02/11/2017
DAILY MANNA, FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3, 2017
HE NEVER FAILS.
TEXT: 2 SAMUEL 22: 11-23.
KEY VERSE: “ They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the LORD was my stay ” (2 Samuel 22:19).
David Livingstone, the foremost missionary to Africa, confidently proclaimed, " I go through the hazards of Africa and Jesus is by my side... without Christ, not one step; with Him, anywhere!" Ruth Bryan, the virtuous Puritan author wrote " My precious Jesus is my rest and refreshing, in all my weariness. As I lean on Him, I triumph!"
In our text, David spoke of how God delivered him from all his enemies and upheld him in times of trouble. David triumphed because he was obedient to God's statutes and made the Lord his Companion in time of trouble. Records abound of many saints of old who greatly enjoyed and testified to the steadfastness of Christ's companionship, especially when all human help proved worthless.
It is futile to try to seek true companionship in money, position, power, occultism, materialism or alcoholism. A wealthy business tycoon once let out his frustration thus: " I have everything money can buy except peace of mind". A celebrity regretted that " I had my ways of hiding my pain - laughing when there was nothing to laugh at; smiling when there was nothing to smile about. That was just my way of getting through life. Pretending like everything was okay. I guess I did it so well that I really began to believe it. I fooled myself. Using my escapism was my thing not to feel my pain - whatever would numb the pain... just because you have money doesn't mean you can't feel worthless, just because people consider you beautiful doesn't mean that you feel that way..."
Anyone - father, mother, siblings, spouse, children, neighbours, friends and some church members - can disappoint when one needs them most due to inherent limitations in terms of ability, knowledge, understanding and resources. But Jesus will never fail you; He does not have such limitations.
THOUGHTS FOR TODAY: When all you have is God, then you have all you need.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: ISAIAH 9-12.
PONDER: Reflect on the great things God did for David and the conditions he met in the text and observe God's dealings with you is the same.
HYMN: Rejoice in the Lord
1Rejoice in the Lord! O let His mercy, cheer,
He sunders the bands that enthral;
Redeemed by His blood, why should we ever fear,
Since Jesus is our “all in all?”
Refrain:
“If God be for us, if God be for us,
If God be for us,
Who can be against us,
Who, who, who?
Who can be against us, against us?”
2 Be strong in the Lord! Rejoicing in His might,
Be loyal and true day by day;
When evils assail, be valiant for the right,
And He will be our strength, our stay. [Refrain]
3 Confide in His Word, His promises so sure;
In Christ they are “yea, and amen”;
Tho’ earth pass away, they ever shall endure,
‘Tis written o’er and o’er again. [Refrain]
4 Abide in the Lord, secure in His control,
‘Tis life everlasting begun;
To pluck from His hand the weakest, trembling soul,
It never, never can be done! [Refrain]
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lord I praise you for delivering me from the wicked in all my journeys with you.
2. Give me faith and power that supersede the strength of my adversaries.
3. Let your fire of the Holy Spirit be in me and surround me so that I will be a threat to my adversaries.
4. Deliver the ministers in the church from their strong enemies that threaten their effectiveness in service.