Patrick reports on his deliverance. We can feel his heart pounding and burning as he embraces his calling from the Lord. Today’s excerpt is found on pages 35 and 36 of Patrick: A Devotional History:
“And it was there, while I was tending sheep,
I was alone one night, and fast asleep,
when, in a dream, I heard a voice that said
to me, ‘Your fast is good, there on your bed
among the flocks, for soon you will return
to your own land.’ My heart began to burn
with wonder at this word. Then later on
that night this strange pronouncement came: ‘Be gone!
Behold, your ship is ready.’ Could it be?
Then shortly afterwards I rose to flee
from him whose flocks I had for six long years
been keeping. Yet my vessel was not near
but as it happened, it was more than two
hundred long miles away. And yet I knew
no person in that place, nor ever there
had been before. With only God to care
for me, I fled, and made my way by night
across this land, while keeping out of sight…
“At least three times God appeared to Paul in a vision to direct his movements for the Gospel. At least three times Patrick had the same experience. The first came to him in a dream in which the voice of the Lord commended Patrick for his faithfulness and fasting and promised that he would soon return to Britain.
“Then, that same night, the voice returned to tell him to flee from the Wood of Foclut to catch a vessel that would bring him to his home. Shortly thereafter, Patrick fled; but he realized he would need to cross the breadth of Ireland to make it to the east coast, where, he supposed, the promised ship was waiting.“He made his journey primarily by night, hiding during the day lest his master discover him or someone else take him captive. He believed that God would care for him, and as it turned out, God did.”
For reflection or discussion
1. Have you ever felt some strong sense of leading or calling from the Lord? Explain.
2. Patrick did not have the Scriptures. We do. What is God’s Word calling you to do today?
Every day God calls us to His Kingdom and glory. That is, He has chosen us to enter into His joy, the joy of His Kingdom, there to extend His righteousness and peace throughout our part of the world. Our daily calling, like that of Patrick, is to get up and go in obedience to the Lord. Share today’s podcast with a friend, then get together to discuss your callings from the Lord. You can download a free PDF copy of our 30-day devotional, Patrick: A Devotional History, by going to The Ailbe Bookstore.
T. M. Moore
