Psalm 34:6 

‘this poor man cried and The Lord heard him and delivered him out of his troubles.’
DAILY READING – John 8:21-47; 2 Chronicles 2:17-5:1; Malachi 1:1-2:9
The relationship between Israel and Palestine is rooted in conflict. This has resulted in several bloody clashes in the past. Consequently, the Israeli Defense Force [IDF] often warns Israeli soldiers to keep away from Palestinian  neighborhoods  considered volatile.  One of the ways soldiers are alerted to keep off from such dangerous zones is through Google navigation app called Waze which was invented by Israel. This smartphone app gives Israeli drivers updated traffic routes and also has a setting which sends multiple warnings to alert them if they are entering areas considered dangerous. However despite these precautions, a number of soldiers have often mistakenly strayed into dangerous Palestinian areas, with some of them encountering violence.

Recently the Jerusalem Post carried news of how two Israeli soldiers accidentally strayed into the Palestinian Kalandiya neighborhood north of Jerusalem on a Monday night. 

They found themselves surrounded by a rioting mob that threw rocks at their vehicle. As these soldiers continued driving, Molotov cocktails were thrown at them, setting their vehicle on fire. At that stage, the soldiers escaped their vehicle and split up running for safety. They were able to find a place of hiding from where they called for help. The IDF and the Border Police immediately launched a dramatic rescue operation to extract these soldiers. However the rescue operation later turned into a gun battle between Palestinian gunmen and the security forces. The IDF Central Command dispatched large numbers of forces to Kalandiya as reinforcement. And through maintaining cell phone contact with the soldiers, their positions were eventually located and they were rescued. 

By straying into the wrong neighborhood, these soldiers had created problems for the IDF. However, though the IDF didn’t immediately understand how the soldiers got there, and would later carry out an investigation, their first inclination was to rescue them and ask questions later. 

The same way when we miss God’s leading and find ourselves in trouble, God’s first inclination is our deliverance.  

In the journey of life we can get lost if our inner GPS malfunctions, and due to lack of spiritual sensitivity, we may find ourselves in trouble. But in those times, we shouldn’t run from God but rather run to Him. When we cry out in trouble, God is committed to delivering us. 

Psalm 34:6 says ‘this poor man cried and The Lord heard him and delivered him out of his troubles.’

We may sometimes take wrong turns, but what matters is not that we missed it, but rather how we react afterwards. In those times, the enemy may bring railing accusations that tend to drown us in guilt and condemnation. 

But we have to realize that God is more interested in our rescue than our condemnation. His desire is that we draw closer to Him, so that by His Spirit He can lead us back to the right track. 

We serve the God of a second chance, who prefers to mend rather than to rend. God’s commitment in Christ is to mend, heal  and help us along the way, as we travel on this journey of life. God is a potter who is able to turn that which is marred into something amazing. 

He is able to restore us if we miss the way. 

Therefore as we run this race, let us constantly rely on God’s grace, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Let us learn always to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. 

No matter where you may have strayed, or missed the way, seek God’s face, through prayer and study of His Word. By the help of The Spirit, get back on track and keep moving forward. 

Proverbs 24:16 says ‘for the righteous falls seven times and rises again.’ 

If you failed through sin, then you need to, repent, and lay hold of God’s forgiveness. You need not drown in guilt or become blinded to God’s mercy. You can always swim back to shore, helped by the incoming tide of God’s grace.

Indeed, it is by His grace that the race is made great.
PRAYER: Father, I need Your grace constantly as I travel on this journey of life. No matter what trials or temptations may come my way, please help me to keep moving forward. May Your grace always be sufficient for me in  Jesus Name.
QUOTE : 

For you to enjoy victory in the Kingdom of God, you need to develop a Kingdom mindset, that thinks in line with the Word of God.  – WORDBITE 222.