TODAY’S DEVOTION (FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER 2024)
“Now therefore, O our God, hearken unto the prayer of thy servant, and to his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.
O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousness, but for thy great mercies’ sake.
O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God, because thy city and thy people are called by thy name.” Daniel 9:17-19 ASV
WELCOME TO THE 292ND DAY OF OUR YEAR OF IMPACT.
It’s another great day of God’s mercy, prepared for us all before the foundation of the world. We embrace it with grace, humility and great expectations.
The principle of having righteous expectations is what keeps us hopeful for the best even in the midst of the toughest battle of this life.
Obviously, so many in the human race today are going through things mouths cannot state. There are things you go through in life that even when you are surrounded by people, none of them can help you out. I know some of you are familiar with this kind of life circumstances.
It has been my terrain for almost all my life. Only God has been the help of some of us.
There are seasons of life that almost get someone depressed; seasons when you go through things, and wake up to find out that, no one can give you a helping hand like you have been giving others.
Sometimes in such seasons, you are flooded by the selfishness and self-centeredness of people, especially during close quarter battles. I discovered that men like David passed through the same route in their days, facing tougher situations.
What they did is what I always do; encourage myself in the LORD.
I have learned that if there is no one to encourage me in a given situation, I should encourage myself in the LORD. It usually help me to maintain the right spirit, and has a beautiful way of protecting me not to come out with a wounded spirit due to how people treat me in my own time of need, having helped them in theirs.
HOWEVER, THIS KIND OF FAITH HAS A SMALL DISADVANTAGE; A VERY SMALL ONE.
It makes people think you are either invincible or you do not usually have life problems, hence heaping you with their own problems, even when you are going through the toughest battle at the time.
I want to admonish that if you are going through something that no one can help you out, do the same; encourage yourself in the LORD. Do not develop a wounded spirit because no one is coming through for you.
Encourage yourself in the LORD. The Bible says, “although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines…. yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” That is how to encourage yourself in the LORD!
I have come to realize that if we seed joy into any day, especially when there is no reason to be joyful, it will bring back a harvest of peace into our lives. That is why men like David will always rise with a song to the ears of God early in the morning, and a psalm, irrespective of what they might be going through.
He said in one of his Psalms,
“God, you are my God; early will I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for you in the sanctuary, to see your power and your glory.” Psalms 63:1-2 NKJV
One of the worst experiences of the Christian faith takes place in a realm called “a dry and thirsty land.” It is always a season when there is no comfort coming from anywhere.
Yes, a season when you cannot find a true shoulder to lean on, even when everyone is leaning on you.
Most of my life have been spent in this kind of seasons. They really made me know what men like Paul felt, when all fled and left him at a particular time of his life. But he knew how to encourage Himself in the LORD and move on. That made sufficient available to him at all times.
YES, GRACE WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE FROM THE LORD DURING THOSE MOMENTS.
It will be released to guard us so that we will not do what will sink us during those moments, because not everyone has ever come out well during such moments.
Samson and Elijah for example, went through similar ordeals in their generations also, but came out with different results. Samson died, Elijah progressed. Samson died because he walked in the flesh during the season, Elijah progressed because he walked in the Spirit during the season.
While Samson was busy looking for romantic comfort to deal with His ordeal, Elijah was up on the mountain with God, seeking Him painstakingly. That is the way to go when you find yourself in situation where there is no shoulder to lean on.
Do not look for available shoulders like Samson did. You might find some Delilah men or women, systems, or traditions that will further sink you. Walk in the Spirit like Elijah, go to the mountain of faith (not a physical mountain) through the prayer knees, and look for higher measures of the Spirit, and move on.
I have come to realize that the worst season of any kingdom warrior is a season of being a shoulder to lean on for everyone, but with no ideal shoulder (Except GOD), to lean on yourself. That is why in such seasons, the psalmist directs that we do what David did; look for GOD in His sanctuary to see His power and glory.
In other words, if you worship in a Church that is not a money-making machine, metaphysical cult, political party or social club; if you worship in a church that is a pillar and ground of Truth, full of the glory and presence of the LORD, make sure you do not stop attending its services.
Always be in that place to see or experience God’s power and glory. In other words, your goal for going to church during those moments, should be to experience God’s power and glory.
I believe the LORD has spoken to us in a very powerful way this morning.
Few words can be all we need sometimes to come out of our many problems. Yes, few words that are full of God, and His way of doing things can be all we need in certain moments of life.
SO, I WOULD STOP HERE.
But let me state this; if these words do not make sense to you, please go through them again, and then pass them to someone out there who need them. You will earn a blessing from the LORD.
If they make sense and ministered to you dearly, please do the same. Spread them to another person to be ministered to like they did to you. The Bible says he that wins souls is wise. Those who do not withhold the corn of life-giving truths, will be blessed.
May the LORD continue to uphold you in whatever you might be going through in life, and may He grant you the right spirit and attitude in your moment of crises. May He fill your heart with faith in any fight you find yourself.
May you not fall on your own sword like Samson. May you develop the wings of faith you need, and fly high and higher, to God’s next season of life for you like Elijah did, in Jesus precious name. Amen!!
MAKE THIS SCRIPTURE AN ADDITIONAL MEDITATION FOR THE DAY
“Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills. Habakkuk 3:17-19 NKJV