Northwards

Northwards
At this hour, I call out to you Jehovah Nissi
the Lord our Banner — Exodus 17:15

Turn to the north. This is the direction of the cold, of the winds, of the storm. This is the direction of fortitude, courage, single-mindedness. This is where the struggle is. This is where the strength comes from.

I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead
His eye to watch, His might to stay, His ear to hearken to my need
The wisdom of my God to teach, His hand to guide, His shield to ward
The word of God to give me speech, His heavenly host to be my guard

St Patrick’s Breastplate

Think about five storms raging at the moment — for you, for the church, for society, for the world. Is there a common weather pattern between them? What one thing will make one storm calmer today?

Look up these two hymns, and any other than come to mind about God’s faithfulness, and ponder which phrases mean most to you

Job 26 | These things are merely a whisper of God’s power at work. How little we would understand if this whisper ever turned into thunder!

O! My soul turns to the north this day to listen for the thunder of God’s voice

O! My soul turns to the north this day to listen for the thunder of God

O! My soul turns to the north this day to listen for the thunder

O! My soul turns to the north this day to listen

O! My soul turns to the north this day

O! My soul turns to the north

O! My soul turns

O! My soul

O