Running a river is a way of edging as close to death as possible without actually dying.
It’s an adrenalin rush, like being on a roller coaster, but without a safety harness in place. Our assurance of making it through rides on our guide who controls the direction we head and calls out instructions to help us find the safe path. He demands our strong arms to get the raft just where it needs to go.
Sometimes, however, we need to find a resting spot where we can recoup our strength. We need an eddy, or a stretch of calm water, a place to catch our breath so that our faith in our guide is not stretched to the breaking point.
We can find our calm water in these verses.
2 Timothy 1:7 encourages us.
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Mark 11:24 gives us assurance.
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Matthew 5:44 admonishes us.
“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
2 Peter 3:9 offers us strength.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
Psalm 16:11 is our praise.
“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Isaiah 43:2 tells us God has us in the palm of his hand.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Progress in our Christian walk isn’t possible in the quiet eddies of recuperation. Stay too long, and we’ll begin to stink with stagnation. Even so, to spend time with Jesus in solitude is just what we need to run the river for Jesus in our whitewater ride toward heaven.
When Jesus is our guide, he will give us power to avoid every obstacle in our path.
Copyright © 2016 MyChurchNotes.net
Originally Published 1-13-16 in Hope