CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

 

Saturday, February 3, 2024

 

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

 

James 4:8

8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

 

There was an old, retired preacher who lived with his wife down the street. He was content to care for his wife and tend his vegetable garden. Many times people would come to his house for advice, prayer and comfort. Much of his ministry now was done in blue jeans and at odd times.

 

One day a young man dropped by for a talk. He was desperate because he had lost his job and didn’t know how he was going to provide for his family. As he poured out his heart to the preacher he angrily declared "I’ve begged and begged God to say something to help me, preacher. Why doesn’t God answer?"

 

The old preacher, who was sitting across the room, spoke a reply so quietly the young man was unable to make it out. The young man stepped across the room. "What did you say?" he asked. The preacher repeated himself, again in a soft tone. So, the young man moved closer until he was leaning on the preacher’s chair. "Sorry," he said. "I still didn’t hear you." With their heads bent together, the old preacher spoke once more. "God sometimes whispers," he said, "so we will move closer to hear him."

 

Dear Lord, if I can’t hear your voice in my deep need, help me to be smart enough to move closer. AMEN

 

GOD IS

 

Friday, February 2, 2024

 

GOD IS

 

Neh 9:15-17

15 [Thou] gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.

16 But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments,

17 And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

 

          Our relationship which we have with God is firmly fixed in His mind but is greatly affected by our opinion of Him. We have many things which we do not enjoy because our thoughts of Him are wrong.

 

          The phrase, “God is”, can be found in the Bible 158 times and speaks of His mercy and His majesty. Only guilty sinners who have refused His grace need to fear Him. Those who have run to Him for mercy have surely found it. The poor have received aid. The sick have received healing and the sorrowing have received comfort. The ignorant have received wisdom and the lost guidance.

 

Ps 46:1-3

46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

 

Lord, as I meditate upon Your Person, let me not miss even one of Your marvelous attributes. Bless Your people today, Lord. AMEN

 

PROVIDENCE

 

Thursday, February 1, 2024

 

PROVIDENCE

 

Matt 10:29-31

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

 

Someone has said “fate is blind, but providence has eyes.” For the child of God there are no accidents only incidents. Providence is not, by the way, a Biblical term. You will only find it once in the New Testament. It is used by the orator Tertullus in Acts 24:1 & 2, and he speaks not of God but of the benevolent leadership of the high priest Ananias.

 

George H. Morrison says: “What then is the literal meaning of the word providence? It is the Latin word for foresight. Yet it always includes a little more than foresight. It includes the conception of forethought as well. And so, the providence of God is just God's wisdom, shaping and guiding and ordering all things, acting today in full view of tomorrow, and conducting everything to wise and holy ends.”

 

So, what are we to think about God’s providence? It is simply this. God loves me and has redeemed me by His grace, and he will order the events of my life, both good and bad, for His glory and my greater good. If a mother takes her toddler to the doctor for immunization shots, she is willing to allow her child a moment of pain for a future of health. In the same way God often chooses to allow momentary pain in our lives for some future good.

 

Be Still, My Soul

Katharina A. von Schlegel

 

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.

Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.

Leave to thy God to order and provide.

In every change, He faithful will remain.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for ordering my steps today. AMEN