YOU WILL SMILE AGAIN!

When things are going well for us, we are all laughter and songs. But alas, life isn't always like that. Sometimes, we pass through gloomy seasons when our faces seem boarded up and forbidding. It may be a time of bereavement or other kind of loss, it could be sickness, aggravating relationships or financial trouble.

Whatever it is, I want you to know that the Lord Jesus is there with you and will pull you through one way or another. Those difficult times afford us great opportunities to draw closer to God, through Jesus, and grow our faith. He knows what it is like to suffer pain or have darkness descend on you. Remember His experience in the Garden of Gethsemane till He was crucified on Calvary (Matthew 26:36-56; 27:1 & 2, 11-50). He sure wasn't smiling then.

But one thing about trials and difficulties is that they are only for a season. So Jesus went from Gethsemane to trial before the Sanhedrin and Pilate to the cross at Calvary. He went through indescribable agony but then He was laid in the tomb and before His disciples knew it, He had risen on resurrection morning!  (Matthew 27:57-60; 28:1-10) The tears, the travailing were all gone. He had risen with an immortal body and before long, He ascended in glory to take His proper place at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19).

In your own case too, as the Bible assures, "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psalms 30:5). It may not be clear how long the night will be or how relief will come but it surely will. So, hold on to God and know that however bitter this moment is, sweetness will overtake it. However dark the night is, the day is coming. However bad your situation is now, joy is on the way and you will smile again.

But you can do something proactive. Even before the situation changes, you can in faith begin to see it as what you have prayed it to be in accordance with the word of God. You can envision yourself as the victor because you are in Christ Jesus who is Master over all things. 

"9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." -  Philippians 2:9-11

Whether through life or death, your situation is win-win in Christ Jesus. This is the heritage of everyone who has accepted Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and Apostle Paul expressed it so well when he declared:

"20. ... Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:20-21

Bearing that in mind, you can begin to lighten up your face. Crack a smile now and then. It will get easier with practice and you might even hear laughter bubbling up from within you in time.

Yes, my brother, my sister, you will smile again. And you don't have to wait till your prayers are answered. Begin now if you can but whatever the case, the clouds will lift and your joy will return. YES, YOU WILL SMILE AGAIN!

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The scriptures used in this post are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
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If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, do pray this short prayer:

PRAYER FOR SALVATION
Almighty God, I repent of my sins and ask you to forgive me. I receive the work Jesus did for me by shedding His blood for my sins. Write my name in the Lamb's Book of Life and send your Spirit to live in my heart and teach me your word. I receive the grace to live a life that honours you henceforth in Jesus' name. Amen.

Now, you are born again. Join a Bible-believing group of believers to help you learn, through studying the word of God and prayer, how to live and practise your faith. You are blessed in Jesus' name.

You may also love these popular related posts:

http://auntyedith.blogspot.com.ng/2017/12/trouble-does-not-last-forever-but-god.html?m=0

http://edithohaja.com/i-will-be-happy-and-so-should-you/

http://edithohaja.com/3-benefits-of-walking-in-joy/

http://edithohaja.com/strengthened-through-loss/

http://edithohaja.com/the-best-new-year-resolution/

YOU CALL IT A DELAY, BUT GOD CALLS IT A DESIGN

Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers where he ended up in jail after resisting the sexual advances of his master's wife. He earnestly wanted to be free again, to live outside the dungeon and see the sunshine everyday (Genesis 37:12-28; 39:1, 7-20).

One day, two prominent men who had recently been jailed - the Pharoah's baker and butler - had dreams and Joseph helped interpret them. Even though his interpretations proved right, even though he had served the two men while they were in jail, even though he had specifically pleaded for their help to secure his release from unjust detention, when their cases were heard before the Pharoah shortly after, the one who was restored to his position forgot about Joseph (Genesis, chapter 40). How depressing that must have been! 

We sometimes go through similar disappointments. The job interview we prepared so well for does not yield the job we long for, even though we are fully qualified and performed superbly at the interview. The house we wanted to rent or buy goes to another family and we wonder how much longer we have to live in our present unsuitable residence.

What one person is facing may not be in the same sphere as another but what I'm talking about boils down to delay: disturbing, disheartening and "unnecessary" delay. There are some blessings we feel we should have got five years ago, a decade ago or even longer but we can't say for sure that we would have been better off if we had got them then.

