October 18th

Sometimes life hurts. People hurt us. Circumstances hurt us. Loss hurts us. We begin to doubt or despair. Tears come for many reasons. Our own sins plague us. I am so thankful for the One who knows all these things about us, who loves us, forgives us, cleanses us, and keeps us. Jesus is the Friend to whom we can turn in good times or hard, in joy or sorrow … any time at all. I am so thankful for Him.

THE TELLING PLACE
There is a place where I can shout the things my lips can’t say,
Where all despair and hurt and doubt from soul depths roll away.
There is a chamber filled with tears that holds my sins confessed,
Where sweet forgiveness cancels fears that no one’s heard expressed.
There is a Listener who doth know my silent screams of pain,
A Presence to whose heart I go when sunshine turns to rain;
And, yes, there is a room all bright and warm with heart’s desire,
Where love and beauty dance with light and joy flames into fire.
A Friend is there who cares to share the glory of dawn’s sky,
Who senses drifts of fragrance rare, who hears a linnet’s cry;
And loneliness dares not intrude into that room apart.
Its doorway, sprinkled with Christ’s blood, leads always to God’s heart.

Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for my secret place called prayer.