ON THE ROAD WITH JESUS!

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).

It’s summertime! A time to be outdoors and bask in God’s beautiful creation!

My husband and I love to ride our bicycles through nature along many scenic roads and trails. There’s always hills which we strenuously climb through perseverance, but then there’s the joy of being able to breeze downhill without any effort at all. My favorite (of course) is along the flat and scenic paths with the wind at our backs when we can effortlessly cruise along!

However I’ve also discovered while riding down a path too fast (and in my human pride), I can lose control and get into an accident (it’s happened and by God’s grace I’m well)!

Our bike rides are a great analogy for living life.

Isn’t it a joy to effortlessly ride along in pleasure and prosperity?

When life is going well, it’s easy to get complacent, become prideful, but then we run into problems. When life is an uphill battle (and in this hurting and sinful world, it often is), it can be met with discouragement, adversity, and doubt. But those are the times we can be most strengthened by God.

I want to encourage you to keep asking God to give you more faith, courage, and enthusiasm. Below are some Bible verses offering guidance for us all along the way:

FAITH: Hebrews 12:1-2a: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."

COURAGE: Deuteronomy 31:6: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

ENTHUSIASM: Colossians 3:23: "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."

And I can’t forget our life verse and wedding text (after 40 years of marriage, it’s never let us down): Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Christ makes our paths straight!

Through all the ups and downs and even detours of life, He’s always with us. That’s especially true as our nation recently experienced the tragedies in El Paso and Dayton. I think of the popular song, “Jesus Take the Wheel” by Carrie Underwood. We can do that as we surrender to Him in prayer. Luis has been an excellent example of this through his illness and the Palau ministry has been doing this for over 50 years in their walk with Him. Please journey with me in prayer support for Luis, Andrew, and the entire Palau team as they proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ for salvation and guidance through the peaks and valleys of life.

Journeying with Jesus in Prayer,
Gail Stockamp

“You make known to me the path of Life” (Psalm 16:11).

PRAYER REPORTS

Please enjoy opening the regional updates below and keeping them in your prayers:

Africa | Wendy Palau goes to Nigeria September 9-13 | Report
Asia | Xiuyu Wang and Tim Innes in China August 29-September 5 | Report
North America | Block Party August 24 in Portland, Oregon | Report
Europe | Praise for Shine Swansea | Report
Latin America | Praise for NGA LifeFest Pucallpa, Peru | Report
Caribbean | Effective tools for ministry in Cuba | Report