God is a Master Planner. In His infinite wisdom, He has scheduled our blessings as He deems best. His schedule usually varies from ours and what we call delays are often His design to give us the best outcome and evade damaging complications the enemy may plant on our paths.

In Joseph's case, if the butler had secured his release as he implored, he would have been lost in the population in Egypt or gone back to Canaan. Bottomline: he wouldn't have been readily at hand to interpret Pharoah's dreams and become the prime minister of Egypt (Genesis 41:1-44).

When you have prayed and bound every evil force that may be withstanding your blessings, rest in God's plan. His wisdom is infinite and His plans for your life are perfect; you couldn't possibly improve on them. Allow God to complete His work in you. You will probably find that what you call a delay is actually God's design to bless you beyond your expectations.

Never forget that God makes all things beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). So, rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him (Psalm 37:7) for what you call a delay, the Almighty calls a design.

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You may also like these popular posts about waiting for God:

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http://edithohaja.com/from-difficult-to-impossible-to-done/

http://edithohaja.com/consider-and-remember-poem/

http://edithohaja.com/this-is-my-life-poem/

INTRODUCING AUNTY EDITHS BLOG: An Encouragement Café (Come, eat and drink for free!)

Hello everyone! Happy New Year! I am happy to introduce to you my new blog, auntyedith.blogspot.com, new in the sense that I only started posting regularly on it recently. This blog is specifically devoted to encouraging people and uplifting believers' faith. Also, I will regularly include a call to surrender to the Saviour, Jesus Christ, and a salvation prayer for those who haven't met the Lord.

My other blog, edithohaja.com, remains the site for my various classes of writings: bible teachings and inspirational posts, which I call musings, short stories, poems, witty quotes and graphics. But I am led to have a blog just for strengthening the brethren with the word of God. 

No matter what you are passing through, do not give up. God loves you and is concerned about you. He is with you even though it might not seem like it. And He's working out everything for your good. 

Whenever you feel burdened, come over to auntyedith.blogspot.com and let's have a light meal (free) from the word of God. It's in line with the promise in Isaiah 55:1.

"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." (KJV)

The posts are crisp and designed to speak peace and hope into your heart. Help me share this or spread the word however else for the benefit of those who might not see this.

God bless you in Jesus' name.

GOD KNOWS YOU BY NAME

Many of us have a view of God as this magnificent being in the heavens, pure and far removed from the earth, sordid as it is. Yes, God is magnificent, He dwells in the heavens and He is pure. But He is also everywhere and He is with each of us, His children, because He chooses to be.

God is near us, He is with us, and He knows every detail of our lives. One of the first signs that someone knows another is if they know his or her name. Well, believe it, my dear: God knows your name. He knows your first name and your surname. He even knows your middle name and your nickname (if you have any of those).

Friend, you're not a stranger to God. He knows you by name. That also means He will not forget you when He is sharing blessings to His children. We just came out of the Christmas season. Gifts were packaged and labelled in families so that each person could identify the gift/s specially chosen for Him or her.

That is how God specially prepares what He has for you and puts your name on it. Don't fret if things seem slow or scattered. God Has plotted your path and has placed what you need at appropriate points along the way. Each package has your name on it and will serve just the right purpose in your life.

See yourself like Moses to whom God made the following statement:

"... I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name." - Exodus 33:17 

Moses had begged God to go with the children of Israel as they travelled to the promised land although they had been repeatedly disobedient to His commands. And God said He would do it because Moses had found favour in His sight and He knew him by name.

How do we find favour in God's sight today and ensure that He acknowledges us by name? By receiving His Son, Jesus, of whom He declared during His time on earth:

"Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." - Mark 1:11

Receiving Jesus makes us children of God.

"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.

Then God our Father will know and call us by name and answer when we call on Him.

Amen in Jesus' name.

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The scriptures used in this post are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
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If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, pray this short prayer:

PRAYER FOR SALVATION:
Almighty God, I repent of my sins and ask you to forgive me. I receive the work Jesus did for me by shedding His blood for my sins. Write my name in the Lamb's Book of Life and send your Spirit to live in my heart and teach me your word. I receive the grace to live a life that honours you henceforth in Jesus' name. Amen.

Now, you are born again. Join a Bible-believing group of believers to help you learn, through studying the word of God and prayer, how to live and practise your faith. You are blessed in Jesus' name.

