Meditation

08/17/2021

“When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” (Psalm 126:1-3)

God’s delivering acts are not limited to one period in a people’s history. Israel confessed the great acts of God from creation to Exodus to restoration from Exile. Still they looked forward to new acts. History calls God’s people to ask for and expect His deliverance.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY:

Precious Abba, Your acts are not only delivered for one time or one event; rather they are given from the goodness of Your heart and to reward Your people for faithfulness and obedience. It is in Christ Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen

THOUGHT OF THE DAY:

“Faith is the postage stamp on our prayers.”

KNOWING GOD:

“Then David called one of his men and said, ‘Go, strike him down!’ So he struck him down , and he died. For David had said to him, ‘Your blood be on your own head. Your own mouth testified against you when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed.’” (2^nd Samuel 1:15-16)

Opportunity to defeat enemies is not permission to do so. God had chosen David to succeed Saul. He delivered Saul into David’s hands, but David knew that judgment, vengeance, and vindications were under God’s control. This foreshadowed Jesus’ teaching of love for enemies. Taking God’s judgment into one’s own hands shows a total disrespect for God and His historical actions.

I AM:

“On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days.” (Ezra 8:31-32)

Beloved, God’s deliverance includes His protection from attack as well as victory in battle. Have you felt like you were being attacked in your own life, how is your prayer life? Are you in a committed relationship with our Lord, and do you tell Him how you feel and that you need His intervention to resolve problems in your life. If not, why not? He is our God, but He expects us to share our lives with Him, all of your life and not just some of the time.

SECOND THOUGHT of the DAY:

“The Ephraimites will become like mighty men, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord. I will signal for them and gather them in. Surely I will redeem them; they will be as numerous as before.” (Zechariah 10:7-8)

Here the Lord salvation to joy and His description of the Ephraimites will once again become mighty and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will recognize the joy their parents and will express the same joy in their own lives; and the Lord said He would redeem them and they would increase in numbers as before. Your joy comes from your relationship with Him and it touches every fiber of your body, mind and soul. You are uplifted and are able to serve Him even more than ever.