January 12th - Reflection

Reading
Judges 5:12-21 (NRSV)
The song of Deborah

"Awake, awake, Deborah!
Awake, awake, utter a song!
Arise, Barak, lead away your captives,
O son of Abinoam.
Then down marched the remnant of the noble;
the people of the Lord marched down for him against the mighty.
From Ephraim they set out into the valley,
following you, Benjamin, with your kin;
from Machir marched down the commanders,
and from Zebulun those who bear the marshal's staff;
the chiefs of Issachar came with Deborah,
and Issachar faithful to Barak;
into the valley they rushed out at his heels.
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
Why did you tarry among the sheepfolds,
to hear the piping for the flocks?
Among the clans of Reuben
there were great searchings of heart.
Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan;
and Dan, why did he abide with the ships?
Asher sat still at the coast of the sea,
settling down by his landings.
Zebulun is a people that scorned death;
Naphtali too, on the heights of the field.

"The kings came, they fought;
then fought the kings of Canaan,
at Taanach, by the waters of Megiddo;
they got no spoils of silver.
The stars fought from heaven,
from their courses they fought against Sisera.
The torrent Kishon swept them away,
the onrushing torrent, the torrent Kishon.
March on, my soul, with might!

Reflection
I march on day after day. I can march on with the idea that my own power and strength will bring victory. Or, I can march on by the command and call of God. I can march on into what may seem to be certain defeat. I can march on, confident in my own strength. Or... I can march on confident in the love and protection of God. When I march on in the love and trust of God, my faith builds. My faith builds, because I learn to give my trust to God for His guidance and protection.

And the stars fought from heaven. As I march on with the might of God by my side I can sense the presence and ultimate protection of my Savior. A Savior sent to experience the march and to take on the march with me. A Savior who is a companion and fellow soldier marching with me in this battle against the devil, sin and death. A Savior who comes to be with me to win that victory. A Savior who I can trust and depend upon. So, today, I march on, knowing of my Savior... knowing that my Savior marches with me towards, and in, the battle. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Jesus, I place all my faith, and trust and life in Your hands. Let's march on, today, tomorrow and forever! --- Amen