“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord” – Isaiah 54: 17 (ESV).
In Uganda in the period leading to General elections very often one of the busiest offices visited are shrines that litter the landscape by a number of candidates. Contestants approach them with hopes of appealing to the powers that will enable them win.
The use of witchcraft to acquire power is actually an old practice so common throughout history of mankind. In ancient Egypt when Moses walked up to the Pharaohs court to ask him to free the Israelis he met such practices. “Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts” (Exodus 7:11).
The Lord was very much aware that once challenged Pharaoh would turn to his sorcerers. He had put in Moses’ companion, Aaron, a staff which was now used to humble him. “The sorcerers came out with their staffs. Each one threw down their staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs” (vv 12).
The significance here is that the enemy has his dark forces in low and high places. Yet the power of our God is far much greater. Indeed this was the message which the Apostle John gave to the church. “You dear children are from God, and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (I John 4:4).
Today, as you go about know that whatever force that stands up to you, God’s power is far much greater and able to swallow up anything from the enemy thrown at you!
Prayer for today: Lord father in heaven, God of creation, today I pray in the blessed name of Jesus, to draw upon and rest in that power you have left with us which is far greater than that of any force deployed against believers, 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!
