For my morning devotion I was reading from Jeremiah 1:9-10 which states,

Then Yahweh put out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me: “There! I am putting my words into your mouth. Look, today I am setting you over nations and over kingdoms to tear up and to knock down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

Even after all these years while reading this passage for just a moment as a pastor and one who preaches I freaked out. I mean this passage seems to invite the prophet to share in the Creator’s work- when the Word gets spoken things happen. The Scripture seems to be saying that the prophetic Word means things must be torn down as well as built up and that is a tough message to sell in today’s market. In other words, Word and deed go together.

Okay so God I really need Your assistance today. As I move out into the world give me an opportunity to not only point out the rough spots but to provide a way for others to be built up. Of course this requires time and effort so God slow me down because I can’t do it on my own and I’m usually in a hurry.

Charles de Foucauld prayed, “Father, I abandon myself into your hands. Do with me what you will. Whatever you may do, I will thank you. I am ready for all; I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, as in all your creatures. And I’ll ask nothing else, my Lord.”

Dear God give me the strength to keep me on the path.

Amen