A devotional from the 'Word For Today', September 15, 2015.
'When you don’t understand what’s happening in your life, start with what you know for sure; namely, that God is good all the time, and His ‘…love for those who respect Him continues forever…’ (Psalm 103:17 NCV)
He’s not fickle. He doesn’t bless you one day and curse you the next: His ‘mercies…are new every morning.’ (Lamentations 3:22–23 KJV). But there are things God chooses to reveal to us, and ‘secret things’ He doesn’t—for our own good. Writer Beth Jones says: ‘If God keeps a secret from us, it’s for our benefit and the benefit of others… For example, He doesn’t go around blaming, tattling or disclosing our sins, weaknesses, unbelief, carnality, selfishness or pride to others.
When things happen, God knows why… Secret things belong to the Lord. And when He reveals something to us, it’s because He wants us to walk in that truth by faith. For example, He reveals His character and His will in His Word… so we can live by faith knowing that He’s good, fair, kind, generous, merciful, faithful, gracious, patient, and He’s in the saving, healing, redeeming, restoring, sanctifying, and blessing business.
Things revealed belong to us. When we don’t know why… here’s what we know for sure. God’s Word is truer than our circumstances or experiences… and just because He knows everything about us doesn’t mean He tells us about everything. We also know that when things look bad, God is still good.’ ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ (Job 1:21 ESV) No matter what happens or doesn’t happen, at the end of the day—God is still in control and worthy of our praise!'
sharegrace.org (Desperate Prayer)
Faith is believing in that which is unseen and unknown; faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see(Hebrews 11:1). We have faith in a wonderful God who sees all things and knows all things and reveals some things to us in His timing. Some things are best left untold and unknown, and He does just that for our benefit.
We just need to wait on Him and TRUST Him. It's not always easy, but worth it. Ask Him to help you, and He will.
A Daily Devotional that has been wonderful encouragement.
'Pour out your heart before Him...' ~Psalm 62:8
More than anything else in life, Hannah wanted a son. And as the years passed she wrestled with disappointment and despair. ‘…and [Hannah] was in distress of soul, praying to the Lord.’ (1 Samuel 1:10 AMP) However, she did two things that worked—and they’ll work for you, too!
(1) Instead of turning away from God, she turned to Him. Instead of praying less, she prayed more. She knew that while her husband couldn’t give her a child, God could. She may not have been happy with God’s timing, but she never doubted His goodness. Unfortunately, one of the things we’re tempted to do when things fall apart is to avoid God’s presence. That’s a mistake, because He’s the one you need most! Yes, it’s hard to pray when your heart is breaking. But unless you’ve prayed with a broken heart and a deep sense of your need, you’ve never really poured out your heart before God, or learned what the Bible truly means by prayer.
(2) She didn’t just think about what she wanted, she also thought about what God wanted. ‘…she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if You will…not forget Your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life…”’ (1 Samuel 1:11 NIV) And shortly after that Samuel was conceived. When you’re willing to make a promise to God that He can hold you to (which is what a vow is), you’re getting serious about prayer. And that’s when God will get serious about your prayer as well! So, ‘pour out your heart before Him.’
A couple of weeks ago I watched a beautifully inspiring and powerful movie. 'The War Room' - enlightening the power of prayer. We need to 'pour out our hearts' before God and plead to Him our worries, so he can do what only He can do. We must recognise Him and His power and ability to do what we cannot. Then we need to step aside and allow Him to do it. Just TRUST Him!
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me~Psalm 23:4
In the final moments of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran's lives, their testimony of steadfast love, devotion and faith in Christ Jesus stood firm and spoke volumes to a global audience.
Andrew had come a long way in his life from being addicted to and selling heroin at the age of 14 to ending up in a Balinese prison for a decade, facing the death penalty on a daily basis, then being sentenced to execution, then being shot in the heart by a Javanese firing squad while staring at the line of men when rifles aimed at him.
What did he do? Accounts of his and the other seven prisoners last moments have been recounted.
I'll never forget the pain that pierced my heart upon waking to the news that Andrew and Myuran had been executed. It was devastating - the injustice of taking the lives of these men that had sincerely repented, sought forgiveness and changed their ways and had sought to invest in the lives of countless others around them.
On transfer from Kerobokan prison to Nusakambangan (execution) island, with limitations of the number of possessions they could take, both men took a Bible - Andrew Chan's being one that he was given by his family weeks after his arrest — which he describes as his most treasured possession.
One of Chan’s last messages to his family and friends during his final days was: “I’m proof that Jesus is alive, give glory to Jesus..." ..."everything that (has) happened was God's will. Not a single feather would fall off a sparrow, without God permitting it."
Chan and Sukumaran told Pastor Tuhu they still believed in miracles and that God would save them but, if they were executed, it was (and they would accept that it was) part of God's plan.
The comfort they had was that firstly God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8) - that there is a powerful reason why their lives were being allowed to be taken. It was their hope that many would hear their testimony - their story of God's saving grace - the message of Christ's suffering and offer of salvation, in the weeks and months and years since their execution. Secondly, they were soon to meet their Saviour and spend eternity in heaven with Him.
As the eight prisoners walked onto the field they sang Amazing Grace; as they were tied up and as they died they sang Bless the Lord O My Soul (10,000 Reasons). Pastor de Vega stated that the moment "...was breathtaking. This was the first time I witnessed someone so excited to meet their God."
Andrew's eulogy read at his funeral:
'Thank you all for gathering here on this day to witness something great. It's a day that I will arise from my own coffin, right now as the words are spoken, in Jesus' name, arise... I know it is a sad day, we would have all wished it didn't come to this. However it is funny that even in death there's still a lesson to be learnt. We learned that we do not need to be old to die, nor do we need to have something wrong with us. But we learned that when it's time to go home, God has the kitchen table and sink ready. Every person that is sitting here now has impacted my life in one way or another. The truth is, you have all taught me just as much as I have taught you. If I had to thank everyone individually, I don't think I can place them on one sheet of paper. ...Another person I learned so much from is my wife, Feby. She has taught me the meaning of love and endurance, peace and much more. As I said, to all of you gathered here today, taught me something valuable in life which I have learned to cherish. Treat each day as a diamond, for each day is valuable, as you can never buy it back. Learn to use it doing the things you love, spend it with the people you care for most, because we just never know when we will say goodbye. My last moments here on earth I sing out 'Hallelujah!' I ran the good race. I fought the good fight and came out a winner in God's eyes and men. I do have a story to tell, that story's determined by you all on how you witness me. Ask yourself: 'What did I leave with you?' That will determine my legacy. I leave now in peace and love. I pray that you will all know how I valued and treasured you. Treasure your love and friendship. As you all leave here today, who will you witness to, today?' Love, Andrew Chan. Dear reader, I pray for you as I write this post - be encouraged and KNOW that God is in control even when it feels like all hell is breaking loose, when you feel confused or life is just stagnant. Continue to SEEK Him and His will for you, LOVE Him and SERVE Him in all things; and THANK Him in the good times and the bad for loving you and sending His only Son to die so that you could choose Him and live with Him in heaven.
Just keep reading His Word, the Bible and keep praying - and ask a Godly mentor to pray with and for you too.
