Today’s Reading:
Psalm 27:1-14 (11-14)
“Teach me Your way, O Lord. And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries, For false witnesses have risen against me. And such as breath out violence, I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He should strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! (vv. 11-14 NKJV)
In Psalm 27, the psalmist’s confidence in God and his lament are all wrapped in his longing for the presence of God. The strength of his faith is seen in his focus on God and is also expressed in his sincerity to the Lord’s instruction, timing and priorities.
‘In the land of the living’ is referred to here on earth (v. 13). The psalmist was going through a challenge or trial, which he was confident God would see him through in his lifetime. ‘Wait on the Lord; Be of Good Courage, … Wait, I say, on the Lord!’ (v. 14). David is someone who had experience waiting upon the Lord. He was anointed to be king at the age of 13, but he did not accept the throne until he was 30 years old. During the period of his waiting, he was chased about by jealous King Saul, who was all out to kill him. Once or twice David had the opportunity to kill King Saul, but he never did. Because he believed he must not touch the anointed of the Lord. He patiently waits on God for the fulfilment of His promise. After becoming king, we are told that Absalom, his rebellious son chased him from the throne.
When we face any trial or challenge and we turn to God, we find solace, hope and confidence to go through. To live in faith is to wait patiently for God’s goodness at His time. Although, the waiting time may not be bearable (42:2-3; 43:5; but God will help us through, and the future is always secured (37:9; 130:7). During the waiting time all sorts of things would happen to discourage us. We feel that God is no more with us, or that He does not realise the urgency of our situation and so, is not answering our prayers. This is a wrong feeling or thinking. It is those who do not know God that should have this thought. What we are saying by this thinking is that God is no more in control or that He is far from us.
God is worth waiting for. We are to hope in and wait for the Lord (Lamentation 3:24-26) because He uses the waiting period to refresh us, humble us, remould us, new us, make us stronger and He teaches us. We should boldly use our waiting time to discover more about the love of God for us and what he is trying to teach us. In dealings with us, God offers help for the present and gives us hope for the future. Our unwavering confidence in God is our antidote to fear and loneliness.
OLUFUNMILAYO TITILOLA ADEKUSIBE
Prayer:
Thank You O Lord, because Your anger lasts but for a moment, but Your favour is for a lifetime, in Jesus' name.
Thank You that weeping may endure for only a night and that a shout of joy comes in the morning, in Jesus' name.
O Lord, You are my strength and my impenetrable shield. My heart trusts in You with unwavering confidence, in Jesus' name.
Lord, show me Your ways and teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth as I patiently wait for Your salvation, in Jesus' name.
O Lord, rescue me from the deceiver, the destroyer and the power that wastes life because of the name of Jesus Christ.
Holy Spirit fill me to overflowing, endow me with your power and the ability to overcome trials and tribulations, in Jesus' name.
O Lord, reconcile Christian homes and marriages; let there be genuine forgiveness and love of Christ, in Jesus' name.
Father, we commit our children, youths and young adults to your fatherly care, empower them to say no to peer pressure and temptation, in Jesus' name.
Father, unite the body of Christ in your love and empower them to love and feel concerned for their fellow Christian brothers and sisters, in Jesus' name.
Father, take charge and take control in the lives of our leaders in all strata of governance, deliver them from the power of selfishness, self-centeredness, greed and robbery; let them feel for the poor, the needy, the orphans and the widows in the society, in Jesus name.
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