“To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue” ( Proverbs 16:1)
Throughout the ages God has allowed periods of “great shaking” to reveal certain messages and bring His people closer to Him. The drought in Egypt which a young Joseph predicted not only saved Jacob’s family but passed on a message of saving for lean times ( Genesis 41). Since the World Health Organization declared a while back Covid 19 is no longer a “global healthy emergency”, we might pause here to ask what were the lessons.
At its peak Covid -19 was claiming over 7,000 deaths per day! Around the world nations at one point or another were forced into a lockdown to manage infection. What we all saw is that while any of us can have plans, God ultimately is the one who has the final answer. A country like Uganda endured the longest school lockdown, of almost two years, while others like China had their borders shut down for nearly three years. A parent might have long worked out a graduation calendar or a trader would have had plans to visit China but Covid -19 showed the ultimate plans belong to the Lord!
Covid 19 showed us the importance of appreciating the gift of life. Almost everyone can recall a person who was so full of life only to be snapped in a moment, quite without explanation. The life we have is ever in the hands of God, who wills forever, and knows everything! You could think you have figured it out all, with possibly the best access to medical facilities, but here we saw even those in places with the most advanced health care were not spared. If anything some suffered the worst casualties compared to less privileged nations.
At a personal level Covid 19 resurrected an old lesson God passed on to Joseph in anticipation of a famine. “Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine” (Gen 41:34-35). Just as in the old, God is telling us to use the “years of abundance” to save for “lean times” which can strike without notice.
Let us give God praise for the gift of life, so easy to take for granted! But there is ever one with the final answer!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, you who wills life and everything on earth, today I pray to ever appreciate the gift of life and help me use my days wisely to your glory, 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!
