"Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them" (Proverbs 3:27).
Power has been described as the "ability to direct or force behaviors" in a certain direction. There are people whom God has put in positions of power- and, for a certain purpose! Yet, rather than use that power to do God's will they start worshiping the power they have and forget the God who gave it to them, all to their final folly.
When Moses showed up before Pharaoh Ramses he was facing a man of power. Leading the then greatest nation on earth, surrounded by wealth and with all manner of officials, Pharaoh felt really powerful. No wonder once Moses put his request before him to let his people go, all he did was sneer back. "Yet Pharaoh’s heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the Lord had said" (Exodus 7:13).
Pharaoh felt powerful. Even when Moses ambushed him during his early morning walk and, "raised his staff in the presence of Pharaoh and his officials and struck the water of the Nile, and all the water was changed into blood. The fish in the Nile died, and the river smelled so bad that the Egyptians could not drink its water. Blood was everywhere in Egypt" ( vv 20-21). But you know what; Pharaoh wasn't bothered at all because he had all these socerers who could do as much. "Instead, he turned and went into his palace, and did not take even this to heart" ( vv 23).
And this is what power does. It makes you feel invincible.
Finally, a day came when God revealed the one who gives and is source of all power- that Pharaoh could not wait to let the Israelites go! After the Lord struck down all the first born of Egypt, "During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me" ( Exodus 12: 31-32). Imagine the once hard man is now asking for blessings from them!
Well, the one with the final power had shown up. Friend, if you are in a position of power never forget the one who gave it to you. And lest you forget, he has the power to take it away in a moment, if only to humble you.
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, placed in a position of power, I pray to use my position well to enhance your kingdom and glorify you, 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!
