SCRIP-BITS

Psalm 36:5.    Thy mercy (LOVING-kindness), O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Stop it friends, stop it! Stop being miserable and tired on a Monday morning when you have to get up to go to work. You’ve known that from Friday evening when you stopped working, and if you had done what you’re supposed to do, get some rest and relaxation and fellowship with other believers on Sunday and refuelled your spirit, then you would be all ready and gung-ho to go out and labour diligently for Jesus this morning. 

Yes, every so often we need a tongue lashing because we complain when we ought not to. (smile) But I guess that’s human nature. And to be truthful, regardless of how you prepare for Monday morning, when it does roll around, we still experience a letdown, a drop in that spiritual fervour we had ramped up for it. 

But not to worry my faithful believers, our God is good and oh so faithful, and if we ask Him nicely (smile) to fix it, then He will. That’s His ever-faithful promise! So let’s do that right now nuh. Let’s ask Him in all sincerity and humility but confidently, to improve our spiritual fervour so we can diligently do His will. So as one strong voice, let’s pray that mighty prayer, our Monday Morning Battle Hymn. 

‘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 incredible 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 I can just see our eyes light up and our movements get brisk as we now move with a sense of purpose as the Holy Spirit renews our energy and commitment in answer to our prayer! 

 But that’s only for those of going to work. To those of us lying somewhere on a sandy beach in a warm climate enjoying the March Break, it just makes us chuckle as we raise an early morning cocktail to our lips, or get up and run into the brilliant blue waters and immerse ourselves in it! (smile) And I have to tell myself to shut up, because I’m just raising my own longing for some sea, salt, rum and sand! 

In due time though…in due time the Lord will come through for me! I know He’s faithful! He’s done it before, so why won’t He do it again eh? No good reason my brethren. So let’s talk a li’l bit about God’s faithfulness this morning nuh. I experience it every day when I come to write the Bit, because it’s His faithfulness that drives my engine. But let’s see what some of the other more important saints had to say about it. 

In Psalm 36 – The Steadfast LOVE of God – Bruh David describes it thus: ‘Thy mercy (LOVING-kindness), O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.’ (Ps.36:5) Yes friends, God’s faithfulness is as vast as the space between the earth and the clouds. And Bruh David should know about that, because he experienced it to the max; even when he did not deserve it! 

Meanwhile the author of Psalm 119 declares (right ho): ‘For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled (stands firm) in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth (stands). (Ps.119:89-90) Please note my people, that the Lord’s faithfulness is not only there for some, but for ‘ALL generations.’  

It was there for Adam and Eve, it’s there for us, and it will be there for the last humans on planet earth, whenever the Lord decides to call it a day. So there’s no need to worry about having faith in Him. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever, and His promises are always kept. He has safer and better hands than All State. (smile) 

Now hear how Ethan the Ezrahite puts it in his great Psalm – Psalm 89 – God’s sure promises to David. ‘I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy (LOVING-kindness) shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.’ (Ps.89:1-2)  

More acknowledgements of our God’s forthrightness and trust! And this March Break Monday morning we going to keep it short and sweet, so we’ll end with this most popular scripture that all of us LOVE to quote, but don’t truly believe when it really matters. Here these immortal words of Jeremiah: ‘It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam.3:22-23) And that’s the gospel truth! 

But friends, yuh know what? We don’t need the old timers to really tell us how faithful our God is nuh, because most of us have experienced it in some form or fashion! And if we have experienced it, then why do we still doubt it and have problems accepting it as gospel truth eh? So please, let’s stop believing what the deceitful and evil world says nuh, and start believing what our God says! That’s wisdom of the highest order! Much LOVE!

…if you can’t have faith and trust…in the One who created you…then whom will you have them in eh…