“The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice” - Psalm 97: 1-2 (NIV)
Our verse today may seem to be stretched for someone going through the valley. But yet it is for that very fact that the Lord reigns. For if the Lord ceases to reign, then who is! The Lord reigns not just in good circumstances, but in all situations. The faith of believers is not hinged on good moments, alone, but even in the midst of hopelessness, we look up to the Almighty to make sense out of meaninglessness.
In Psalm 23:4, King David wrote, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” What King David is saying is that even in the midst of the darkest of the depths, the Lord never deserts us. He is there. This is why Psalm 91:1-2, says, “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
In the old kingdoms whenever a king would die, with the throne, now vacant, there would be terror and a feeling of emptiness throughout the nation. The kingdom was now paralyzed for there was no one reigning on the throne. In fact, a certain succession battle would quickly follow to fill the vacuum. Calmness only returned after a new King was seated on the throne.
But that is not the way with believers. The throne of the Almighty is never empty. God is always seated on His throne. He never deserts.The Lord reigns in good and bad circumstances.
And because He reigns, there is hope.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, because you reign in all circumstances, I know there is hope, and I can rejoice, for you are with me, no matter the situation!
Related upcoming events
-
18/05/2024 - 19/05/2024 All day“Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” (Colossians 2:15)
Perhaps one of the most inspiring passages in the Bible with enduring lessons is where Moses pleads to Pharaoh to let the Jews go. Instead Pharaoh dared Moses if he had the power as that of a king. Challenged to “perform a miracle” Moses turned to Aaron who threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs (Exodus 7: 9-12).
What we see here is the presence of occult powers in high places, as is true even today. A common mistake by some is to deny the existence of the occult behind certain thrones or power centers, especially in instances where we find those putting on a genteel manner of social respectability. There are also those who through their education and confined exposure to the spirit realm of things, doubt the existence of occult powers. The reality is that in the world we live in the enemy is much at work. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
In this passage we see that while Pharaoh did release his snakes the staff God had placed in the hands of his messenger, Moses, was far greater and swallowed all. Here is the point. As believers we do have a far greater and mighty power to protect us from any attacks of the enemy. It is the blood of the lamb. As it is written, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” (Revelation 12:11).
Today whatever snakes you may encounter from anywhere be assured that you have a far greater power than of the enemy. It is the blood of Jesus. As His word says, “call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me” (Psalm 50:15).
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I pray for protection from the attacks of the enemy by the blood of the lamb, this I pray in Jesus’name.
