Isaiah 45:2 ‘I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:’

DAILY READING – John 8:1-20; 2 Chronicles 1:1-2:16; Zechariah14

Oswald J. Smith died in January 1986. Just prior to his death, he said, “there is something within me calling, ever calling. ..It is that irresistible ‘must go.’ The divine fire burns within my heart.”

Indeed this divine fire was what made him not to be stopped by the many disappointments that came his way, during his lifetime. In 1920, as a young man, Oswald Smith, wanted to go to the mission field and serve as a missionary. However, several mission boards turned him down because they were concerned about his health. Smith was disappointed but not distracted from his vision of reaching people for Jesus Christ. Again, as a ministerial student , he suffered great pain and disappointment when his marriage engagement was broken off, this was perhaps the most emotionally devastating event Smith ever faced. However, amid despair he wrote some of his most memorable poetry, focusing explicitly on intimacy with God.

Through seeking God’s face, he received the vision to begin a new ministry; ‘The People’s Church’ in Toronto, Canada. This Church eventually sent out more missionaries than any other church at that time. He also later met and married a wife who suited him in every way. Despite the pain and disappointments of the past, because he relied on Christ, God turned it all around for him.

Smith wrote profusely, eventually authoring thirty-five Books, which would be translated into 125 languages and sell over six million copies worldwide. He also composed over one thousand hymns and poems. Indeed God transformed his disappointment into a great blessing, because he refused to give up.

Often times, disappointing things may happen in life that you will not immediately understand, but if you’ll keep the right attitude, and count it all joy, it’ll push you further into your destiny. Anyone who is getting ahead in life will be confronted by setbacks at one time or the other. But the difference between the winners and losers is the way they react to such situations.

We can always see a way out when we come to God in praise. Praise is essential for us to walk in God’s divine will and plan.

Sometimes it may seem as if you are in a night season of life and everything looks dark and hopeless, but there will always be a way out when you turn on the switch of praise. When you don’t know what to do, just give God praise. Keep your gaze on Jesus, keep judging Him faithful and keep counting it all joy. Praise brings God’s Presence, because God inhabits the praises of His people. And when God comes, you will experience a supernatural change of story.

No matter how tough things sometimes seem, always remember God is still on the throne. He is in control. He alone has the final say over your life. Weeping may have endured for the night but your joy is coming. And as you continue to trust in God, He will surely turn things around in your favor.

God said in Isaiah 45:2 ‘I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:’

God is your way maker. He will go ahead of you to destroy every barrier to your progress. He will indeed turn every disappointment into a blessing for you and what He has started in you, He will surely complete!

PRAYER: Lord, please strengthen me to persevere in praising You always and to always keep my focus on You. May I never allow setbacks to weigh me down, but rather by Your grace everything will work out together for my good in Jesus Name.

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