We are in uncertain times and perhaps the Govt's latest announcement (regarding lockdown and social distancing) has unnerved us even more. I am not belittling or dismissing the crisis but do take hope in our Father's living words written in His book the Bible. We are not immune to crisis because God never promised this (after all we live in a fallen world) but I do believe that God walks with us, comforts us and sustains us. Matthew 6:25 - 34 (précised by me) encourages and comforts me greatly and I share it below to enable us all to find shelter and assurance in Him: '
'Jesus told us '''I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air, they do not show or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?.....so do not worry saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be given to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.'
In Matthew 10:29 - 30 Jesus also says:
'Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. AND EVEN THE VERY HAIRS ON YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED, so don't be afraid because you are worth more than many sparrows.'
We are also told in Jerimiah 17: 7-6
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”
I've just read 1 Peter 5:10 which is s great verse and I offer it to you to encourage and sustain us. Actually verses 6-10 are very relevant so I put it in context and write from verse 6:
"Humble yourselves, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be alert and of sober mind.
Your enemy the Devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in faith, because you know that our family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of suffering.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
God bless us all as we meditate on these words.
Just been musing on Habakkuk 3 in the OT and was struck by verse 19: 'The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.'
At present I keep coming across the phrase Sovereign Lord. What does the word sovereign mean. The dictionary definition is 'supreme power or authority having the last and ultimate word ' Wow what a God we have!
I've just been out for a lovely long walk around the Grassmoor Country Park. Not many people about and those of us who were, keeping our distance. It was quiet and peaceful and as I wondered along talking to my friend God he showed me the buds beginning to blossom, the lilac beginning to show colour. Trees becoming green again birds singing and flying around and I started singing the hymn 'How Great thou art.'
''O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works thy hand has made.
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, `
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.'
Our Lord is the God of renewal and as we continue to live in strange times, let's look forward to Him renewing us. Lookin out of the country park I can see undulating field and hills in the background with the backdrop of a blue sky. Verse 2 of the hymn says:
'When through the woods
And forest glades I wander
I hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the general breeze
Then sings my soul
My saviour God to thee
How great thou art...'
And as we walked, God and me I turned to Jesus and said to Him:
'I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from.
My help comes from you Lord because you are the maker of Heaven and Earth....You watch over me and will save us from harm. You are our God.
Psalm 121 (paraphrased)
I've been reading an article from a magazine called 'Help' which is the magazine of Mission Assist. In this magazine Daryl the CEO of the charity writes about extreme prayer and I recommend we all take extreme prayer seriously
In 1 John 5:13-15 we read; '...those who believe in the name of the Son of God will be given eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.'
It is good to pray for our everyday needs but it is also good to raise our expectations because in Ephesians 3:20 Paul tells us that God is 'able to do more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that words in us'
Jesus says in John 15:24:
'until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.'
Extreme prayer is believing this and being prepared to do it. God is sovereign and is working in all our lives.
I encourage you to pray during this pandemic that we stay safe and strong but believing that our extreme prayers are heard by God to bring both ourselves and many of mankind to a deeper faith and reliance on Him. Once again I would welcome your comments.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
I will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day the Lord had made.
I will rejoice and be glad in it. In
Rev 21:5 God says: 'I am making everything new!'
Let us rest in God pondering what his words mean for us because this is the Lord's Day so let us rejoice in Him
'"Because they love me,' says the Lord,. 'I will rescue them; I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name.'" Ps 91:14
This is all true and I believe it, but I am finding isolation challenging and I feel sometimes like David in Psalm 142:1-2...: “I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble.”
but I am constantly reassured by my Lord that, as quoted at the top of this message: He loves me and He will protect me. Let's ponder on an awesome, omnipotent God who loves you and me.
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble....when I seek you, you answer me. Those who look to him are radiant...because the Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit...put your hope in God.... for he is our Saviour and our God."
These excerpts from Ps 31:7, Ps 34:4-5 and Ps 42::5 are a real encouragement to us. Let's ponder His goodness to us. His promises are true and comforting.
'"Because they love me,' says the Lord,. 'I will rescue them; I will protect them, for they acknowledge my name.'" Ps 91:14
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 NIV
If anyone has any comments or thoughts on my post above I would love to hear them.
