TODAY’S DEVOTION (SUNDAY 5TH MAY 2024)
But now [in spite of past judgments for Israel’s sins], thus says the Lord, He Who created you, O Jacob, and He Who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you. Isaiah 43:1-2 APMC
WELCOME TO THE 126TH DAY OF OUR YEAR OF IMPACT.
Our lives have been impacted by the power of God’s love, kindness, mercies, and compassion. It does not matter what our circumstances might be, God’s faithfulness towards us is unquestionable.
That is why the Bible says,
“Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 AMPC
This scripture, as we have always affirmed, forbids having an ungrateful heart, even in bad times. It forbids not being thankful no matter the circumstances. It says, it is the will of God for those of us in Christ Jesus to be thankful at all times.
When we are fine, the word says we should be thankful. When we are not, the word says we should be thankful. When we are profiting in anything, we should be thankful. When we are not, the word says we should also be thankful.
When we have surplus to eat, we should be thankful, when we do not have, we should also be thankful. We should thank God when we are blessed, and also thank Him when it appears as if we are not.
We should thank God when it does not feel so.
Yes, we should thank God when it does not feel so, and thank Him when it feels so. We should thank Him when it does not make sense, and thank Him when it does.
That was what David applied when he faced some bad times. It is important that we follow the steps of those who were here before us.
During one of the moments that something serious hit him, he tried praising God but his inner self was so affected that it refused to join him. Sometimes, we face similar hit from the storms of life.
However, David did not allow his storm to control his gratitude to his God. He said to his inner self;
“Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.” Psalm 42:5 AMPC
IN THIS SCRIPTURE, YOU FIND DAVID TALKING TO HIS INNER SELF TO RISE AND BE THANKFUL, AND BELIEVING THAT GOD’S HELP IS ON THE WAY!
Obviously, he had been passing through things that threatened his worship. He had seen so much storms that may have to quieted his inner self. He had to speak to it to maintain the faith position God wanted.
The lesson here is this, sometimes, we have to speak to our down casted inner self like David did. We have to tell our inner self to wake up and co operate with us, because we want to remain faithful in giving God thanks in all circumstances.
Job also applied similar principle when he was hit by the enemy in all fronts. Things that hit him were things that were capable of quieting the inner self of even the most anointed person on earth; and taking away his or her praise and thanks giving.
In one day and season, the storms of life hit him and he came under the pain of losing his wealth, his home and all of his Children; the pain was too much to bear, but the very principle we saw in the life of David appeared in His life, and helped him greatly.
Though he was not a Psalmist like David, he remained grateful to God in his own way. The Bible says,
“Then Job arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped
And said, Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord!
In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly. Job 1:20-22 AMPC
I believe this scripture contains the faith position that everyone in Christ should take, when the storms of life hit them.
I believe we should rush to the threshing floor of prayer, renting any robes of pride, self-pity, or whatever does not align with God’s word, and saying, “naked and without possession came I into this world, and the same way I will return.”
THAT WILL BRING AN INITIAL GRACE UPON US, EVEN AS WE SAIL THROUGH THE PAIN.
We should do opposite what the enemy wants us to do. Yes, there is something the enemy wants us to do whenever the storm of life hit us. Know that, and do not be mistaken about it.
In the midst of any storm, the enemy will push us to either do something sinful, charge God with something; like accusing Him to be the cause of our problems, or go the path of foolishness that brings more destruction or ruin.
We must resist that!!! One way to resist that is to be thankful and hopeful. Job, though spent some moments to express his excruciating pain strongly, was both thankful and hopeful. At one point he said,
“For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He [the Last One] will stand upon the earth.” Job 19:25 AMPC
That is how hopeful we should be in the mist of any storm of life. We should fix our hearts on our redeemer, Jesus Christ and His words. In our devotional text, He says;
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.” Isaiah 43:2 APMC
This scripture can be made your anchor when the storms of life hit you. You can stand on it and pray, asking the LORD to make sure that, though you suffer any loss, the storm should not consume and ground you.
There should be help for you like David or Job found.
As we bring this to a close, understand that the storms of life have no exceptions. They come to everyone; rich or poor, sick or healthy, young or old, saved or unsaved, righteous or wicked, faithful or unfaithful.
They come to everyone, without exceptions.
The only thing that has exception is survival from the storm. Yes, though they come to everyone, survival is usually the only thing that has exceptions. It does not happen to everyone.
In other words, not all can survive their storms. Some perish in their storms, while others survive.
The will of God is that we be among those who survive their storms like Job, not those who perish in them. This word was sent to help you survive your storm, and come into a season of more prosperity or glory than what may have been lost or destroyed!! Amen.
LET THIS SCRIPTURE BE AN ADDITIONAL MEDITATION FOR THE DAY!!
“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for He gives you the former or early rain in just measure and in righteousness, and He causes to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, as before.
And the [threshing] floors shall be full of grain and the vats shall overflow with juice [of the grape] and oil.
And I will restore or replace for you the years that the locust has eaten—the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and the crawling locust, My great army which I sent among you.
And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame.
And you shall know, understand, and realize that I am in the midst of Israel and that I the Lord am your God and there is none else. My people shall never be put to shame.” Joel 2:23-27 AMPC