Isaiah 43:2 ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee’

DAILY READING • Revelation 4; Nehemiah 5:1-7:4; Psalm 99

At a meeting of Baptist leaders in the late 1700s, a newly ordained minister, named William Carey stood up to say his mind. He began to argue the need for ministers to begin to embark on overseas missions in order to reach the heathen with the Gospel. But an older minister abruptly interrupted him and said, “Young man, sit down! You are an enthusiast. When God pleases to convert the heathen, he’ll do it without consulting you or me.”
The attitude of this older man represented the general complacency of many ministers at that time towards the spread of the Gospel. However, William Carey chose to stand out and make a difference.
Though greatly resisted, Carey gathered other missionaries and formed the Baptist Missionary Society. He planned to go to India to spread the Gospel, but the mission to India was not as glorious as he had imagined.
The British East India Company opposed their trip, they found it hard to sail until a Danish ship gave them passage to Calcutta. Then on arrival in India, Carey’s family faced extreme hardship. Carey worked tirelessly, yet could not make a single convert for the first seven years. Eventually his labour bore fruit, and in the course of his 41 year ministry in India, he would see many people convert to faith in Christ. When he died at 73 years old in 1834, he had seen the Scriptures translated and printed into forty languages, he had been a college professor, and had founded a college that still exists and thrives today.
Despite all the hardships he suffered which would have left him discouraged, Carey refused to allow that stop him from finishing his course. He stood out as one of God’s giants in the history of evangelism and is known today as the “Father of Modern Missions.”
His life inspired other great missionaries, who gave themselves for the spread of the Gospel. Missionaries like Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor, and David Livingstone, among thousands of others, were impressed not only by Carey’s example, but by his words. Carey was often quoted as saying “Expect great things; attempt great things.” This phrase in many ways captured the heart and vision of the nineteenth-century missionary efforts.

Indeed faith will always birth great expectation within you. It will cause you to see possibilities even in situation that look impossible.
As we pursue God’s destiny for us, we may sometimes be overwhelmed by the different trials that may come our way. But when our hearts are filled with faith, we will like Apostle Paul declare, ‘none of these things move me’. [Acts 20;24]
Paul’s central passion in life was that Christ will be honored and magnified, this was what made him to disregard difficulties. And this should be our central theme too.
We should always react to situations with the understanding that God is in control. God knows every setback and challenge you will ever have to face. And therefore instead of getting discouraged, always know that ‘the faithful One who called you, will also do it.’
When we decide to courageously stand out and fulfill God’s destiny for us, God commits Himself to walking with us and working through us. In Mark 16, when the disciples embarked on the assignment of preaching everywhere, the Bible declared ‘Jesus was working with them confirming the Word with signs following.’[Mark 16;20]
And no matter how difficult the road may get, God remains an ever present help in the time of need. And He is able to make a way for us even where there seems to be no way. Our concern should be to always ensure that we are focusing on God’s Word, so that our heart can be filled with the faith to overcome.
Just like Peter, as long as you can keep your eyes on Jesus, you can walk on the water. The storm will not stop you and the billows will not blow you away. When all is said and done, you will still be standing.
Indeed when you pass through the water and the fire, God will be there for you. He will surely see you through. He will arise for you and prevail for you. He will fight your battles for you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you.
Indeed He will perfect all that concerns you. He will put a new song in your mouth and set your feet upon the solid rock.

PRAYER: Lord, Please help me to know that You are always there to deliver me. No matter what I may face in life, I know I have the victory, because You will always cause me to triumph in Jesus Name. ….

Quote
The battle you are faced with today is a good warfare because God has already foreordained victorious end for you. WORDBITE 222