Highways in Our Hearts

“Blessed are those whose strength is in You,

in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

As they go through the Valley of Baca

they make it a place of springs;

the early rain also covers it with pools.  

They go from strength to strength;

each one appears before God in Zion.”

-Ps. 84:5-7

Lord, how perfect are these words for me, for us right now.  Help me to draw my strength from you-sustain me with it on this journey in South Sudan.  How beautiful are the words “highways” in our hearts to “Zion”.  As we go through this journey you are paving new highways in my heart-which is often painful as you tear down old ones in my heart or repair ones that were destroyed.  Often I don’t want this-I want to keep using the same road, despite how bad it is-doing the same thing, regardless of how much time it wastes going that way or how it batters and bruises others along the way.  Give me the courage to let You alone be the builder and in control of all the highways in my heart.  Let all of them lead me in your perfect way-in your perfect peace.  Put up any necessary roadblocks that you want to thwart my destructive way.  For your ways are so much higher than mine.  You alone know what’s best.  

I want to be on this pilgrimage with you-when my walk becomes mechanical renew my heart.  When it becomes burdensome, lighten my load because you promised your load is easy when I rely on you.  I want the highways in my heart to lead to heaven-to your kingdom, eternal things.  In times of my life like now-when I feel I’m in a dry, difficult “Valley of Baca” (which also means “weeping”, I’ve done a lot of this lately) may I be a faithful pilgrim who by your strength makes it a place of springs-trusting and seeking you to bring victory and grow me in my faith.  

Help me to go from strength to strength, finding new levels of strength along the way on this journey.  Each season you provide something beautiful and unique and just what my soul needs at that time to sustain and strengthen me-through Your Word, songs, words from my husband or a friend, book or blog- ....it truly amazes me how You know and love me. Thank you for always providing.  Give me joy in this journey oh Lord my God! You never fail me God!  You never fail!  Keep burning these highways so I may become closer to Your heart.