“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his hear to dull to hear”
(Isaiah 59:1)
A rope can serve many useful purposes. For instance, ropes are used to to tie up loose ends and hold bulky items together. Ropes can form a scaffold useful in building. Sometimes a rope can be thrown out for one at sea and used to pull such back to safety.
Once the Apostle Paul was caught up in a situation where he was being pursued for arrest due to his preaching. “In Damascus the Governor under King Aretas had the city of Damscenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in a wall and slipped through his hands” (2 Cor 2: 33-34). A rope had played a useful purpose.
Sometimes though we can be at the end of our ropes, where it is not the case of being thrown a rope to pull us back to safety. After King David’s son overthrew him forcing him out of the palace he was clearly driven to the end of his ropes, being thrown all types of abuses( 2 Sam 16:8). But at that desperate point in his life David decided to look to God and cry out: “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe” ( Psalm 61:1-3).
At his lowest moment David did not loose all hope. He goes on to add, “Increase the days of the King’s life, his years for many generations. May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him” ( verse 6-7). And finally David declares, “Then I will sing in praise of your name, and fulfill my vows day after day” (verse 8).
When we are at the end of our ropes, the example of David should surely inspire us. When all hope is lost let us look up to the Almighty God, to throw us a rope of His own to glide us back to the shores of life.
Prayer today : Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where I find myself at the end of my ropes, I look up to you for that rope of life, for you are my eternal deliverer, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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17/05/2024 - 18/05/2024 All day“And I in righteousness I shall see your face; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with seeing your likeness” (Psalm 17:15)
One of the defining aspects we see in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ is that He began the day with prayer. “Very early in the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). As he was always surrounded by crowds and after such a busy day before of preaching and engaging the Pharisees in debates this must have been a therapeutic moment for Christ when he would have some good time to himself.
But there was also more. For Jesus being away in a secluded place would also mean a chance to pour out His heart to God, meditate in quietness, plan for the day ahead and listen to the Father. Jesus must have looked up to this moment every day knowing its benefits. Conversations with His Father must have been real and intimate, bringing a certain soothing and uplifting of His spirit. You do not wake up and stick to something on a daily basis that is a drag – this must have been his best time of the day!
Martin Luther the leader of the protestant reformation is reputed to once have said, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” Here is the point. In the olden days before the arrival of locomotive transport those who were setting out for a long journey on foot had to start early with the first cock crow before the punishing sun came out. One of the things they had to start with also was a good meal, which was fuel needed to give them energy through the long walk to their destiny.
There are no rules about waking up to pray as first thing- or even saying prayer at a defined hour of the day. God is everywhere and ever with us. He is accessible at any time of the day. But there is something special about prioritizing our lives that the first thing we do is to talk to God. Just like the early traveller we need fuel, for the long day ahead!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a joy and privilege to make time at the start of any day, talk and hear from you, for the power I need through the day, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