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You may also like these posts about God's goodness and faithfulness:

http://edithohaja.com/choose-enjoy-infinite-goodness-god/

http://edithohaja.com/the-anchor-holds/

http://edithohaja.com/12-quotes-on-gods-faithfulness/

GOD CAN STABILISE YOUR LIFE

Instability, constantly changing scenarios, a kaleidoscope of experiences - this is what life is like for many people. There is nothing they can be sure of. Good things are here one moment, gone the next. A seemingly perfect marriage ends in bitter separation and court battles, a business that was about picking up sinks due to unforeseen factors, one health challenge is replaced by another with tiny reprieves in between.

This is the life that sin in the Garden of Eden plunged humanity into. It wasn't meant to be so at first. But we can have some assurance in life when we come to the One who created all things and they were certified good.

"And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good ..." - Genesis 1:31.

We call Him the Rock of Ages because nothing can move Him and the Bible says the same of the world we live in.

"Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved." - 1 Chronicles 16:30 (NIV)

He can bring the same stability to our lives and give us an immutable testimony. We have clear promises in His word on this:

"They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever." - Psalm 125:1

Contemporary English translations say they shall not be "moved" or "shaken". 

"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms ..." - Deuteronomy 33:27

The arms referred to above are God's. Visualise Him holding you and tell me what can toss you about. 

"1. Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

6. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 

7. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." - Psalm 112:1, 6-7 

Faith in God is a source of confidence in life. Like Job, we have a hedge about our lives and are not open to every vicissitude.

"Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land." - Job 1:10 

I want to add this scripture from the most popular psalm in the Bible:

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." - Psalm 23:6 (KJV) [emphasis mine]

Some people say Old Testament scriptures don't apply to us today. I say they do because God has not changed and His word abides forever. Our circumstances are not different from those of the Israelites. When we accept God through Jesus, we become Abraham's children entitled to the same promises and blessings.

"89. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. 90. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants." - Psalm 119:89-91

"26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." - Galatians 3:26-29  

We need not live our lives like yo-yos. We can enjoy stability: stability in our faith, in our health, in material blessings, in fruitfulness and success. As Isaiah 37:31 says, God's people whom He has delivered (in this context you and I that are saved) shall "take root downward, and bear fruit upward", not for a season but all through the rest of our days. 

Let us appropriate this in prayer by refusing the contrary and agreeing with God's word in every circumstance. God shall uphold His word in our lives to the glory of His name. But this does not mean that trials shall not come. If indeed they are trials sent by God, He will grant us the grace to endure. Otherwise, everything in our lives that opposes the will and good purpose of God should be made to bow to the name of Jesus. 

We need a stable life, especially in our faith. We can't keep moving from sin to sin with little or no fruit of the Spirit in our lives when we have been saved. We should agree with God on this and He will make it happen, not only with respect to our spiritual walk but in every other area of our lives as well. 

Amen in Jesus' name.

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, pray this short prayer:

PRAYER FOR SALVATION

Almighty God, I repent of my sins and ask you to forgive me. I receive the work Jesus did for me by shedding His blood for my sins. Write my name in the Lamb's Book of Life and send your Spirit to live in my heart and teach me your word. I receive the grace to live a life that honours you henceforth in Jesus' name. Amen.

Now, you are born again. Join a Bible-bleleving group of believers to help you learn, through studying the word of God and prayer, how to live and practise your faith. You are blessed in Jesus' name. 

You may also like these popular encouraging posts:

http://edithohaja.com/the-anchor-holds/

http://edithohaja.com/gods-word-never-fails/

http://edithohaja.com/you-will-ascend-to-your-throne-of-glory/

"IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL!" (A Reflection on the Inspired Hymn)

I'm sure you know the popular Christian song, "It is well with my soul." It has such a calming effect on the soul. Life can really be like a roller coaster, with tumultuous experiences. And after grappling with problems during the day, worry causes sleep to flee at night.

Take a deep breath and tell yourself, "It is well with my soul. God is still on the throne and He alone determines the final outcome of whatever I'm seeing now, as unpleasant as it may be."

The song itself was written in 1873 by Horatio G. Spafford, an American Christian, in the midst of great personal tragedy. Spafford had lost his huge investments in real estate to fire in 1871, then his four daughters died at sea while on a voyage with their mother to England. 

