Providence [ Genesis 24 v 27]

While leaving my place of employment to go home I had to make two diversions,we don't like diversions,but they are usually necessary. Life itself is full of diversions ,we may not like it ,but then if we know Christ we are assured that God is leading us.I believe in the providence of God,I believe as one  writer puts it,/that everything in the world and in our own lives down to the minutest detail is ordered by the providence of God/.I commend to your reading,/The mystery of providence/ ,by John Flavel.If we can grasp by faith this wonderful truth then we begin to look at life in a different way.The diversions are Gods diversions,the joys and pains,deliverance's are in Gods hand.Flavel wrote,/by His hands are meant His providential administration and dispensation/ Why did I not get that job? why did I get that job?come under the providence of God.As we look  at life and seeing God in all things,we can know a peace,have we not all wondered why, why we made certain decisions,we prayed about it, but it did not turn out right.Why did I buy that particular car,which was nothing but trouble?,but I did,why did I not go to a Bible college which would have provided a better qualification?which would have opened doors for me.We are inclined to accept the providence of God as long as good things happen,but if all things work together for good for the child of God,[Romans 8v28],that includes the bad ,the good ,the ugly,then all will be well.
A prayer.../ Dear God we thank You for Your providential leading,the way You have led us may have been at times painful ,but necessary for are spiritual development.In your providence You open doors that no one can shut ,and shut doors no one can open,but in all things Your way is perfect,we pray this in Jesus name Amen

Standing on our own two feet.[ 2 Timothy 4 v 10-18 ]

Some people cannot stand as it were on their own two feet,take  king Joash[2 Chron24],he had been wonderfully preserved by God,and them anointed king of Judah. He was only seven when he became king,and under the influence of Jehoiada he ruled, we read that he did that which was right all the days of Jehoiada the priest.Joash appeared really enthusiastic for the things of God, but as soon as Jehoiada died he left of following God.Godly people can be an influence for good ,to a nation and to an individual.Consider the influence Joseph had in Egypt,or Moses ,or Paul the apostle,of the influence of Wesley,Spurgeon.We do not appear to have people of that calibre now.Where oh where are the Billy Graham's,it appears that when  these Godly people go the people soon leave the way of God,as Joash did. When any nation forgets God then that nation enters a downward path,that will only take them, further,and further away from the path of righteousness.The nation of Judah  moved from God, and suffered greatly,was the problem as my study bible points out,/As dependant as Joash was on Jehoiada,there is little evidence that he ever established  a real dependence on the  God Jehoiada  obeyed/?It appears to me that we all individually need to stand on our own two feet,it could be that God removes people from our lives in order that we may learn to depend on Him.
A  prayer..../Dear God we thank You for those godly people You have brought into our lives,but help us to see the importance of  standing on our own relationship with You in Jesus name Amen /

The 6 th of June, 1944. [ Revelation 5 v 9ff]

The 6th of June 1944, was one of the most significant days of the twentieth century,for it was on that day the long awaited second front took place,with the invasion of Normandy. The Russians where pushing the Germans back,and with the allies attacking through France it was the beginning of the end for Hitler and his monstrous crew.One can only imagine how absolutely  awful it would have been for this world if this invasion had failed. If the Nazi es had conquered the British Isles,it is unthinkable,what they would have done to the populace,one needs to read the history to appreciate,the wonderful deliverance that came about.So today raise a prayer of Thanksgiving to God for His mercy for the 6th of June 1944.But let us also remember another war,when the world lay under another tyrant called Satan,let us remember the battle that took place on an old rugged cross,and that lonely isolated person hanging on that cross,His name is Jesus,and by His death He defeated principalities and dark powers. In dying He made a way back to God for mankind,for you and for me,and so saving all those who trust in Him,delivering them,from Satan's  power,and sins bondage. If Christ had not died  then the consequence for all mankind would have been hopeless,so today if you know Jesus as Your Saviour ,raise a prayer of Thanksgiving,for so great salvation.
A   prayer..../Dear God we thank You for delivering the world from Nazism,and we thank You for Jesus and His victory on Calvary Amen/

