“The righteous “ person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time”- Psalm 34:19
There can be a mistaken perception that Christians are immune to troubles. On the contrary, troubles are much common to God’s children, except that they have a deliverer. King David was a man after God’s heart (1 Samuel 13:14), but he faced many troubles, from being persecuted by King Saul, losing a child, to being overthrown by his son in a palace coup.
As Psalm 18:2 says, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” God delivers us from the troubles we face. It is God who delivered Abraham and Sarah to have a child in their old age (Genesis 21:1-7). When the Israelites where stuck in the Red Sea and pinned down by an invading army, God parted the sea and let them cross to dry land ( Exodus 14). After the prayers of the saints, the Lord sent an angel to free the Apostle Peter who had been held in prison ( Acts 12:1-19).
Sometimes God uses the troubles which Christians faces to bring them closer to Him. The Apostle Paul says, “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them” (Romans 8:28). Often so, God uses the troubles brought on to us by Satan to make us more like Him ( Romans 8:29. In fact, for believers, the fact is, “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs all” ( 11 Corinthians 4:17).
If we are not delivered here, believers know that God delivers us from all our troubles in the next life. Sometimes we see the sick die even after much prayer. Believers are persecuted in godless nations and lose jobs for standing up for Christ in secular societies. But if believers do not see breakthrough in this life, they will see deliverance in the next life ( Revelation 21:4).
Today, if you are facing any trouble, take heart, that the Lord the deliverer, will not fail, but deliver you from all trouble!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, you are my rock and deliverer, so today I pray that you deliver me from any trouble I face, because of the faith in Christ Jesus!
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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!
