WE WERE LIKE THEM THAT DREAM

"1. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. 2. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among tvhhe heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. 3. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." - Psalm 126:1-3 

This scripture was the testimony of the Israelites who had been carried away captive to Babylon when the Lord brought them back to their homeland. They could hardly believe that they were finally home and were overwhelmed with joy.

But captivity is not only when people are forced into exile. One can be captive to sin, sickness, indebtedness, abuse (toxic relationships), etc. The condition may be so bad the victim hardly sees any room for escape. But if you're a child of God caught in any debilitating situation, the same God who set the Israelites free from bondage in Babylon and brought them home can make you taste freedom again. 

He can defeat the stranglehold of sin in your life. He can help you sleep peacefully again though your body has been tortured by pain. He can bring you out of debt into having enough and surplus. He can keep you safe from the abuser who has been tormenting you. Whatever, the case, God Almighty can handle it. 

This is why He sent His dear Son, Jesus, to pay for your freedom through His death on the cross. The problem may have been in your family for ages but Jesus has fully paid to end it.

"18. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19. But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" - 1 Peter 1:18-19. 

Believe that God has taken care of the problem through our Lord Jesus and that you will soon testify like the Israelites:

"1. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.  2. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy ..."  - Psalm 126:1 & 2 (ESV)

Amen in Jesus' name.

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The scriptures used in this post are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible except where otherwise stated.

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http://edithohaja.com/a-brand-snatched-from-the-fire/

http://auntyedith.blogspot.com.ng/2017/12/keep-praying-god-is-hearing-you.html?m=0

KEEP PRAYING (God is hearing you)

There are times when we ask ourselves the point in praying any more when we haven't seen the results from our previous petitions. It can be discouraging when we have believed God for many years for the salvation of loved ones, healing or provision, etc. and nothing seems to be happening.

Our situations may not be pleasing but we shouldn't doubt the faithfulness of God because of them. God sometimes takes time to respond to our petitions and even when He does, the answer may not be exactly what we asked for. But we can be assured that whatever He does for us is the very best whether it seems so or not.

"O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come." -  Psalm 65:2

Besides, that we are not aware of the answer does not mean that God has not done anything. I once read of a woman who was praying for her wayward daughter and worrying that God wasn't responding, not knowing that the Spirit of God had convicted her daughter where she was drinking in a bar in a distant city and she was in the process of turning her life around. 

Do you know that some people go home to be with the Lord before the answer to their prayers manifest? Abraham and the other patriarchs, for example, were gone for centuries before their descendants took possession of Canaan, their land of promise. 

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." - Hebrews 11:13 

God knows when and how best to deliver the answer to our petitions. Remember David's anguished cries to God because of Saul's pursuit to kill him?

"1. O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,  

6. Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment."  - Psalm 7:1 & 6 (ESV)

David prayed for the destruction of His enemies, and who was a greater enemy than King Saul who was hunting him down with an army? Yet whenever Saul fell into David's hands, he spared him. (I Samuel chapters 24 & 26) And when eventually Saul died in battle, David mourned him profusely as shown in the verses below taken from 2 Samuel, chapter 1.

"19. The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

21. Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23. Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions. 

24. Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

27. How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!"

That is the kind of heart David had. He really didn't want Saul to be destroyed, he just wanted to be safe. I'm tempted to think that God delayed judgment on Saul because of David's love and respect for him. Sounds weird, doesn't it? But these are the kind of complicated calls God makes when he answers prayer. He takes into account what our mouths are saying and the often discordant tunes from our hearts. Eventually, He does what will be for the ultimate good of everyone involved.

So do not give up, child of God! Maintain your right standing with God and keep praying. God is surely hearing you and in His due season, the answer will manifest.

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The scriptures used in this post are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible except where otherwise stated.

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(Those I'm calling children of God are those who have accepted Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.

"But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name" - John 1:12 

Ask Him into your heart today and become a partaker of the assurances in this post and in the Bible. God bless you richly as you do that in Jesus' name.

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