“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you” ( Isaiah 43:2).
The Late US Congressman, John Lewis, is famous for once saying, “Get in good trouble! Necessary trouble!” He was a life long political
activist and courting trouble was one way he would make his case. As for most people though, trouble, or plainly speaking problems, these are to be avoided. No one generally wakes up to invite problems in his life!
In God’s scheme of things much as we hate problems sometimes He lets them come in our lives to draw us closer to Him. The life of King David was one long journey of overwhelming problems. Once it was clear God had annointed him to succeed the out of favour Saul, woes befell him. Once Saul lunged at him with a spear, determined to kill him ( I Samuel 19). Forced into exile, to hide his identity, he played safe: “So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard” ( I Samuel 21:13). And then later in life he was overthrown in a palace coup, and had to run for his life ( 2 Samuel 15).
It was not only David who had his share of problems. Look at the Apostle Paul who once wrote, “Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea..” ( 2 Cor 11:25). Problems were very much part of his itenerary.
A good question here to ask, why would God allow problems in the life of a believer! For a certain part of our lives naturally detests such! What we see here is God often uses problems to draw his servants closer to Him. Through these problems God also reveals His power for deliverance. Problems makes us wait on God, as David wrote, “Hear me, LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Guard my life, for I am faithful to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long” ( Psalm 86:1-3)
So, have you lately been experiencing a series of problems, perhaps shaking your faith! Much as these problems are to be detasted, yet as we see in the life of King David and Apostle Paul, here is one way for God to reveal His purposes and plans for our lives. More importantly God never fails; in the end He comes through to deliver us at the right time!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, where I encounter problems of any nature, may I take comfort in you to draw me closer to you and wait upon your deliverance, 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!
