January 15
Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4 Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day Ps 25:1-5 (KJV).
What is integrity? However, according to Advanced Learner’s Dictionary and some other dictionaries I consulted, here are my findings- “Possession of firm principles”; “completeness” or “wholeness” etc. Then here come some questions I will like you to answer. Can God fail? Is it possible for Him to abandon His own? Can my sins stand between me and Him? This and many other questions might be asked by God’s generals and His faithful’s in some desperate moments of their lives especially when either them or their beloved ones is face to face with death and it seems as if God is far or away on a mission.
I dare again to ask you, can God fail? I will want us to consider the messages below to truly confirm the integrity of God and His promises to His beloved ones:
“Do as thou hast said.” 2Samuel 7:25
God’s promises were never meant to be thrown aside as waste paper; He intended that they should be used. God’s gold is not miser’s money, but is minted to be traded with. Nothing pleases our Lord better than to see His promises put in circulation; He loves to see His children bring them up to Him, and say, “Lord, do as Thou hast said.” We glorify God when we plead His promises.
Do you think that God will be any the poorer for giving you the riches He has promised? Do you dream that He will be any the less holy for giving holiness to you? Do you imagine He will be any the less pure for washing you from your sins? He has said “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Faith lays hold upon the promise of pardon, and it does not delay, saying, “This is a precious promise, I wonder if it be true?” but it goes straight to the throne with it, and pleads, “Lord, here is the promise, ‘Do as Thou hast said.'” Our Lord replies, “Be it unto thee even as thou wilt.”
When a Christian grasps a promise, if he do not take it to God, he dishonours Him; but when he hastens to the throne of grace, and cries, “Lord, I have nothing to recommend me but this, ‘Thou hast said it;'” then his desire shall be granted.
Our heavenly Banker delights to cash His own notes. Never let the promise rust. Draw the word of promise out of its scabbard, and use it with holy violence. Think not that God will be troubled by your importunately reminding Him of His promises. He loves to hear the loud outcries of needy souls. It is His delight to bestow favours. He is more ready to hear than you are to ask.
The sun is not weary of shining, nor the fountain of flowing. It is God’s nature to keep His promises; therefore go at once to the throne with “Do as Thou hast said.” What do you have to say now that you have read the above message? I may not know what you are going through at the moment but I want to reassure you that same God Almighty, who snatched me twice from the cold hands of death within a week will visit you and settle whatsoever you are going through. Don’t ever give up! A further consideration on what our brother David did when he was confronted with his enemies will be of help:
“But I give myself unto prayer.” Psalm 109:4
Lying tongues were busy against the reputation of David, but he did not defend himself; he moved the case into a higher court, and pleaded before the great King Himself. Prayer is the safest method of replying to words of hatred. The Psalmist prayed in no cold-hearted manner, he gave himself to the exercise—threw his whole soul and heart into it—straining every sinew and muscle, as Jacob did when wrestling with the angel. Thus, and thus only, shall any of us speed at the throne of grace.
As a shadow has no power because there is no substance in it, even so that supplication, in which a man’s proper self is not thoroughly present in agonizing earnestness and vehement desire, is utterly ineffectual, for it lacks that which would give it force. “Fervent prayer,” says an old divine, “like a cannon planted at the gates of heaven, makes them fly open.” The common fault with the most of us is our readiness to yield to distractions. Our thoughts go roving hither and thither, and we make little progress towards our desired end.
Like quicksilver our mind will not hold together, but rolls off this way and that. How great an evil this is! It injures us, and what is worse, it insults our God. What should we think of a petitioner, if, while having an audience with a prince, he should be playing with a feather or catching a fly?
Continuance and perseverance are intended in the expression of our text. David did not cry once, and then relapse into silence; his holy clamour was continued till it brought down the blessing. Prayer must not be our chance work, but our daily business, our habit and vocation. As artists give themselves to their models, and POETS to their classical pursuits, so must we addict ourselves to prayer.
We must be immersed in prayer as in our element, and so pray without ceasing. Lord, teach us so to pray that we may be more and more prevalent in supplication.
It may surprise you where I am writing this message from but I cannot let today go without doing my Father’s work having spared my life again. It was while meditating on the recent happenings in my life on the bed that this topic dropped into my heart (when I regained myself, I picked up my bible to enquire of the Lord and He gave me some scripture out of which am going to share this with you Prov 21:30-31-There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord. Finally, as I sat to write the Holy Spirit addressed the whole situation with the message you have just read.
Dearly beloved, whatever it may be, remember prayer remains the way out and through. He promised to STRENGHTEN and HELP you, without His REVELATION you cannot go too far and today He had proved HIMSELF STRONG on your behalf and on my behalf that HIS INTEGRITY NEVER FAILS (Ps 34:6-7).
Don’t forget that this year remains your year of “Divine Favour” and also your year of “Vengeance to your Enemies” (Isa 61:2 )so all the stubborn pursues The Lord will visit according (Isa 49 : 24 -26). Remember me in your prayers for good.
For indeed, GOD NEVER FAILS; HIS INTEGRITY IS INTACT.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Evang. Ifeoma Ohondu
