SCRIP-BITS

Isaiah 40:31.    But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
 
Oh Friends, it’s good news! Four out of five groundhogs (woodchucks) apparently did not see their shadows today, which means winter will soon be over. Praise the Lord! Ah mih breddren, it sure is nice to have hope, but the truth is that winter usually lasts for the same length of time every year, though the ends may be a little colder or warmer. But it’s good to have a bit of folklore in the midst of the freezing, depressing cold to boost your spirits and give you the energy and enthusiasm to keep keeping on despite the mind-numbing temps. All we can really do is wait patiently for it to end, like we have to do for many things, especially God’s Word. Our Bit is quite decisive on that point: ‘But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.’ Words of Wisdom mih people! Now yesterday we touched on scriptures that dealt with the waiting, today we’ll look at some that deal with the renewing of strength, the mounting up with wings like eagles, the running and not being weary, the walking and not fainting. Let’s begin with some enthusiastic and inspiring words from Bruh David. In Psalm 37, the true state of the wicked, he boldly declares: ‘The steps of a good man are ordered (established) by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.’ (Ps.37:23-24) Then in Psalm 103, where he’s offering thanks for the Lord’s generous mercy, he confidently intones: ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits…. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.’ (Ps.103:2,5) Yes Friends, it’s the strength of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that holds us up, that keeps us from falling, though we may stumble. And when we simply can’t go anymore, it’s our God who carries us on His strong shoulders, that’s why sometimes there is only one set of footprints in the sandy paths of our journey. And if we wait patiently on Him, He will definitely renew our strength, uplift our bodies and souls from the depths of exhaustion and the mire of depression. As Bruh Paul in his famous discourse to the Corinthians on living by faith proclaims: ‘But we have this treasure in earthen vessels (humanity in its weakness), that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled (hard pressed) on every side, yet not distressed (crushed); we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast (struck) down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body… For which cause we faint not (do not lose heart); but though our outward man perish (is perishing), yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.’ (2 Cor.7-10,16-17) Oh mih people, what a wonderful God we serve! Despite all those trials and tribulations, once we wait on the Lord, stand strong in faith, they will not defeat us. As Isaiah loudly proclaims: ‘Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint (weak); and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.’ (Is.40:28-29) Oh Friends, the many problems we face in this world tend to beat us down, and if we allow them to, they certainly will. However, as believers we are fortunate to have a strong and noble choice; namely to accept the Lord’s faithful promises and to wait on His timing to fulfill them. And if we do that sincerely, then this cruel, evil, selfish, greedy, oppressive world will NEVER beat us down. Oh, it will always keep trying, but once we stand fast in God’s trust, grace and mercy, we shall ALWAYS overcome. So remember to be strong and find your faith and endurance in the Word when adversity comes, as it surely will. Much LOVE!…in the world ye shall have tribulation…but be of good cheer…I have overcome the world… (John 16:33)