James 4:8 – Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (NIV)

Agnes, my goat, was limping along over the icy path. I decided that this called for investigation. After a thorough look, I opted to call the veterinarian for some advice. "Keep an eye on it, give her some medication you have on hand, and call me Saturday with an update" was her wisdom.

Saturday came, and Agnes was worse, which meant loading her up and driving two hours to the vet's office. Once there, she was diagnosed with a torn ligament, most likely due to slipping on the ice. The vet provided a solid brace which aligned the leg back into the correct position. Agnes will wear the brace for eight to ten weeks and will hopefully experience a full recovery.

Today, our world is out of alignment with the will of God. It has slipped upon the icy path of immorality, greed, idolatry, lust for power, and so much more. God is denied in many public places, and Christianity is coming more and more under attack. It is a discouraging and seemingly hopeless thought that things can turn around and begin progressing in a more positive manner. Yet, where there is God, there is always hope, and God abides within His people through the power of His Holy Spirit.

John 16:13 – But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (NIV)

So, let us not be discouraged. Let us not hide our heads in the sand. Let us not be quiet and hope for the best. Rather, day by day, let us have open hearts to be guided into all truth by the Spirit, that we might act like a brace within our world, each in our own small way, helping to realign, where necessary, the thoughts and actions of those with whom we work and live, by and through our own godly thoughts and actions.

It may not seem like much. It may not be a lot. Most likely, it will take a very long time. But in God's hands, all things are possible, and that's a truth that will not let us down.

Are you ready today to begin the realignment of the world that you live in?

Prayer: Father God, what a mess this world is in. Your creation has become so misaligned as to seem untreatable. But where You are, there is always hope. We thank You that You are in Your people — us. Strengthen and encourage us to stay aligned with You through the power of Your Holy Spirit, that we, in turn, might act as a brace within our world, realigning it with Your will. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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