TRUST THE LORD

PSALM 20:7

          The children of Israel recognized that their equipment and manpower could not compare with that of their enemies, but they had God. One man plus God equals a majority, and one soldier with God makes an invincible army.

          Trials may (and do) come; the enemy of our souls may appear to be winning the battle. But when we really trust God, miracles take place. No matter how outnumbered we are; regardless of how impossible the situation appears; when the outlook is darkest, God still works with miraculous results. Let others trust in the arm of the flesh. “We will trust the Lord our God.” “Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by, trusting Him whatever befall, trusting Jesus that is all” (Moody Press, Manna).

PRAYER

          In his book, “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s Home,” Richard Foster tells this story: One day a friend of mine was walking through a shopping mall with his two-year-old son. The child was in a particularly cantankerous mood, fussing and fuming. The frustrated father tried everything to quiet his son but nothing seemed to help. The child simply will not obey. Then under some special inspiration, the father scooped up his son and, holding him close to his chest, he began singing an impromptu love song. None of the words rhymed. He sang off key. And yet as best as he could, this father began sharing his heart. “I love you,” he sang. “I am so glad you are my boy.” “You make me happy. I like the way you laugh.” On they went from one store to another. Quietly continued to sing off key and making up words that did not rhyme. That child relaxed and became still, listening to this strange and wonderful song.

          Finally, they finished shopping and went to the car. As the father opened the door and prepared to buckle his son into the car seat, the child lifted his head and said simply, “Sing it to me again, Daddy! Sing it to me again.”

          Prayer is like that. With the simplicity of heart, we allow ourselves to be gathered up into the arms of the Father and let Him sing His love song over.

DEBT DESTROYS FAMILY STRUCTURE

          A cartoon pictured a coed chatting with her soon-to-be-wed friends: “I sure hope you have a happy marriage.” “Oh, we won’t have any problems,” replied the bride-to-be, “as long as we don’t mention money!” She was adding to her marriage vows an invisible exception: “till debt do us part.” A financial skeleton lurks in many Christian closets. It appears periodically to haunt and harass the family. “Debts can be a slowly rising tide that cast an unsuspecting family adrift in a treacherous sea” (Dr. Howard Hendricks, Heaven Help Our Home).

THE FALL OF THE HUMAN RACE (GENESIS 3)

Ø The quest to be independent.

Ø A temptation to defy the specific instruction of God.

Ø A temptation to rebel against the authority of God.

Ø Adam and Eve wanted to be like God. They did not want to submit to the rule of God. Today many people want to become leaders but they do not want to submit to authority. If you are not a good follower, you cannot be a good leader (Adarkwa).

INTEGRITY

          Integrity is what we gain by walking in God’s light. It is worth far more than precious gold to do what is true and right; the surest way to gain respect is to earn it (Anonymous).

A CHILD-LIKE FAITH

          God, give me the faith of a little child who trusts so implicitly; who simply and gladly believes Your Word and never will question You. True faith obeys without doubt or delay (Our Daily Bread, June 9, 1991).

LIVING LETTERS

          You are writing a “gospel,” a chapter each day, by the deeds that you do, by the words that you say; people read what you write, whether faithless or true; say what is the “gospel” according to you? (Gilbert)

          A Christian’s life is the world’s Bible (D. L. Moody).

OFFENSIVE SPEECH

          The speeches of the friends of Job were insensitive, offensive, presumptuous, and dogmatic—traits that would make any speech too long. Better a few words that help and heal than many that hinder and hurt.

          We all need to pray the preacher’s prayer, “Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff and stop me when I have said enough.”

          Many people we meet everyday are carrying heavy burdens, struggling with a heartache. They need our words of comfort, encouragement, and affirmation (Portraits of Perseverance).