“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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04/05/2024 - 05/05/2024 All day“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid nor be dismayed, for the Lord your good is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua, 1:9 NKJV)
Self doubt is common to any life. Sometimes it can be a result of a challenge one is about to face. After Moses had passed on, Joshua knew he was succeeding a giant to lead the people of Israel to the Promised land. When someone succeeds a great leader there is bound to be comparison, a bit of which might be unfair and disheartening. As we see in this case, the mission was yet to be completed. If anyone, Joshua wouldn’t mind some encouragement.
Joshua would receive the encouragement he needed from God. He was assured that God Himself had chosen him to succeed Moses and take on the uncompleted task. God assured Joshua through His word that He would be with him. Joshua had had enough experiences to know that God’s promise was unfailing. After Moses sent out the twelve spies to explore the land the Israelis were about to invade, he and Caleb were the only two who believed that because of faith in God they could overcome the giants they saw (Numbers 13).
Today, any of us may be facing a task no less overwhelming from our experience as Joshua faced. Perhaps we have taken on a momentous office. We could be setting on a journey of undetermined length. Maybe there is a challenge that has just risen up from nowhere and we seemed all submerged.
The words God gave Joshua, his servant, should be of encouragement to us. Just as God commanded Joshua not to be afraid or dismayed, may we walk in that confidence.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today whatever task I face, I look up to you, and hold on to the words you gave Joshua, not to be afraid or dismayed, for you are with me, this I pray in Jesus’ name.
