“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” - Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
In our Christian life there are those instances where it is necessary to first plead to God to go ahead of us in a pressing matter. We see it in the case of Queen Esther, who sought out King Xerxes to prevent a pending massacre on her peoples.
Rather than first approach the king directly, Esther decided to first, “gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law” (Esther 4:16). Because of these prayers God went ahead of Queen Esther. Once she approached the courts, “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).
After living for years in exile, Jacob decided to return to his people. However, he was afraid of meeting his brother Esau, who he had angered on several occasions, including tricking him and stealing his birthright (Genesis 25:33).
Jacob not only first sent gifts ahead to woo Esau (Genesis 32:3-5), but did the most important of things then. Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. .. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children” (Gen 32:9-11).
When Jacob finally met Esau, rather than the feared battle, “Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept” (Genesis 33:4). God had gone ahead of him.
These two examples show the importance of asking God to go ahead of us in any important matter. It could be a case of a judge who is about to decide a case against one. One might be about to face a neighbor over a boundary dispute. Perhaps it is meeting a hardened boss. Maybe it is a spouse who has made up his mind on a certain matter that still needs further reflection!
Well, pray first! May God go ahead of you!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray that you go ahead if me in that pressing issue, talk on my behalf, and let the glory go to you, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
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16/04/2024 - 17/04/2024 All day“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (2 Peter 3:8)
Have you had a moment when you felt you were out of time? It is “too late” is perhaps what went through Martha and Mary when life slipped out of their brother Lazarus. But when news got to Jesus he did not drop whatever he was doing to rush to their rescue. “So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days” (John 11:7). Later he decided to go and, “On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days” (vv 17).
Yet in spite of this delay Jesus found Martha’s faith apparently not shaken. “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask” (vv 21-22).
Meanwhile Mary who had stayed in the house on hearing of his arrival came out wondering if there was any hope. “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (verse 32). She felt it is too late.But it was not too late. “Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (vv 40). Thus, “When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go” (vv 43-44).
If you believe in the Almighty God, then there is nothing like too late! Perhaps you too have a matter that has not only been ailing for a while but by all physical appearance is dead. Well, if you believe, it is not too late. It was against reality and quite laughable to think that a man who had been dead for four days could be restored to life. Well, the Lord did it. What more is it with you that the Lord can’t restore to life?
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth. you who raised Lazarus from the dead even after four days of being in the tomb, I bring to you all my affairs even that which appears dead, that you restore it to life, for nothing is too late with you, because of the faith have in your son, Lord Jesus
