PRAYERS, CHALLENGES AND CONSOLATION FROM PSALM 40

PRAYERS, CHALLENGES AND CONSOLATION FROM PSALM 40

In my family devotion this morning, we read from Philippians 2. In my personal devotion, Psalm 40 was my text and my prayers for myself and for you are (a.) that those of us seeking God would always have reasons to rejoice and be glad in Him, may His testimony always full our mouths (vs. 16) (b) May those who seek our souls be confounded (vs14) (c) May the Lord’s loving kindness and truth continually preserve us (vs.11) (d) May the Lord be pleased to deliver and to help us (vs13).

The Challenge is three fold

1. (vs. 1) I waited patiently. -You and I have to wait patiently for and on Him.

2. (vs. 8) I delight to do thy will, O my God. – Doing His will should be done joyfully but not necessarily as a duty or burden.

3. (vs. 10) I have declared thy faithfulness, righteousness, salvation, loving kindness and thy truth. – Some of us are even ashamed of Him and His Word.

The Consolation

(vs. 17) Though you and I may be poor and needy; yet the Lord is thinking about us. He will do us good. Amen.

Be blessed and remain blessed.

THANKFUL, EVEN FOR FOOD

I listened to Jimmy Swaggart this morning (30^th July 2012) and here is what he said in his message on SONLIFE Television.

“Over half of the population of this world go to bed hungry, they have nothing to eat. I have been to Refugee Camps in Africa where I saw babies died of starvation. There was a case I will never forget. A baby struggled to get milk from her mother’s breast but no milk was forthcoming, again, the baby cried and the mother put the breast in the baby’s mouth, but still there was no milk. The mother was so emaciated that no milk could come out of her breast. Right here, we do not appreciate what we have…” May I ask, ARE YOU THANKFUL EVEN FOR YOUR FOOD?

Charles Spurgeon’s Devotion for July 24^th (AM)

"Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord."
Exodus 14:13

These words contain God's command to the believer when he is reduced to great straits and brought into extraordinary difficulties. He cannot retreat; he cannot go forward; he is shut up on the right hand and on the left; what is he now to do?

The Master's word to him is, "Stand still." It will be well for him if at such times he listens only to his Master's word, for other and evil advisers come with their suggestions.

Despair whispers, "Lie down and die; give it all up." But God would have us put on a cheerful courage, and even in our worst times, rejoice in His love and faithfulness.

Cowardice says, "Retreat; go back to the worldling's way of action; you cannot play the Christian's part, it is too difficult. Relinquish your principles." But, however much Satan may urge this course upon you, you cannot follow it if you are a child of God. His divine fiat has bid thee go from strength to strength, and so thou shalt, and neither death nor hell shall turn thee from thy course. What, if for a while thou art called to stand still, yet this is but to renew thy strength for some greater advance in due time.

Precipitancy cries, "do something. Stir yourself; to stand still and wait, is sheer idleness." We must be doing something at once--we must do it so we think--instead of looking to the Lord, who will not only do something but will do everything. Presumption boasts, "If the sea be before you, march into it and expect a miracle."

But Faith listens neither to Presumption, nor to Despair, nor to Cowardice, nor to Precipitancy, but it hears God say, "Stand still," and immovable as a rock it stands. "Stand still";--keep the posture of an upright man, ready for action, expecting further orders, cheerfully and patiently awaiting the directing voice; and it will not be long ere God shall say to you, as distinctly as Moses said it to the people of Israel, "Go forward."

STORIES BY REV. DR BOSUN AYINDE

COMMITMENT UNTO DEATH

This story of a committed wife shared by Rev. Dr. Bosun Ayinde of Shepherdhill Baptist Church at the Marriage Seminar on Saturday 21, July 2012 is thought provoking. It is not a hypothetical case but a true life story.

Both the husband and the wife were sick, but the wife’s sickness was worse. The husband knew quite well the situation of his wife but he wanted the wife to cook for him. The wife, who hardly said NO to his husband yielded to her husband to cook the food for him. She is still cooking when she slumped and died. How sensitive are we to our partner?

CONVERSION SIGHTED

Another heart touching story shared by Dr. Ayinde was that of a particular someone (I know this person as well) She was born into a Muslim family and she got admission into the University, on getting to the University, she met the Lord Jesus Christ (or should I say, the LORD met her) and she was saved. When she got back home she said nothing about this experience to her parents. However, her mother was observant and asked her what had happened. Her new birth experience was what the LORD used to bring the mother to HIM. For some of us who had been born again for a long time, has our faith attracted anyone to Christ. 

WE ALL NEED GOD

Myles Monroe's message aired on KLN on (30/06/2012) was highly inspiring. He emphasised our need for God this way. When God created water, he created everything in the water by speaking to the water to bring forth those creatures in it. This is the reason why those creatures in the water need water; the water does not need them. When God wanted to create those animals, He commanded the ground to produce them, therefore the animals need the ground for their sustenance and survival but the ground does not need them. So when He created us, He did not just create us from the ground. He created us by Himself, so by creation we need Him. His breath in us will return back to Him. The body made from the dust will return back to the dust.

We should peruse on Annie Sherwood’s Hymn I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR. We need God. Here is the lyric.

1.   I need Thee ev'ry hour, Most gracious Lord;

No tender voice like Thine, Can peace afford.

Chorus:

I need Thee, O I need Thee; Ev'ry hour I need Thee!

Oh bless me now, my Saviour, I come to Thee.

2.   I need Thee ev'ry hour, Stay Thou near by;

Temptations lose their pow'r, When Thou art nigh.

3.   I need thee ev'ry hour, In joy or pain;

Come quickly and abide, Or life is vain.

4.   I need Thee ev'ry hour, Most Holy One;

O make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.

She was not the only one whose heart cried out to God, here is what William H. Monk also wrote.

I need Thy presence, Every passing hour.

What but Thy grace, Can foil the tempter's power?

Who, like Thyself, My guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

Dear Reader, we all need God. I wish you more of Him in Jesus name. You are blessed, remained blessed in Jesus name.