Only with Total Faith and Trust In Jehovah God, can a Human Being Live in Fearless Safety!

Psalm 3:5.        I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.

And I guess after many sunny and dry days, it’s only natural to expect some cloudy and damp ones, thus we’re not surprised that Thursday is as cloudy and damp as Wednesday was. Now, what’s interesting is that yesterday, the dreary, scary looking dark clouds threatened rain all day, but it’s only in the evening hours that some actually fell, and not a whole lot either. But who really knows what the weather will be like in these uncertain days of climate change eh? I’m sorry for the weather forecasting people, who now have a different set of norms to deal with, if one can call the vagaries of climate change norms. (smile) 

However, be that as it may, today we’ll focus on the prayer from the September Edition of the In Touch Devotional. So please pray with me: ‘Lord, You know me – my limits, struggles, and weaknesses – and when I’ve come to the end of myself. In those moments, Father, revive me. Show me Your tender care by day; let me lie down in peace at night and wake again to Your mercy, which is always waiting for me. You know my soul, and you alone strengthen it. In Jesus’ name, amen.’ 

Yes friends, because of our human frailties and imperfections, we all come to the end of ourselves at some time or another. I guess the Lord made us that way, so that we would need to depend on Him in those rough times, to revive our souls and spirits through prayer and thanksgiving. And there are all kinds of scriptures that promise the stuff we’re asking for. So let’s look at a few of them nuh. Like these scriptures from Psalms 3and 4. 

In Psalm 3, when Bruh David fled from his son Absalom, who was seeking to overthrow him, he writes: ‘Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O Lord, art a shield for (around) me; my glory, and the lifter up of (the one who lifts up) mine head. I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill (mountain). Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me.  I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.’ (Ps. 3:2-6) 

Yes my people, when we place our trust, our total surrender in the Lord God Jehovah, then He works continually on our behalf. It’s like Bruh David declares in Psalm 4: ‘Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn (grain) and their wine increased. I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” (Ps. 4:7-8) 

Oh my faithful brethren, it’s only when our hearts and souls are truly immersed in Almighty God, can we say and do those things. And Bruh David proved it when king Saul sought to kill him for so many years, but was unable to, because he was the Lord’s anointed, and was kept safe by His grace and mercy. And we can’t have scriptures on subjects like these and not hear from Cousin Sol, the wisest man ever. Of course not! For he has something to say on almost every topic under the sun. (smile) 

Thus, he reminds us that: ‘The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths (deeps) are broken up, and the clouds drop down dew. My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace (favour) to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. Be not afraid of sudden fear (terror), neither of the desolation of (trouble from) the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken (caught).’ (Prov. 3:19-29) 

Oh my fellow believers, what encouraging words those are from Cousin Sol. Words that he himself experienced when he sought the Lord, and consequently, in his old age, when he allowed his numerous pagan wives to turn him away from the God of his father David, he paid a huge price for his foolish transgression. So like Bruh David, he knows what he’s talking about from hard experience, not merely hearsay. Thus, we ought to listen to them both and follow their advice. 

And as the old people would often tell us: do as I say, not as I do. But the young people today simply don’t understand that wisdom. They believe that they ought to do as we do, even if our behaviour doesn’t follow our words. But there’s wisdom in listening to wiser souls, which many of us forego, and thus often suffer irreparable damage for that unwillingness to listen. 

And please remember that the Bible was written to give us wisdom and understanding, to give us examples of how to and how not to live, if we want to be righteous and successful in this earthly life. For as Bruh Paul so wisely wrote to Timothy. ‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works.’ (2 Tim. 3:16-17) 

And with all of that wisdom now under our belts (smile) let’s get to declaring our undeserved Thursday Blessings, which the Lord has so generously bestowed on us, so that we can do His earthly work. As one strong and sincere voice: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! 

I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’ 

And having made that declaration (yesss!!!) it now behooves us to go out and use those blessings to help others, just as generously as the Lord shared them with us, so that they too can come to know and LOVE Him like we do! Much LOVE!…

earthly life consists of problems…but in Jesus…we can do all things through Him…who strengthens us…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 12 August 2021 Psalm 121:2.

Psalm 121:2.     My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

Then it was Thursday! And though wet and cloudy, it is a brand new day with a whole array of new mercies, compassions, opportunities and our God’s gracious unconditional and everlasting LOVE! Wow mih people! What more can we ask eh? Nothing really! For with Jehovah God, we have everything we need, and will ever need! That’s why His children shout out loud, and grateful: ‘Thank You Father for your wonderful kindness to us, despite our not deserving it. We LOVE You and praise Your holy name! Amen!’ 

