2 Timothy 2:13 (AMP) “If we are faithless [do not believe and are untrue to Him], He remains true (faithful to His Word and His righteous character), for He cannot deny Himself.”

DAILY READING – – John 10:1-21; 2 Chronicles 8; Psalm 73

Open Doors USA is a Christian organization that monitors persecution of Christians in the world’s most oppressive countries.
On March 1, 2017 they featured the story of a Syrian man named Meghrik, who had a miraculous escape from the terrorist group, ISIS.
Though born into a Christian home Meghrik had grown up and rejected his parents teaching and stopped being a Christian.
One day, a friend of his challenged him about his unbelief and told him to ask God to do something that would proof His existence to him.
A month later, Meghrik got into a bus full of travelers on the way from Aleppo, Syria to the smaller city Al-Qamishli in the far northeast of the country.
After some hours, they approached a checkpoint controlled by fighters of Islamic State. Three of the terrorists entered the bus and began to check the passengers’ ID cards. When they took Meghrik’s ID card and saw his name, they accused him of being a Christian. Though he denied it, they took him down from the bus and allowed the other passengers to continue their trip.
Meghrik was paralyzed by fear, knowing the reputation of ISIS.
After examining him, they told him he had been sentenced to death and was thrown into a room that served as his prison cell. Hours later, he was driven to an open area with dugout graves and was pushed into one of the graves. Soon Meghrik heard the sound of loading weapons as they prepared to shoot him. But in those last moments, as tears ran down his cheeks, he suddenly, remembered his friend’s challenge to pray and ask God to prove His existence. So he cried out in the grave to God “If you exist, let me live. Please give me a chance to get to know You,”.
Mistaking his words to mean a desire to convert to Islam, the fighters then brought him out and took him back to the cell. Meghrik knew God had saved him and then began to pray to God to enable him to be totally released.
On the tenth day of his imprisonment, Meghrik was miraculously released and walked out a free man. He knew beyond doubt that God had heard his prayers and truly proved His existence to him.

The story of Meghrik is a picture of how the riches of God’s grace and mercy can show up when least deserved.
Sometimes we may have to deal with the consequences of neglecting our relationships with God. But even at those times, God’s grace and mercy never forsakes us.
At some point in his life, King David fell very low. He was guilty of adultery, deception, and murder. After God forgave and restored him, he wrote in Psalm 40:1-3 [NIV]
“He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord”
Despite his shortcomings, God turned king David’s mess into a message and his greatest test into a testimony.
God’s grace is the bridge that overrides our mistakes and ushers us into a bright new day. No matter how deep the pit, God’s exceeding grace is able to rescue us.
God is too faithful to fail. When we are weak, He is strong and He will never leave us nor forsake us.
We are all products of God’s amazing grace. This is why we must constantly appreciate and celebrate His faithfulness, goodness and mercies in our lives.
However, we must not take God’s grace for granted so that we do not become grounded. We must learn from our mistakes and determine to daily draw strength from God’s Word and walk in line with His will.
Walking outside of God’s will can lead to failures, defeats and tragedies. But when we walk in obedience to His divine instructions, we will see great manifestations of His power in our lives and endeavors. However, while following God sincerely, if for any reason, we miss our steps and cry out to Him, He will surely deliver us from every pit. Anytime we call upon Him, His grace will be sufficient for us, His mercy will cover us and His favour will lift us to greater heights.

PRAYER
Lord, I thank You for always being my ever present help in the time of need. I know that even right now, Your grace and mercy are working in my life to lift me out of every low place and take me to my high places in Jesus’ Name.
QUOTE
It takes a heart for God to make a mark in the sands of time. – WORDBITE 201.