Tuesday January 31, 2012

Read Deuteronomy 1:4-11

 

That God is faithful should not come as any surprise to us, but often it does. As Israel stood on the shores of the Jordan River, she looked across at the Promised Land. One wonders what went through the people’s minds. On the other side of the river was the new Eden. But it was inhabited by strange cultured peoples, people who were far more numerous and certainly physically larger and stronger than the Israelites. Did they trust God? Did they believe His word to them? Were they afraid to enter the Land?

 

God does not talk about the land in the future tense. In verse 8 God says ‘I have given you this land’. It’s a past action that has already been completed. God promised that land to Abraham over 400 years ago. It is theirs for the taking. All they have to do is march in and take it. The same offer was made to them 40 years ago but fear and circumstance stopped them from receiving God’s promise.

 

Often we too are shaped by fear and circumstance, aren’t we? We see the situation and we are afraid. Fear stops us from walking in God’s paths and from receiving God’s promises. Often because of fear, we devise our own plans and retreat from the Word of the Lord. How often have we failed to speak out the gospel of salvation because of fear? How often have we hidden our Christ light because fear gripped our heart? How often have we failed to pray for someone because our hearts were convinced that God would NOT answer?

 

God, my brother or sister, is a faithful God.  If he has promised something then he will carry it through to completion. You and I have nothing to fear. We have nothing to worry about. We have no circumstance to cower from or to run away from. Why don’t you work out what things or situations cause you to fear and to cower away and then pray about them? Give them over to God, confessing each one and pray for strength and courage.

 

 

Prayer and Praise.

¥ Spend time praising God for his victory over sin and death through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Praise God that you have nothing to fear. Praise God that he is Lord over all, even the things or situations you fear.

¥ Pray for the Committee of Management this year. Ask God to grant this group great wisdom and diligence as they oversee many projects and plan many  things. Pray that finances will be adequate to meet all our needs. Ask God to bless this group with great productivity.

¥ Pray for the outreach events we are planning this year. God has promised that everyone who believes in Jesus shall not perish but have eternal life. Pray that we would see many people come to faith in Christ as we reach out with the gospel message.

¥ Pray for our upcoming church in the park event. Pray for many visitors, conversions etc.