God's
Shadow Promise Word
(July 2020)
IN THIS I WILL BE CONFIDENT
Though an army
encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I
will be confident (Psalm 27:3)
One
half of the year is past. Another half has just begun. The year, so far, has been a roller-coaster ride of sorts disproving
all the predictions and forecasts of astrologers, prophets and seers alike. Never we imagined that a pandemic would strike and alter the
lives of millions of people across the globe in a matter of few months. Having
swept the first six months, only God knows, how far this virus will sail in
the days, months and years to come. How long will this last? How it is going to be? Will we ever survive? Am I really safe? What will happen to me? How is my future going to be? These are some questions that galore in the
minds of people.
Education,
employment, business, trade and even personal economy has gone topsy-turvy owing
to this pandemic uproar. Many a families
that were leading a decent life are nnow struggling to make both ends meet. Businesses
are shut. Projects are shelved. Future
looks bleak to many aspirants.
No
doubt, this disease or its socio-economic consequences has affected the normal
life of ours as well as our loved ones. None
of us, today, can say they are super-immune to face the attack of any frightful
virus or financial debacle.
When
Jesus called his disciples, he never saw them as one in the crowd. He carved an unique identity for them: Light
of the World and Salt of the world. . He
further said, "In the world, you shall have tribulation". The that follows him, follows him sincerely
and truly, will have to face very many challenges during their life-time in the
form of tests, trials, tribulations, sufferings and sicknesses. The flip side is, Jesus said, "Be
of good cheer. I have overcome the world" What it means, like Jesus you too can. Yes we
can also overcome! Amen.
Christian
life can be compared to a sea voyage. Boisterous
winds and galloping waves are guaranteed. But, there is some one to guide, to row, to take us to the other
shore. He is the one who begins the race. He is the one who is going to help
you finish the same, successfully . The
journey will be adventerous so long as Jesus is the captain of your ship.
With
the whole world shrouded in thick darkness of uncertainty, one cannot predict on how the end 2020 going
to be. But I can say one thing, with all
certainty. What is that? Read on…
Lessons from Psalm
27
It
is easy to overpower a visible enemy.
But it is not that easy to destroy in invisible virus. The world has learnt this lesson, quite
well. Even the Bible says that our
enemies are not men with flesh and blood.
They are powers of darkness that work behind them. The world is yet to find a vaccine to extinguish
the spread of virus. But a vaccine, an
anti-drug, a weapon to combat and crush the evil forces which work in the dark
has reached us several hundred years before.
Our weapon is the Word of God. Hallelujah! Jesus said, my word is spirit and life.
Psalm
27 was penned at a time when David was engulfed by a life-threatening danger, an uncertain
situation. I believe that the lessons
learnt by David is going to be our promise.
We may not explore the whole Psalm now.
Nevertheless, I would like to take a promise word and share the essence, treasure and beauty as
found in Psalm 27 for our blessing, for this new month and for the months to
come.
In
that difficult situation how it was possible for David to say, "In this
will I be confident" ?
My fear
…Though an army
encamp against me, my heart shall not fear (27:3)
When
Covid 19 started showing up its face, somewhere in our neighbouring countries,
we did not think much about it. When it landed
in our country, we were not perturbed. When
it started trickling down, in our cities, we were little over-confident. We thought it won't travel far. But now,
disproving all presumptions, what began as a mole-hill has turned into a mountain. The severity of spread and the deaths, is
beginning to trouble our hearts. The
electronic and social media are only adding
fuel to the fire, by raising more
doubts and questions. "If this could be the fate of a VIP, what about
us?". "Now that it has
reached my neighor, will it knock on me
next?" If not panic, there is certainly
anxiety, an uneasiness. Fear is real. However much we say, preach or teach, FEAR
will certainly sneer at us, touch us. In
today's scenario, one cannot prevent a virus entering into our body. The fact is that, even if it enters, our
strong immune system will annhilate the same.
Fear is also like that. It will
touch our hearts. Not just about a
virus. About our children, about our future, about our job, about our business,
about our ministry etc., etc., Our plate
is full with many things to fear. But we
are called to overcome fear. It is true that David sings,
"Whom shall I fear? Whom shall I be afraid?". Does it mean that David did not fear? No. On
the contrary, he was actually combating fear.
In Psalms 56:3 we read David exclaiming, "What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee". That means, even in the life of David,
there comes a day, an hour, a time when he is trembling with fear. I am not prophesying that you will fear. I am only saying that you cannot escape fear. Fear should
be he handled. Fear should be conquered. Thrown into the sea of fear, one must know how
to swim against the tide and reach the shore.
Fear should not drown us. Peter,walking
on the water, feared sea and cried out in despair. Rebuking him for his
unbelief Jesus did not let him sink, he lifted him. The same Jesus who pulled Peter out will pull
you too from the ocean of uncertainty, anxiety, despair and gloom.
My focus
When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face,
LORD, will I seek (Psalms 27:8)
It
was not David's self-confidence that overcame fear. Self-confidence is good. These days, this virus has taken the lives of
even the so called stalwarts and leaders.
They say fear diminishes our immunity.
It is true. At the same time, if
we do not handle the fear (instead of
hiding, pretending, covering), it may
develop into a spirit, a tool in the hand of the devil to demoralize us.
Since
the vision of Peter shifted from the one who called him to walk (on the water)
to the sound of dangerous winds and waves, he
trembled. How, in Psalm 27, the focus
of David shifted from fear to faith?
The decisions, the steps, the change of actions mooted by David teach to
us a lesson or two.
a.Seeking his
presence
..that I may dwell in the house of the LORD (27:4)
The encampment of
enemy denotes that the danger or the 'fear
of danger' is round the corner.
Almost tightening its noose. The first-aid that David could think of was
running into the tabernacle of God, his hiding place. The church buildings may be shut, not God's
presence. The Bible says God is a
spirit and those who worship him should worship him in 'spirit and truth', not
in temples. In our homes, our own prayer closets, we can invite and feel
his presence. The Kingdom of this
world urges us to 'Stay home. Stay safe'. The Kingdom of God commands us to
"Stay home. Stay in HIS presence".
b.Singing his
praise
I will sing and
make melody to the LORD. (27:6)
Just as herbs and
other natural resources are helping us to fight Corona, there is one potent tool which has the power
to powder the enemies. It is our "Praise and Worship". At all the times, we should be singing songs
of praise magnifying God. When last did
you sing or hum a spiritual song? a song of praise? "I will bless the LORD
at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth". Let this become
your daily refrain.
c.Searching his
purpose
Hide not thy face
far from me; (27:9)
There is a saying: "Face is
the index of mind". Seeking His face means seeking his mind, seeking the will of God. We can see that in a healthy husband-wife relationship. At times, even a husband's little wink would
carry a meaning of thousand words to his wife. In the same way, instead of searching
God's hand(for what he gives)we should seek His face(for what he thinks). What does his face convey? My omissions? my
commissions? my transgressions?. What is
God's will concerning me? Instead of
asking God to do this, do that we must
ask, "Lord, what must I do?".
Instead of exclaiming "Lord, I will do this for you", we must say "Lord,
I surrender". We must pray and ask God to search our hearts.
My finding
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall
strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD (Psalms 27:14)
In
the middle of all dangers and despondencies, David did face fear. But the despairing Psalmist shifted his
focus to God's presence. Singing songs
of praise, he quickly turned to seek God's will concerning his life. The man, troubled and tossed by fear gets a
revelation that his 'heart' will be established by God. He realizes that he can overcome his adversaries,
not by his strength, not by his might, not by his knowledge, but by the
strength of God.
The
God of David, will reveal himself to you.
Maybe your heart is filled with fear, anxiety, worry, confusion and
depression not because of this virus but
due to this unending uncertainty. Maybe an issue that is much deadlier than
even virus. May be an enemy. The God of David is our God too. This is God's word for you. In the name of Lord Jesus Christ, I declare to you the "prophetic words" as found in the scriptures. Cathch
hold of this. Herein lies the secret to overcoming fear.
1.God, My Light
God
will reveal himself as a light that drives away all the works of darkness in
your life. Amen!
2.God, My Salvation
Salvation
here means deliverance. He will reveal
himself as a saviour who delivers you from all sicknesses, weaknesses,
struggles and every other captivity. Halleluah!
3.God, My Strength
My
knowledge, my talent, my finance, my gifts, my skills are not going to be my strength,
anymore. I am a weak person. But in my weaknesses his strength shall be
made perfect.
We
hear around us hopeless statements, questions, debates which make us wonder as
to what is going to be now? Are we ever going
to rise up?
Many
have left (are leaving) the city fearing
that they will not be able to survive this pandemic if they continue here. There are some, who have back-slidden: mentally,
emotionally, spiritually from Jesus. But
take heart! God has not given up on you.
You and I, instead of lamenting, "What am I going to do Lord?"
should declare boldy "In this I will be confident".
Amen and Amen. In what? He will never
leave us, nor forsake us. He will change
all the evil for our good.
Even
if I am surrounded by enemies, even if my body is giving away, even if I am
betrayed by my loved ones, In God, I
will be confident (Psalms 27:2,3). Even
if my flesh and my heart gives away, God
will forever be my rock and my portion. In this will I be confident (Psalms
73:26) He is a shield to those who trust in him (Psalms 18:30)
He is my light, He
is my salvation, He is my strength.
None
who trusteth in HIM will perish. Be
strong and of good courage!
May
God bless you,
Your
beloved brother in Christ
Vinod
Kumar
God's Shadow
Ministries
9840011374, 9840995057
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