ear-splitting howl, then laughing at ourselves when it sounded like dueling coyotes! He was gone. It reminds me, when I look at those half-written lyrics, about how we can let little things come in the way of doing what we know God wants us to do. Looking back, I wish we hadn’t gotten derailed, and had just dug in and finished that song off, but we thought we had time . . . If God is calling us to choose His way or to do something for Him, we may find it easier to just put it off — or keep it on the back-burner along with a collection of other good ideas — than to actually do what He’s calling us to. We can’t do much with a half-written song, sort of like “almost deciding” to choose Jesus, but never quite getting there. When God calls us to follow Him, we need to follow through on making that choice. If He calls us to His service, we shouldn’t be anywhere else! — Kene Jackson   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

Gospel Influence

“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the fi eld which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, ‘Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden”?’” Genesis 3:1 (NKJV) Have you ever wondered how the world might be different today if Eve did not listen to the serpent in the garden? What if Eve had walked away, instead of conversing with him? Did Eve consider how eating the forbidden fruit could damage her marriage? What about her relationship with God? What about her future, and particularly how disobeying God would negatively impact her life? Fruit for thought (no pun intended)! Reading this account of Scripture, we see the power of influence. From the creation of mankind, man has had a choice — the choice to follow the Lord or the choice to forsake the Lord. Sadly, Eve and Adam allowed themselves to be influenced by the serpent, which has had disastrous results. In this same regard, we allow ourselves to be influenced with Godly influence — or worldly influence. Social media, music, TV, and friends are some of the many influences that bombard us each day. As followers of Christ, there are inescapable influences, for better or worse, that we all must learn to deal with. However, God has given us His Word and the Holy Spirit to lead and direct us in our pilgrimage. God desires that we would not let the influences of the world hinder us. God desires that we become “Gospel people” — people who prioritize spending time with God, communing and fellowshipping with Him. If we grow in this area, we will see a surge of spiritual growth and maturity. Worldly influences will lose their grip upon us as we experience freedom and victory in the Lord! Are you reading your Bible daily? Heavenly Father, please show me what influences I need to walk away from. Help me develop a daily devotional life and influence me by Your Spirit. — Steven Keesic   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

When Stuck in a Muddy Pit

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1–3 (NKJV) Do you remember a time when you or someone you knew got stuck in the mud? I remember one time, when I was a kid, I was in a mud puddle, and my gum boot was stuck good. The more I tried to get it out, the “stucker” I got! I struggled in my own strength, but nope, I needed help. When I finally realized I couldn’t do it on my own, that is when I called “Heelllppp!” Then I got the help I needed. Well, as I grew older, I found myself stuck in different “muddy pits” of things that God didn’t want me to do, such as cigarettes and alcohol. I tried to quit on my own strength, and it was just like when I was a kid stuck in the mud. I remember always crying out to God for help, even in the pits of desperation, “Please, God, help me! I don’t want this in my life anymore.” I kept on asking for His help and — in the way only God can do — those muddy pits are no longer keeping me stuck! He got me out. I am thankful for His mighty ways. You may be thinking, “I’m so ashamed of my muddy pits, and I don’t want anyone to know how stuck I am.” God knows, and He wants to help. He went to the cross to pay for my muddy pit sins. He put a new song in my heart. He is trustworthy. We just need to ask for His help every second of every day. — Shannon Menelaws-Laier   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]

And God Said ...

“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:20,21 (NIV) I was with some First Nations young people who believed that the white man wrote the Bible. So, in a gentle manner, I asked, “What is written on the cover of this Bible?” They replied, “The Holy Bible.” I said, “So, the one who wrote it is ‘holy.’ If you say that white men wrote it, then you are calling them holy. You have placed yourself beneath them. You are calling them gods. Why would you do that? God wrote the Holy Bible.” They thought about it for a moment, then replied, “We didn’t think of it that way before! Thank you.” God “writing” the Bible . . . the first idea that comes to mind is of God using His hand to write the Bible. So it must be explained that, when God “wrote” the Bible, He used prophets and apostles to write it down. These men were inspired by God what to write. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed . . .” Back in Genesis 1:3, we read: “And God said.” Verse 6 begins, “And God said.” Verse 9 and verse 11 read, “And God said.” I think you get the picture. God spoke and creation began. New life began. What do you suppose is happening to us when we read His Word? Jesus said, in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” Reading the Bible is vital to those who have a personal relationship with God. So whether it is “God wrote,” or “God said,” be fi lled with His Word. Hear His voice. Read His Word! — Peter Constant   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries [https://intertriballife.org/] and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. [https://nefc.ca/] The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org [https://councilfire365.org/]