“For you have been my hope, sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth” - Psalm 71:5 (NIV)
As news of the corona pandemic started spreading there was a noticeable human behaviour world over. Panic buying. In quick succession shelves were wiped in many supermarkets of essentials, especially, for some reason, toilet paper! Then others not content started also queuing up for guns, just in case.
There have been certainly good reasons for some of those who have bought good in mass. Like to protect one’s family from starvation caused by a prolonged lockdown, just in case. However, some have only been motivated by greed and lack of regard for one’s neighbour. There have been numerous cases of individuals who strip shops of all essentials completely unmindful of the next buyer.
Panic buying and hoarding has revealed two major things. First, where the hope of many people is. Because they have no faith that God is watching over them then their refuge is to amass trolleys of goods. The challenge here is what happens when they all finish up! Where do you look up to then?
And then there is fear. This fear has also been driven because people have no hope in a protector watching out for them. Hence they think by turning their homes into warehouses of goods they will be safe.
But there is a sovereign God who is watching over His people, ever, in good and bad times. When seized with fear just remember, “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:3, NIV)
Prayer for today: Lord Father in heaven, today I pray in the mighty name of Jesus amen of Nazareth, that in times as these of a pandemic I never look elsewhere but put all my trust in you!
Related upcoming events
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20/04/2024 - 21/04/2024 All day“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Cor 16:13)
Tourists who happen to visit Bukingham palace will be expected to notice the King’s royal guards. Dressed in colorful often red uniforms and adorning tall black helmets they stand on guard and no one dare cross them. Elsewhere in life we find guards in all manner of places quite firm on deterring any intruder wherever they may be.
For us Believers being on constant guard is a calling we must permanently observe. And why? Once in the course of his work, “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Mathew 16:23). Peter had just protested that he would not deny Jesus only to be sported out!
There is something for us to note here. Satan had penetrated the ranks of Jesus and was going through his closest disciple. It is clear that Peter was not even aware that he was being used. Anyway, he found his target, Jesus, was on guard. Immediately Satan was sent packing.
No Believer is immune to attacks from Satan. After all when once the Lord asked Satan his whereabouts: “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (Job 1:7). Clearly the guy is out there 24/7 looking for whom to devour. “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you have warned us to be on “guard” help me ever to be on the watch out for the attacks of the enemy and with your word rebuke Satan, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
