Question: Where do you look when you are all alone?

Answer:

2 Timothy 4:17, But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.

Praise the Lord, today is July 1, 2024, wanted to meditate on 2 Tim 4:17. Paul’s final letter, and probably this is the last message written in the Bible. In verse 16, Paul says no one came to his support, but everyone deserted him. But still, Paul said, may it not be held against them. Last days no one stood with Paul, and still, he says I do not hold anything against anyone.

What do we consider a fruitful Christian life, everyone accepting up, being popular, leading large meetings and churches? Here the greatest apostle is waiting to be beheaded and everyone deserted him, still no bitterness.

The reason he was expecting, the Lord to be at his side, Paul knew the Lord was at his side, and he got strength from the Lord. God ordained steps of Paul’s life and though a loner many times, he moved at the words of His master. Are we happy the Lord is at our side? Paul says Lord delivered me from Lion’s mouth

Lord at our side and we fulfilling His instruction are being fruitful. Another reminder – No one stood by me the first time I defended myself; all deserted me. May God not count it against them!  But the Lord stayed with me and gave me strength, so that I was able to proclaim the full message for all the Gentiles to hear; and I was rescued from being sentenced to death. And the Lord will rescue me from all evil and take me safely into his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

Question: What to do when there is fear?

Answer: “Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” 2 Chronicles 20:12

Background: Lord gave us, I wanted to meditate on 2 Chronicles 20:12, the background was when Jehoshaphat was established as the king of Judah,  the Moabites and the Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. Then it was reported to Jehoshaphat that “A great multitude has come against you and they are getting close, Jehoshaphat was afraid and set himself to seek the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. Then Jehoshaphat made a beautiful prayer verses 6 to 12. After the prayer, the Lord asks Judah to go praise and Lord sets ambushes in the enemy camp and everyone in enemies camp gets killed before they reach the enemy’s camp. 

All things changed due to Jehoshaphat’s decision to pray, wanting to focus on the portion where he prays ‘we do not know what to do‘, a king openly confessing weakness in front of God and people. And goes to the extent to tell, us we do not know what to do. This is very different or totally opposite from contemporary teaching, just confess with your mouth, speak only positive things, and what you speak will happen. Imagine deliverance it will come to pass.

Lesson: The Lord is looking for honesty, speak out your weaknesses and fears, do not speak to impress people. Do not hide your fears from the Lord. His strength is manifested in our weakness. Learn to ask God, what to do and be truthful when you do not know what to do. Jesus did great healing when one dad was truthful. Mark 9:24 “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Prayer: Lord help us to pray like Paul – Rom 7:24,25 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Amen.

Question: Why did the Lord choose Bezalel?

Answer: Praise the Lord today is June 12, I want to meditate on Exo 31:1,2b“Then the Lord said to Moses, See, I have chosen Bezalel “

In the wilderness, the Lord gave instructions to build the Tabernacle, where the Lord will commune with people. It had different sections, every minute detail, material, cover and articles was designed by God.

The Lord said to Moses, “I have chosen Bezalel, the son of Uri and grandson of Hur, from the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with my power. I have given him understanding, skill, and ability for every kind of artistic work

But who could build according to the Almighty God’s design, who will have that level of skill to implement? Lord found one man, Bezalel, Lord told Moses “I have chosen Bezalel and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills to make the design of God” (Exo 31:2). Bezalel came forward built the tabernacle and the Lord met His people from there.

Lessons we can learn, God needs people to implement His plans, can we be that person? Let it be our prayer, make me the Bezalel of this time. We might have excuses that we are not capable, the verse above says all that is needed to build was given to Bezalel (understanding, knowledge, skill) was given by God. Then what is the criteria for being chosen, I believe it is total surrender, trust, dedication, and humility that make a person choosable.

In our day to day life, we need the wisdom to complete our work in Godly fashion. Our Lord can fill us with skill and knowledge from heavåen. Let us ask for heavenly understanding. Can the Lord use us to fulfill His design in our lives, our family, our community, and our nation? How wonderful it is when we live and operate in the Spirit of God.

Let this be our prayer, Father Lord, I need the wisdom from your throne room, I want to live every day to fulfill your plans, and work and conduct myself in wisdom from God.

Question: What does it mean to trust the Lord?

Answer:

In the third year of the reign of Hoshea son of Elah as king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah at the age of twenty-five, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-nine years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. Following the example of his ancestor King David, he did what was pleasing to the Lord. He destroyed the pagan places of worship, broke the stone pillars, and cut down the images of the goddess Asherah. He also broke in pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made, which was called Nehushtan. Up to that time the people of Israel had burned incense in its honor. Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; Judah never had another king like him, either before or after his time. He was faithful to the Lord and never disobeyed him, but carefully kept all the commands that the Lord had given Moses. So the Lord was with him, and he was successful in everything he did. He rebelled against the emperor of Assyria and refused to submit to him. He defeated the Philistines and raided their settlements, from the smallest village to the largest city, including Gaza and its surrounding territory.

Want to meditate on 2 Kings 18:5,6 The word of God “Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses” What a testimony!

Who was this man? Hezekiah became the 13th King of Judah at the age of 25 and reigned for 29 years. His father was King Ahaz an evil king. He came to power when the entire nation was totally away from the Lord. But Hezekiah purified and repaired the Temple, purged its idols, and reformed the priesthood. Hezekiah enacted sweeping religious reforms.

Powerful Assyrian king Sennacherib came against Judah, and Hezekiah then had to face the invasion. Hezekiah did not rely on Egypt for support, but relied on God and prayed to Him for the deliverance. God sent out an angel who, in one night, struck down “a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians.

The lesson, all started with one man in a very corrupt environment deciding to trust God, hold fast to the Lord, and decided to follow and keep the Lord’s commands.

When we set rules for our children, We do it, out of love for our kids and if they keep it, it is for their good. Yes, it makes us happy to see the well-being of our children. The same way Lord gave us commands for our good and when we keep it, our father in heaven is pleased.

Final thought, No more excuses, trust should result in true obedience.

Question: When the Lord needs ,, ?

Answer:

If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away Mat 21:3

Lord needed a donkey, and the donkey and colt were let go when the disciples said the Lord needed them. Do we realize our savior needs us? The donkey had a glorious walk to Jerusalem on olive branches and cloaks because Jesus was on the donkey. The donkey did not become a horse to walk in glory, the only difference was, that the untied donkey had Jesus on top. Once Jesus has come down, it is the old unnoticed donkey.

Jesus needed only the donkey, but the colt was also untied. It does not matter who you are, all that matters; that the world see Jesus who you are carrying. Is the spotlight on Jesus? People sang for Jesus, not for the donkey, and never take the glory. Jesus is looking for an available donkey not the ability of the donkey. We need to be His donkey.

Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to Bethphage at the Mount of Olives. There Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead with these instructions: “Go to the village there ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied up with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to me. And if anyone says anything, tell him, ‘The Master needs them’; and then he will let them go at once.” This happened in order to make come true what the prophet had said:

Jesus knew where the donkey was, what the state was, who is with the donkey, and who would stop the deliverance. The donkey had no clue of any of these things. Why are we worrying, when our Lord knows every minute detail about us?