Let's see the original lyrics of this immortal song. I offer some thoughts on each stanza in brackets under it.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll; 

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

(May God help us to know, not just to say, that it is well with us come what may.)

Refrain: It is well, (it is well),

With my soul, (with my soul)

It is well, it is well, with my soul. 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul. 

(God has done the highest thing needed to answer the devil and every challenge we will ever face. Christ "hath shed His own blood for" our souls.)

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! 

(What would have separated us from God, what would have spelt eternal doom, is sin. But God has taken that away. We are the chosen ones, the elect of God. Halleluyah! Every other problem we have pales in comparison to that.

Romans 8:33-34 (KJV)

"33. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.")

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life, 

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

(Do you know that God in us helps us to be resilient? You remember Paul and Silas singing hymns in prison [Acts 16] and Peter sleeping in bonds the night before the day Herod planned to execute him [Acts 12]? Our disposition should not be determined by our situation. Listen to what God is saying to you in your heart.)

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul. 

(We should never forget that this world is not our home. We are citizens of heaven and over there, there will be no pain or sorrow. Everything will be perfect. The knowledge that our troubles here are temporary should keep us strong and hopeful.)

"3. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

4. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." - Revelation 21:3-4

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend, 

A song in the night, oh my soul!

("For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" - 2 Corinthians 4:17 

"16. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." - Romans 8:16-18 

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for that glory to appear! Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!)

I want to conclude by reminding us that in everything, "we are more than conquerors" through Christ who laid down his life for us and is with us always (Romans 8: 37, Matthew 28:20).

INDEED, IT IS WELL WITH OUR SOULS!

Source of original lyrics:
  web.archive.org

Here is a link to a rendition of "It is well with my soul" by Audrey Assad.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zY5o9mP22V0

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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/the-anchor-holds/

http://edithohaja.com/you-are-worth-more-than-many-sparrows/

http://edithohaja.com/of-grainy-pictures-and-imperfect-lives-a-reflection/

TROUBLE DOES NOT LAST FOREVER, BUT GOD DOES

When difficulties surround one, they have a way of getting worse and seeming insurmountable. A sickness may bring complications, low wages may translate to unemployment and a bad marriage may lead to separation or divorce. It is at such times that one is tempted to ask, "Where is God?"

If you're going through any such negative cycle, I want you to remember this: Trouble does not last forever, but God does. When the enemy starts an evil project, he boasts and may seem to be very successful. Don't be dismayed because eventually, God will step in and crush him. 

Remember how ISIL overran territories in different nations just lately claiming it would build the ultimate Islamic State. It meted out brutality and was so sure nothing could stop it. Now, it barely exists in one or two pockets, surrounded and bombarded. 

In your personal life, hold on to God and put your confidence in His word. Don't lose courage because of the threatenings of the enemy. This was what the prophet Isaiah told Ahaz, king of Judah, who was panicking because of his desperate situation. Pekah son of Remaliah (the king of Israel) and Rezin (the king of Aram) were planning to conquer Judah and install a puppet in his place.

"3. Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, ...

4. And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

5. Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,

6. Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:

7. Thus saith the Lord God, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass." - Isaiah 7:3-7 

When the Lord brings you relief, it shall be like what Isaiah prophesied to the children of Israel. 

"18. In your heart, you will ponder the former terror: 'Where is that chief officer? Where is the one who took the revenue? Where is the officer in charge of the towers?'

19. You will see those arrogant people no more, those people of an obscure speech, with their strange incomprehensible tongue." - Isaiah 33:18-19 (NIV)

Many of us have no idea how terrifying it is to live under a foreign power. The taxes are crippling, rights trampled on. The Israelites knew this firsthand but Isaiah was telling them they will look for their oppressors and not find them. Moses had said the same thing to the Israelites when they left Egypt and were hotly pursued by Pharaoh and his army.

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." - Exodus 14:13 

God has won the victory for us in our Lord Jesus. We should, therefore, stand firm no matter what we see. Every power and situation on earth is subject to the name of Jesus. And although they may strut about for a while, they will finally bow to Him.

"He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." - Colossians 2:15

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." - John 16:33 

"9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." - Philippians 2:9-11 

Continue to speak to that situation in the name of Jesus and you might just find yourself asking shortly:

"Where is the pain? Where are my debts? Where is the shame? Where did the sleeplessness and fear go?"