And there is nothing our heavenly Father likes more than to hear the thanks and praise of His children. It just warms the cockles of His heart and makes all His stalwart efforts for our care ever so worthwhile. That’s why it is ever so important to keep the Lord God uppermost in our minds, hearts and lives, for He is the source of all that we are. The psalmist hit the nail on the head when he wrote Psalm 121 so many years ago talking of God’s sustaining power. 

Hear him declare: ‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills (mountains), from whence cometh my help.’ (Ps. 121:1) Now that doesn’t mean his help comes from the mountains, but his problems – the high hills are in his path, they cause him problems of all kinds, both on a normal physical journey, and on his earthly pilgrimage. That’s why he rightly answers: ‘My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.’ (Ps. 121:2) 

And Bruh David happily concurs with that decision at the end of Psalm 124 – Praise for deliverance from enemies. He unequivocally states: ‘Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’ (Ps. 124:8) Yes friends, you can’t get any more definitive that that! So why should we turn to any other source of help than the One which created us and our universe eh? No reason whatsoever! 

The prophet Jeremiah says it best. ‘Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel.’ (Jer. 3:23) And not only is God the salvation of Israel, but of all mankind! And until mankind recognizes that and takes it to heart, our world will be fraught with sin, evil and all the many negative things that are currently running rampant through it. 

Now, listen as the psalmist continues his reasons for sticking like white on rice (smile) to the God of his forefathers. ‘He will not suffer thy foot to be moved (to slip): he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.’ (Ps. 121:3-4) That’s security for you, my brethren! The God who created us and still watches over us doesn’t slumber or sleep. He is continually on the lookout for our safety and happiness! How can you beat that eh? You just can’t! 

And another wise man, Cousin Sol tells us the same thing; that when we look to the God of Israel for our help, and abide by His dictates: ‘Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble…For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken (caught).’ (Prov. 3:23, 26) 

And Hannah, the prophet Samuel’s mother, in her song of praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for granting her a child despite her apparent barrenness, was even more decisive and confident, when she sang: ‘He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn (strength) of his anointed.’ (1 Sam. 2:9-10) 

Now that’s what you call a strong praying woman, a woman of enormous faith in the Lord God of Israel. And so she should be after her sincere prayers for a child was positively answered by her God. But that’s where a lot of us fall down in these modern times. The Lord answers our prayers, maybe not as big or seemingly hard ones like Hannah’s, but He answers them nonetheless, but we don’t give Him the attention, respect and the praise that is His rightful due. We chalk it up to circumstance, chance or some such inept term. (smile) 

I couldn’t find the right word there. But I’m sure you understand what I mean. For there’s nothing that happens in God’s universe that in His omniscience, He’s not aware of, and either allows or jumpstarts. Please understand that He’s aware of even the most minute things or aspects of our lives. Whatever happens in our lives is terribly important to Him. So please let’s stop thinking, and consequently believing, that His hand is not at work in ALL areas of our lives, because that will only mean we keep on deluding ourselves about the greatness and the everlasting care and concern of our wonderful God. 

And to further cement the safety, security and protection inherent in our God, let’s listen to the rest of the psalmist’s confident acknowledgement. ‘The Lord is thy keeper (protector): the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve (protect) thy soul. The Lord shall preserve (protect) thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.’ (Ps. 121:5-8) 

Ah friends, what more can I say about the greatness of our God eh? We all know that He’s omnipotent, omniscient and omni-present and chocked full of unconditional LOVE for His most magnificent creation, mankind. All’s left to talk about now is the many blessings that He so generously bestows on us, so that we can do His earthly work, a list of which can be found in what we call our Thursday Blessings. 

So as one strong and sincere voice, let’s declare them: ‘I declare that I am blessed with God’s supernatural wisdom and receive clear direction for my life! I declare today that I am blessed with creativity, courage, talent and abundance! I am blessed with a strong will, self-control and self-discipline! I am blessed with a great family, good friends, good health, faith, favour and fulfillment! 

I am blessed with success, supernatural strength, promotion and divine protection! I am blessed with a compassionate heart and a positive outlook on life! I declare that any curse or negative word that’s ever been spoken over me is broken right now in the name of Jesus! I declare that everything I put my hands to, will prosper and succeed! I declare it today and every day! Amen!’ 

And the upshot of all that, is we now need to go out and share those blessings with others, just as generously as He shared them with us. Much LOVE!

…when you walk with God…you walk in peace, safety and LOVE…                                                                                                                    

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZJ8