SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s Monday! A lucky day for some who have it off, because Christmas and Boxing Days fell on the weekend, but not so lucky for many who have to go back out and labour today. That means we still need to sing our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. So let’s get right to it: ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to; jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but which serve a useful purpose here on earth; keeping lives and families together. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know we’re invincible, sure conquerors, once we’re wearing your powerful, protective spiritual armour. We surrender our all to you, and humbly ask that you let your aura of LOVE, the Holy Spirit, lead and guide all your servants as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN!’ And in light of what we just prayed, I believe we have a very suitable Bit, taken from Bruh David’s prayer for deliverance from evil men. ‘Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings (to make my steps stumble).’ And believe me Friends, there are many such people in our world. I’ve never been one to think evil of people, possibly because of my naivety (smile) and my upbringing, but sadly my brethren, over the last few years my eyes have truly been opened to the magnitude of wickedness and evil in our world, and often right below our unsuspecting noses. Thankfully, I still haven’t been undone by evil people. Although a few have betrayed me, none of them, for your information, have prospered more than me, neither materially nor spiritually. Praise be to a Most Faithful God! And since I’ve been writing this Bit, my faith and trust in the Most High has certainly increased.  This has helped me to put those betrayals behind me, and still not look for deception in every nook and cranny. Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been all wine and roses, but through the Lord’s great mercies, I have been saved several times from hitting rock bottom. And though there might be deception in and around us Friends, we can’t allow ourselves to focus on that, but rather be careful of whom you allow into your inner circle and concentrate on the good that God has in store for us. If we pay too much attention to darkness, or look for wickedness and deceit everywhere, we’ll just end up going nowhere, doing nothing worthwhile and thus producing no good fruit for the kingdom. Oh my people, the Lord has faithfully promised never to leave or forsake us, and if we have sincerely believed in His Word, then there’s no need to go around constantly seeking darkness in the light. Suffice it to know that darkness does exist, and occasionally it will try to overshadow our light. But then again, since light is stronger than darkness, and you can’t have shadows without light, we ought not to dwell on the evil that exists, but on the good that both surpasses and suppresses it. Remember too that our minds are God’s greatest invention, and what we think on, is usually what we become. Oh my brethren, when the forces of evil do come against us, we need to always turn to God first, and like the psalmist who cried for help in his old age, possibly plead: ‘Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up (upheld from birth) from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels (womb): my praise shall be continually of thee.’ (Ps.71:4-6) Yes Friends, let us not be afraid of the evil doers or of their evil ways, because as our Leader and Saviour, Jesus Christ has boldly and truthfully proclaimed: ‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ (John 16:33) That’s gospel mih Friends, so please keep on standing strong and steadfast in the Lord Jesus, and don’t let the enemy frighten you, for once you have Christ’s mark on you, you’re untouchable. Much LOVE!…oh believers…let the light of Jesus in you…brightly shine forth…into a dark and evil world…that’s our mandate…