January 16
Praise Ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever. 2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can shew forth all his praise? 3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times. 4 Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; 5 That I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance. Ps 106:1-5 (KJV)
We are grateful unto You O God of mercy, who looked not upon our wretchedness but upon the blood of Your Son Jesus shed on the cross that we might live. Thanks be to You Most High God for Your victorious act amidst Your people, the people You chose for Your inheritance. Help us O Lord to be faithful unto the end, so that we might inherit Your promise – Eternal Life (Rev 2:10)
Beloved, yesterday, we considered the “Integrity of God at Stake” and we are glad to know that God’s integrity stand still as a Rock that cannot be shaken. I had peace, what about you, do you have peace or are you still worried about the somewhat unexpected turnout of events? Anyway not to worry cause your worry can’t change a thing and that is where we get it all wrong, when we don’t get to know our limits and tend to push as if we can change anything.
However, am glad to bring you good news this morning, that even our faintest call/ cry will be heard by God Almighty. In the midst of my crisis yesterday, I was calling the Name “Jesus” “Jesus” and when I got into the hospital eventually I was shouting somebody help me and there I was surrounded by helpers, He sent forth helpers to me and in no time I was revived and I was calmed.
Beloved, even when it seems that no one is near or help coming from men, call on Him (Jesus), He will send forth help to you. Make sure you send prayer ahead of you and He will perfect all that concerns you. The length of prayer notwithstanding.
So come along with me to consider the difference between the call of a needy one and the presumption of another in time of crisis. Which will you rather prefer to do?
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.” Joel 2:32
Why do I not call on His name? Why do I run to this or that neighbor when God is so near and will hear my faintest call? Why do I sit down, and devise schemes, and invent plans? Why not at once roll myself and my burden upon the Lord? Straightforward is the best runner — why do I not run at once to the living God? In vain shall I look for deliverance anywhere else; but with God I shall find it; for here I have His royal “SHALL” to make it sure.
I need not ask whether I may call on Him or not, for that word “Whosoever means me, it means anybody and everybody who calls upon God. I will therefore follow the leading of the text, and at once call upon the glorious Lord who has made so large a promise.
My case is urgent, and I do not see how I am to be delivered; but this is no business of mine. He who makes the promise will find out ways and means of keeping it. It is mine to obey His commands; it is not mine to direct His counsels. I am His servant, not His solicitor. I call upon Him, and He will deliver me.
So child of God which will you rather do, call on Him or presume that He will send help to you. Alright let also consider the message below for a balance conclusion:
“Beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:30
Sinking times are praying times with the Lord’s servants. Peter neglected prayer at starting upon his venturous journey, but when he began to sink his danger made him a suppliant, and his cry though late was not too late. In our hours of bodily pain and mental anguish, we find ourselves as naturally driven to prayer as the wreck is driven upon the shore by the waves. The fox hies to its hole for protection; the bird flies to the wood for shelter; and even so the tried believer hastens to the mercy seat for safety. Heaven’s great harbour of refuge is All-prayer; thousands of weather-beaten vessels have found a haven there, and the moment a storm comes on, it is wise for us to make for it with all sail.
Short prayers are long enough. There were but three words in the petition which Peter gasped out, but they were sufficient for his purpose. Not length but strength is desirable. A sense of need is a mighty teacher of brevity. If our prayers had less of the tail feathers of pride and more wing they would be all the better. Verbiage is to devotion as chaff to the wheat. Precious things lie in small compass, and all that is real prayer in many a long address might have been uttered in a petition as short as that of Peter.
Our extremities are the Lord’s opportunities. Immediately a keen sense of danger forces an anxious cry from us the ear of Jesus hears, and with Him ear and heart go together, and the hand does not long linger. At the last moment we appeal to our Master, but His swift hand makes up for our delays by instant and effectual action. Are we nearly engulfed by the boisterous waters of affliction?
Let us then lift up our souls unto our Saviour, and we may rest assured that He will not suffer us to perish. When we can do nothing Jesus can do all things; let us enlist His powerful aid upon our side, and all will be well.
We don’t need to be reminded that we must as matter of necessity make prayer our bedrock. Don’t wait until there is problem to start praying. Prayer puts you in-charge of every situation that might come your way. Just be assured that He will not only hear you when you call, even your faintest call will He also hear and answer.
Finally, thank you for all your prayers, I believed He heard you. He will also answer you when you call on Him.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Evang. Ifeoma Ohondu
