Daily Thought – Where is Joshua ?
Fight the good fight of faith. 1Tim.6:12
Story: The king of Jerusalem heard that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies. So King of Israel along with 4 other kings attacked Gibeon, people of Gibeon asked Joshua to come and help.
Joshua went and fought and defeated all the kings, two outstanding miracles happened in this campaign.
1. When enemy fled before Israel the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.
2. When Joshua prayed, the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.
Lesson: We know Lord is always the same, then why there is no outstanding miracles like this now. Is it because Lord is not able to find a man like Joshua. Can we be the Joshua of this generation? And also how could Joshua pray for something that is beyond our imagination? Where is that kind of faith ?
Lord fighting on our behalf, but there is duty that we need to do, fight with the sword (Prayer), and the Lord will reply to our prayer by hail (devouring power). Where is our hope? Are we overwhelmed by our situation, then lets step forward in faith.
Prayer: Father Lord, help me to be a man of faith and a man of prayer. Amen.
Struck Down But Not Destroyed
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Ever faced a blow or a setback and you thought that’s the end? Sometimes we need to learn to differentiate between “getting struck down” and “destroyed”. Paul said,
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
We cannot expect to live a problem-free life. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus so that His life will be revealed in us. This means you can expect to be struck down but you won’t be destroyed. You will go through an experience where you will be perplexed but you will not be in despair. There is always the safety net of God’s sufficient Grace and his power which will be made perfect in our weaknesses.
Few week’s back my both kids got sick at the same time. I had a tough time in my ministry and in my job. I thought my world was collapsing. It was then God reminded me that every storm is a perfect opportunity to see God’s power working in us and through us.
Paul was struck down many times. He faced several setbacks but every time he got knocked down he came back stronger. Once he was bitten by a venomous snake in an island. Everyone thought he was going to die. Everyone thought that’s the “final blow”. But Paul shook the snake from his hands and continued as normal. He then prayed for people in that island and people got healed and they started to think he was God!
William Carey was a British Christian missionary who went to India and translated the Bible into Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, Arabic, Marathi, Hindi and Sanskrit. Many of these languages had never been printed before; He had to create punches for the type by hand. On 11 March 1812, a fire in the print shop caused £10,000 in damages and lost work. But he persevered and went on to print and distribute the Bible in whole or part in 44 languages and dialects. William Carey’s ministry was “struck down” when his printing press caught fire but it was not “destroyed”.
Are you facing setbacks and feeling you have been struck down? If so, it’s time for you to bounce back stronger and see the power of God working in your weaknesses.
(This message is written by Bro. Davidson Samuel who is an IT Professional / Subject Matter Expert in Banking domain, based out of Scotland, UK)
Daily Thought – Provision through confession
Abraham answered, “God himself will provide Gen 22:8
Story: God tested Abraham, by asking Abraham to sacrifice His only son. Abraham obeyed and took his son to the mountain Lord showed. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up “The fire and wood are here but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide“.
Abraham bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar. Then took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out “Do not lay a hand on the boy. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son.
Abraham looked up saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide.
Lesson: Even if it is painful to execute; obedience has tremendous power to change life for ever. How could Abraham tell His son, God will provide when he had no idea at that point on what the Lord plan was. Blindly trusted in the goodness of God. Abraham was ready to sacrifice the most precious thing in His life for the love of God. Have we any time sacrificed anything of our loving savior.
Prayer: Father Lord, my priorities are not right. Change me Lord that my passion and purpose will be to know the power of your presence. Amen.
Daily Thought – Answers when Afflicted
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Ps 34:18
When we are afflicted what should we do? How can we be saved? What is the Lord expecting us to do? Lord is close and He will save.
Stop, Look and Ask: Stop dwelling in the thoughts of trouble, start looking at Jesus “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.” Ps 34:5 and ask the Lord for help “I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” Ps 34:4.
Fear God: Let us stop fearing our situation and start fearing the Almighty “Fear the LORD, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.” Ps 34:9. When the Lord sees a person who fears the Almighty, the word says “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.” Ps 34:7
Prayer: Lord my Father, I cry out to you, you have cleansed me by the blood of Jesus. I believe “The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.” Ps 34:17
Daily Thought – A prayer in desperate situation
Psalm 56:1 “Be merciful to me “
Thought
David wrote this psalm where philistines had captured him in Gath. David wrote this when he was literally facing death. No hope to escape. But making this prayer we learn
Fear to Trust
Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I will trust in you.” When David was scared of his situation, he did not murmur nor did he grumble, David increased his trust in the Lord.
Attack to Freedom
Psalm 56:9 “Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help.” By this I will know that God is for me. David knew when he prays Lord will surely listen and help. When an attack comes from the evil one, speak to our Heavenly Father surely help will come.
Problems to Praise
Psalm 56:4 “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?” David claimed the promises of God, believing the word lead to praises.
Psalm 56:12 “I am under vows to you, O God; I will present my thank offerings to you.” When he word was got, David took decision to praise the Lord always. Make a vow that in every situation I will praise God.
Death to deliverance
Psalm 56:13 “For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling” David was delivered from death we know it, but David confessed it even before deliverance actually happened. Let us see the deliverance in the eyes of faith and confess what we do not see with our eyes.