“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” - Psalm 139:1 (NIV).
The Uganda Kob, from the moment it drops on earth, quickly realizes it is in dangerous territory. All around, it is encircled by predators like the African lion. Upon rising, any lion greets a kob as menu for breakfast, lunch or dinner. And then there are also human hunters, searching for its tasty meat.
Two things enable the kob survive to adulthood. First, its antennae’s are always wired with a sixth sense for predators. Once it senses one in the neighborhood it takes off with a fast sprint. Secondly, kobs move in herds since, whenever alone, they bare themselves to wild attack.
Once in a while some kobs can forget the dangerous world they inhabit and instead of being on alert start engaging in territorial battles. This can happen especially among certain males, who then lock their horns against each other, trying to kick off the other in grueling battles.
Now, on one occasion two males were furiously tussling against each other, when a lion saw the pair afar. It leapt forward. While other kobs quickly sensed danger and sprinted away, these two fighters continued on. They did not see the lion approaching. The lion leapt; easily knocked off one, and started having its meal of the day. The other scattered away quickly, narrowly escaping.
These fighting kobs had just forgotten a constant truth that there is a king of the world where they inhabit. If those kobs knew better they wouldn’t have wasted as much energy in one nasty battle drawn against each other. Perhaps they would have spent more time building and nurturing each other for strength knowing they live in dangerous territory. For dived they are weak.
Next time as you engage in a battle with your fellow kind (it could be a brother or sister in Christ) take time to think who is fully in control. Psalm 24:1 says, “The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” If you gain territory, is it really yours? There is someone above, watching, and perhaps it is better to reserve more of your energy praising and giving honor to Him!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the life you have given me and as you have numbered my days I pray not to waste precious time here fighting against my fellow brethren, but rather build them up for the growth of your kingdom, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
Related upcoming events
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28/04/2024 - 29/04/2024 All day"The Lord is my shepherd!" (Psalm 23:1)
Psalm 23 of David is perhaps one of the best prayers ever written, with nuggets and inspirations, of benefit to us since and
ever before. “The LORD is my shepherd, “David begins.” I lack nothing” (vv 1). What is it that you lack? In his life David had started out as a shepherd, and he knew very well, that a shepherd’s job is to watch over his sheep, feed and water them, and since the Lord is our shepherd, we his sheep shall lack nothing.Verse 2 -3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” This exactly what a good shepherd does; he takes his sheep to the best fodder, ensuring that his sheep are well fed and rested. When the sheep are restless the good shepherd is troubled. Our God desires and is pleased when we are at peace.
Sometimes we may all find ourselves going through a storm. In Verse 4- 5, David says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The Christian life is not without difficulties, but here David points us to God as our comforter and deliverer. We always have the staff of prayer to lean on.
In Verse 5, he writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In his tumultuous life, David had to battle with many enemies, ranging from King Saul, to foreigners and members of his own family. He knew a lot about betrayal. And, we too, may face enemies no less, from those that oppose us in our workplace for their ambition’s sake, to those who are not pleased because of the Gospel we preach. Yet here, just as David, we are assured that victory is on our side- this is why our cup overflows.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (vv 6). The one who walks with God has a fresh smile ever, for God is with him. The blessings of God are with him wherever he goes.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham,
maker of heaven and earth, as David prayed in Psalm 23, may I not be troubled, for you are my shepherd ever watching over me and your goodness goes ahead of me!
