Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Column of Cloud, Pillar of Fire
With a column of cloud you led [your people] by day, and by night with a column of fire to light the way of their journey, the way in which they must travel.
This ancient image of God leading and protecting, guiding and guarding, is one we modern humans can keep close and cherish. It relieves us of the burden that comes with thinking that we are in charge. It soothes us with the knowing that God is present, attentive and alert each morning as we rise into the day and each evening as we retreat into the night.
God says: I love to watch over you as you sleep. I love to nudge you into my way each day of your journey. I love to protect you. I love to travel with you. There is no danger that I fear. There is no obstacle I cannot overcome. There is no challenge too great. There is no prayer too small. It is my greatest desire to bring you into union with my Word. It is my delight to see you treading with prayer on the Way I have set before you. You are the dearest child of my heart. Do not fear this day. Sleep well this night. I am as gentle as the vapor of the clouds and as fierce as the flames of the fire tornado. And I am with you always . . . even to the end of time.
![hiEio[1]](https://thenoontimes.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/hieio1.jpg?w=300&h=225)
Our God appears to us as a vulnerable child who needs protection and guidance from his earthly parents; and yet it is the grown and matured man who heals, protects and guides us, his adopted sisters and brothers. Jesus lives a life that is both kind and just, and his actions are a clear demonstration of God’s love for each of us. We must learn to trust this marvelous, mysterious love.
Enter the word trust in the blog search bar and examine how, and who, and what, and why we trust.
For a reflection on Nehemiah 9, enter the word Confession into the blog search bar and explore.
A re-post from July 15, 2012.
For more thoughts on being led by the Holy Spirit, click on the cloud image above or go to the Pinch of Grace blog at: http://pinchofgrace.net/2013/02/23/being-led-by-the-holy-sprirt-of-god/
For a BBC video of a rare fire tornado in Brazil in August of 2010, go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11086299
The Noontimes 