“We will shout for joy when you are victorious, and lift up our banners in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests” - Psalm 20:5 (NIV).
Every life has its desires. When we see our heart’s desires fulfilled we are delighted and filled with joy. It is a different matter though, when our desires are not met. Then we experience a range of emotions from sadness to anger. This is why Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
One comforting thing is that our desires are also of interest to the Almighty God. Psalm 20:4 says, “May he give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” Again in Jeremiah 29:11, it is written, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The Bible is full of characters and events where God meets the desires of man. In certain cases we find longings that took years to be fulfilled, with even moment of desperateness, like the desire of Abraham and Sarah to have a child, which only materialized as octogenarians! Hannah had a restless desire to have a child too which was met one day when Prophet Eli saw her praying earnestly. “Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him” (1 Sam 12:17.)
Queen Esther had a desire to save her people from execution which she took to King Xerxes after praying and fasting with confidants, and found the door open. “Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you” (Esther 5:3). David had a desire to build a temple for God which he passed on to his son Solomon. “Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel” (I Chronicles 22:6). This desire would be fulfilled soon after David’s passing.
What is your desire? Like all those who walked with God take it to Him. The Almighty God is in the business of receiving petitions and answering prayer requests. For as it is written, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I bring to you my heart’s desires, happy and assured that you will meet such in the time of your choosing, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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03/05/2024 - 04/05/2024 All day“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Every now and then one could be gripped with fear because of certain events sweeping before one’s life journey. It could be the finances that are stretched and incomes are no longer certain. Perhaps it is one’s job under threat. Perhaps it is a dreaded health report card. There could be fear about outcome of a matter under judgment and what it might mean to one’s future.
Fear has been elsewhere described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Every life will experience fear at one point. Whenever we are faced with fear it is natural to look for something to grasp on. Sometimes we run for shelter wherever we can find. Perhaps we might seek out a friend for quiet confidence.
But there are those situations when there is no shelter in sight. There are also those cases where those we thought would understand our situation once we share our pain return only hurting and critical feedback. In such moments we might then turn and look within ourselves only to find the energy has all been sapped by this gnawing fear. We feel down and the urge to rise and move on all gone!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) the word of God through prophet Isaiah assures us. But why? It is because the Lord has been there. He himself was faced with fear before his crucifixion but He looked to God.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote when faced with fear always remember, “Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find a way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference.” Psalm 91:2, says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” So, when faced with fear, look to God to strengthen you. By looking to Him, the Lord will encourage and lift up your spirit, and make a way out of nowhere!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender to you any fear that is in me for I know by looking up to you, you will always make a way out of nowhere, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
