Thursday, 9th May 2024
Bible Reading: Psalm 27:5; 50:15
Memory Verse: Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation. Psalm 68:19 (BSB)
Life will sometimes happen! There is this story of a young lady who was from a dysfunctional background. Her dad was dead and her mother was unable to conveniently foot her bills at the University. She decided to keep herself pure and holy on campus, but the pressures were gradually getting to her as university registration was fast closing. This lady had a roommate who was from a motherless babies’ home hence, she had learnt very early in her life to depend on God, and God always came through for her.
Her testimonies of God’s miraculous provisions fell on deaf ears, and this dear sister gave up at the nick of time, and, for the first time, ventured into prostitution. Friends, don’t be too quick to judge her. We all need the mercies of God in the face of obvious challenges, pressing needs and societal pressures. However, the scripture is superior to any explanation or circumstances: If you fail in the day of trouble, your strength is small. There is a day called the Day of Trouble when your convictions are going to be tested.
There is a pressure that will someday appear to choke your faith. May your convictions stand strong in the Lord, in Jesus name. You see, for some people, the Oil of grace upon their head is such that no one save their husbands must copulate with them. Else, they may never recover from such experience. That was the Nazarene rite upon this sister. Unknown to her, the man whom she slept with was on an evil assignment.
Unmarried brothers and sisters, please practice abstinence till the end. Keep your virginity (I hope you know that virginity is not for the female folks only). Don’t lose your virginity for any reason. Few weeks later, her body began to decay while she was still alive, and she eventually died. What killed her? Unfortunately, not the pressure of school fees! Her spiritual strength was small. She fainted in the day of trouble.
Her convictions fell flat at the face of human challenges common to all men. Will your anchor hold in the time of trouble? Cry for the mercies of God today. Cry to God to help you even if you overcomed yesterday’s pressure life threw at you. We all need daily release of grace. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden, the God of our salvation”. Psalm 68:19 (BSB).
Quote: Smile in trouble, learn to gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. It is the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their godly conduct in the face of cheap compromise will pursue their principles unto death.
Prophetic Decree: May the grace and mercy of God hold your hands firmly in the day of trouble.
Prayer Focus
1. Sing the hymn, “Will your anchor hold in the storms of life” on page 103.
2. I break the yoke of compromise in my service unto the Lord, in Jesus name.
3. O Lord, establish my convictions in You, in Jesus name.
4. River of life, water the seed of my convictions for righteousness and godly living, in Jesus name.
5. My Father, help me not to fail you in the day of trouble, in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Samuel 8-9, 1 Chronicles 18
Hymn: WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD IN THE STORMS OF LIFE
1. Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift or firm remain?
Chorus
We have an anchor that keeps the soul.
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.
2. It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,
For ’tis well secured by the Savior’s hand;
And the cables passed from His heart to mine,
Can defy the blast, through strength divine.
3. It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,
When the breakers have told the reef is near;
Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.
4. It will surely hold in the floods of death,
When the waters cold chill our latest breath;
On the rising tide it can never fail,
While our hopes abide within the veil.