I pray that it won't be long before this happens in your life in Jesus' name. Amen.

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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/i-will-go-before-you/

http://edithohaja.com/our-god-able-save-us-sovereign/

http://edithohaja.com/god-will-see-you-through-today/

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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You may also like these popular encouraging posts:

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GOD IS OUR PROVIDER

There is a beautiful verse in the Bible that brings a smile to my face whenever I remember it. It is Psalm 68:19.

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation."

We have needs, all kinds of needs. Sometimes, our earnings are not enough to meet these needs. We may feel harassed and overwhelmed. We may feel desperate. But let us remember we have a Father who cares for us. Let us lay those needs before Him as He has asked us to in His word and believe that He will meet them for us.

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." - Philippians 4:6

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." - 1 Peter 5:7 

"... my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19

King David understood God's role as our provider so well he wrote a special song about it. The first verse says:

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." - Psalm 23:1 

David knew the special relationship between a shepherd and his sheep. He knew the shepherd will go to any length to find good pasture for his sheep. He himself was such a shepherd and because he had that sort of heart, God appointed him the shepherd of His people.

"He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands." - Psalm 78:70-72

If David, a mere man, could get such a commendation from God for how he cared for Israel, how much more will God care for us, the apple of His eye? This position is clearly stated in these words of the Lord Jesus.

"7. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 
8. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 
9. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 
10. Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 
11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" - Matthew 7:7-11 (emphasis mine)

To ensure that the devil does not claim rights over you and frustrate your blessings, make Jesus your Lord and Saviour today. That way, you can confidently call God Father and enjoy His gracious provision. 

"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.

PRAYER:
Almighty God, I put my trust in You. You are my Jehovah Jireh. Provide for me according to the promise of Your word. Open doors of favour to me. May I not live my life in debt and destitution. And as you bless me, dear Lord, help me to always remember to extend the same kindness to others. This I pray in Jesus' name.

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The scriptures used in this post are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
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YOU ARE SAFE IN THE LORD! Do not live in fear

The world we're living in is a dangerous place: conflicts, accidents, natural disasters, violent crimes, you name it, abound. It seems that wherever we turn, there's something to make us afraid and potentially hurt us. 

When we listen to the news, this feeling is magnified because calamities and misfortunes get reported much more than heartwarming events. We call it the journalism of exception in mass communication. The bad, or as one scholar called it, "the odd, eccentric and bizarre", which may likely be unusual, makes it faster into the news than the good, (most likely) commonplace stuff.

Contemporary events, especially as reported in the news, create a climate of fear.

If you dwell on these things so much, you will be trapped in fear day in, day out. While you shouldn't neglect to be careful to avoid danger where possible, don't allow the perception that evil prevails cripple your life.

Fill your heart with the word of God and look out for the good in the world. Believe me, it's out there and you will see it. Do your share of good as much as you can too. 

Know that irrespective of the evil in the world, God is still in control. You can make Him your shelter and have peace of mind. That is not the same as living in a bubble. We as believers know that nothing can be petfect this side of heaven. But we also know that if ever we encounter anything untoward, God will be with us and help us through it. None of these things that people fear should break us. Rather, they should make us stronger because of the grace of God.

Irrespective of the evil in the world, God is still in control and He is our banner.

We know that the troubles in the world come directly or indirectly from the sin of humanity. I want to briefly share a Bible story in this regard. In Genesis, chapter 20, Abraham claimed that Sarah, his wife, was his sister because he thought he would be harmed by other men who would desire her.

"And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife's sake." - Genesis 20:11 

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Well, someone did take Abraham's wife, the king of the land no less, but God scared the living daylights out of him and he returned Sarah with apology and costly reparation. You can read the entire story and know that the God, who defended Abraham and his wife in Gerar (and it wasn't the first time, He'd done it in Egypt too - see Genesis 12: 10-20), the same God is your Father and He is watching over you.

Take the words of God to heart:

"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence  that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday." - Psalm 91:1-7 

Keep fear at bay because you are safe in the omnipotent and omniscient God.

Read that entire psalm and others like it. Many of them were written by a man whose life was in peril for a long time: King David. Generally, the Bible is full of such encouraging words. Do not live in fear, my dear, because you are safe in the Lord. Amen in Jesus' name.

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

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