#Thank the Lord its Friday: You are my shelter

Psalm 73:28New King James Version (NKJV)

²⁸ But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.

Picture this you phone your mom and she is crying on the other side of the line.  The feeling of helplessness falls onto you.  As you try and console her you pray hoping your prayers will be heard.  Finally after speaking to my mom I humbly pray asking the Lord my God to please intervene for her and my stepdad.  

Just before I knock off I receive a call concerning my work and the way I have done the job.  It sounds like I am just not capable of doing a good job and the manager on the other side feels that I should have gone the extra mile.  I feel really taken aback and hurt because I felt that I have been doing a more than good job.

As I walk out of the office one of my colleagues tell me the manager escalated the matter, but that I should not worry I was in the right.  Praise God!

Prayer

Lord God in humbleness I want to pray and give you all the honor and praise.  Lord You are my shelter, You Lord have come through for me and my mom.  Lord thank You for Your hand over my life as well as over my family and friends life.  We are nothing without You.  Praise Your Holy Name, in Jesus Name.  Amen

Stand-up to him, face-to-face

Exodus 8:20New King James Version (NKJV)

The Fourth Plague: Flies

²⁰ And the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh as he comes out to the water. Then say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.

There comes a day in each one of our lives that we need to stand-up to them, face-to-face.   Every day we face new challenges and we need to be able to stand-up to it.  I work in an office and the filing takes up a lot of my time.  The backlog is scary and I am working to bring it up to date. 

Many times I look at those files and it feels like I just cannot face it today, but on days when I have prepared myself spiritually and mentally it’s a walk in the park.

You actually have to take the first step and do what needs to be done.  Do not allow the mountain of work make you want to fall back.  Moses rose early in the morning to face the Pharaoh.  The best way to face our fears and problems are to face them face-to-face.  

Prayer

LORD God, please give me the strength, wisdom and understanding to stand-up to my challenges each day.  Please let me be in the right place and be there at the right time.  Let me face it face-to-face in the Holy name of Jesus, Amen

You are not forsaken

Deuteronomy 31:8 New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

⁸ It is the Lord who goes before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed.”

On a personal note, I am grateful for these words of encouragement.  The LORD says that He goes before us.  We are encouraged that He will be with us and will never fail or forsake us.  We should not fear nor be dismayed.

As I age I feel uncertain and worried about my future but I must be honest and tell you on a personal note, God has not forsaken me.  There are days when I feel uncertain but in those moments I turn my heart to the LORD God, calling out ‘Please don’t forsake me LORD.’

I believe God hears me and I am reminded that He will be with me and will never forsake or leave me.  I know live can be full of uncertainty but there is someone that I can turn to.  I want to encourage you today that God is able to comfort us wherever we find ourselves in this world.

Prayer

Lord God I take refuge in You and I realise that You will be with me and that You will never leave me nor forsake me, I will not fear today and I will not be dismayed.  I love You Lord, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Filled with laughter

Psalm 126:2 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

² Then were our mouths filled with laughter, and our tongues with singing. Then they said among the nations, The Lord has done great things for them.

I don’t know many people who can show appreciation and thankfulness on receiving gifts.  Some will just smile and nod saying thank you and the others really appreciate their gifts.  One of the things I cannot hide is my surprise and appreciation.  My mom loves watching me when she gives me gifts.  She tells me it’s like watching a little child receive gifts.

On receiving the gift I would beam, my face lights up and I laugh, I really cannot help myself.  On opening my gift I will show my appreciation and my eyes, my lips and my whole being comes to life.  I love gifts even if they are small.  I show my appreciation and love being spoilt.

When the Lord sends me something unexpectedly I do the same I say ‘thank YOU LORD’ loud and laugh and sing and dance.  Do you do the same?  God enjoys giving us gifts we must be open to receive them.

Prayer

O LORD, You know that I do appreciate the gifts You send me.  I remind myself of the gift over the weekend; it was unexpected and so at the right time.  I want to ask bless my daughter for gift to me and bless YOU Lord for spoiling me through her.  I love You in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen

The Lord answered …

1 Samuel 30:8Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

⁸ And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue this troop? Shall I overtake them? The Lord answered him, Pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.

Picture this while you are down on your knees and in humble prayer and everything seems to tumble around you.  Tears running down your cheeks and you have no other resources available to you.  You are sitting on the floor with your Bible in hand.  You are reminded of something you’re read in 1 Samuel.  You are paging through the Book of 1 Samuel and your eye catches verse 8.  A sudden realisation comes over you, God just answered you.

The feeling of dread and fear departs from you, as you focus and mediate on the words ‘pursue, for you shall surely overtake them and without fail recover all.’  God is so good and faithful to the extent of answered prayer.  We hear His voice through the Word of God, or a friend will be talking and they will lift you up.  Sometimes God speaks to us through our dreams but the most important thing to note is ‘The Lord answered’.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, please Lord God, we always need Your direction in our lives, we need to have answered prayers.  Lord thank You that You work in mysterious ways and always answer us.  In Jesus name, Amen