Lamentations 3:22
‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’
- DAILY READING Mark 14:32-72; 1 Kings 9; Hosea 11:1-11
God is always watching over us. The following story reveals how God is always watching over us, even when sometimes, we don’t seem to be aware of it.
In the late 19th century, the famous evangelist D.L. Moody, had a song leader called Ira Sankey. Sankey was an easily recognizable figure, because his pictures were often in the newspapers. During the Christmas Eve of 1875, he was traveling on a Delaware River steamboat. Some of the passengers on the boat recognized him and asked him to sing a hymn for them. Sankey obliged them and began to sing the hymn, “Savior Like a Shepherd Lead Us.”
When he finished singing, one of the passengers in the steamboat, said something quite surprising. He first asked Sankey if he had served in the union army during the American Civil War. Sankey said yes, he did. The man then asked, if he recalled ever singing while on a night duty in a particular area during the war. Sankey again answered yes. The man then said he had served in the opposing confederate army, and had recognized Sankey because of the song he just sang. He said years ago that song had prevented him from shooting Sankey. He said one day during the war, he had been hiding in the shadows when he saw Sankey doing picket duty, standing at his post. The full light of the moon was falling upon Sankey. He said he had raised his musket and took aim to shoot, but at that instant, Sankey raised his voice, and began to sing this same song. So the man decided to let him finish his song, before he would shoot him. But as he sang the song, the man said the words of the song stirred up many memories of his childhood and his God-fearing mother. She had many times sang that same song to him. This man was so moved by that song that when Sankey finished singing, it was impossible for him to shoot again, his arm on its own accord dropped limp at his side. He thought to himself, ‘The Lord who is able to save that man from certain death must surely be great and mighty.’
And so he departed without shooting Sankey.
When this man finished his tale, Sankey was utterly amazed, realizing how close, he had been to death; if it had not been for the grace of God. Lamentations 3:22 says ‘It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’
Many times we never how close we may have been to destruction. But somehow God’s grace preserved us. Indeed it is of The Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed. Psalm 124:2 says “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us;’
Indeed if it had not been for The Lord, we would have been dead and buried long ago. And as the year rounds up, now is a good time to look back and count our blessings. Some of the people who started out this year with us, are no longer in the land of the living. We are still here, not by power, not by might, but only by the grace and mercy of God. You know that some of the experiences you passed through this year could have killed you, yet you survived. Not because you were lucky, only because of God’s mercy.
Yes, you may have had some challenges, yet even in the midst of those troubles, God still gave His angels charge over you. You did not survive because of your smartness, you survived because of God’s love. Really if it had not been for the Lord who was on our side, where would we be?
Do you know how many arrows of the wicked were fired against you this year, and yet none of them found their mark?
That you are still here is an indication of God’s love. And even if your situation, is still not yet what you desire it to be, thank God that you are still alive. You still have hope. Ecclesiastes 9:4 says ‘For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.’
Yes, there may be so much that still needs to be done, there may be pressures coming from every side. But don’t forget, you can feel pressured only because you are still alive. A dead man has no blood pressure. So instead of complaining, rejoice and bless God. And as you do, He will turn your pressures into pleasure.
Habakkuk 3:17 -19 says ‘Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.’
Indeed God is good and very faithful. And no matter what things may look like right now, be assured that He is working it all out for you.
And if anything still remains undone, trust that God will still do it. You will finish well, you will finish strong. Faithful is He that called you, who also will do it.
As we count down to the new year, let us spend the remaining days of this year counting our blessings. And indeed we will see that God has been faithful. Let us therefore keep blessing and praising Him, because He is worthy. And even now, He is working everything for our good.
PRAYER: Lord indeed I am grateful for all you have done for me this year. As I count my blessings I am overwhelmed by Your faithfulness. I praise and bless you forever. And for whatever still remains undone, I know that even right now, you are working it all out for my good. I praise You for all your goodness in my life, past present and future. Thank You so much Jesus. .
quote
When you praise God despite your situation power is released for a raise. – WORDBITE 222.
[ADAPTED FROM THE BOOK SUPERNATURAL LOVE OF GOD.