It will work. [Psalm 23 ]

There was an old song which goes,/Why worry,why worry,worry gets you nowhere at all,/wise words, as a Christian I know this to be true ,but I still find myself worrying. Worry is  ongoing,today it may be financial,tomorrow it may be health problems,trouble with our neighbours,family worries,employment worries.[now I have you worried]. We are all in the same boat,so how are we supposed to cope with the problems of life?,we know what Gods word says.Alright, lets us both try something today,let us replace our worrying thoughts, with thoughts on what God word has to say.It is promise box time,yes it's promise box time,now before we dip into the promise box, let us ask God to give us a promise in relation to our worries. Consider, there is a precious promise for every situation in Gods word,now once we have the promise let us repeat it continually, and bring it to God, continually.Let that promise be like a song that we cannot get out of our head,but instead of the promise driving us crazy,it will be a medicine,that will begin to heal the pain caused by worry,it will work.
A  prayer..../ Dear God ,we acknowledge that we worry,and so help us to grasp by faith the word You would speak into our hearts today in Jesus name Amen /

Jehoshaaphat [ Revelation 2 v 1-7 ]

We read about  King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronucles17-20,he was king of Judah,remember Israel had become two nations,he reigned over Judah.Now the word of God tells us, that he sought to the Lord God of his Father,and walked in His commandments,and not after the doings of Israel[2 Chron 17v4] He sought the Lord God of his Fathers.Now godly fathers do not guarantee godly Children,and I am sure godly fathers would desire that their children would seek the Lord. Samuels sons where not Godly[1 Samuel 8 v2-3],but Samuel was,godliness is not transferrable,everyone needs to seek the Lord themselves,Jesse James the outlaw had a godly heritage.Next we see that he walked in His commandments,a relationship with the Lord,should affect our walk,our Saviour commanded us to love one another[John 15 v17].Next we read that he did not walk in the ways of Israel,who had, to a great degree forsaken God and His ways. All this is very good, Jehoshaphat was a perfect king, not so ,while he did not walk in the ways of Israel he became involved with them, making alliances with two of their kings,Ahab, and Ahaziah,even allowing his son to marry Ahabs daughter. All this had serious consequences , he nearly lost his life[2 Chron 17v18 v31]God delivered him,but he did not appear to learn a lesson from this,let us ask ourselves what lesson is God teaching us ?.His alliance with Ahaziah cost him financially[2 Chron20 v37].Lastly allowing his son to marry Ahabs daughter ,brought serious consequences to Judah after he died[cp. 2 Chron 22 v10 ff]
A prayer...... /Dear God help us to walk in all Your ways ,in Jesus name Amen /

Ichabod. [1 Samuel 4 v21]

We read about King Asa in 2 Chronicles 14-16.for most of his reign he did well,he sought to turn the people back to God,yes the so called people of God.As I listened to the radio recently, I was saddened by what I heard ,a denomination that was at one time,was a bulwark for the truth,now are accepting ministers with wrong practises, sinful practise's. It appears for so many Christian groups that all they have is their history, they have become  museums of the past.I like visiting museums but I don't want to live in one, Enoch walked with God,it was ongoing,  so many churches can rejoice in is their history.What applies to churches can apply to us as individuals,we once walked with God,we were faithful ,to the things of God,we loved to meet with Gods people,read the word of God,but now we are involved in things we would never have been involved in ,years ago. We think of ourselves as Christians,as many churches do but all it is , is a name,for so many Churches ,and individuals,the word Ichabod could be applied to them, Ichabod means,the glory  has departed.
A  prayer.../Dear God in wrath remember mercy,and in Thy mercy revive Your people, for Jesus sake Amen /

He can be relied upon. [ Joshua 1 v 5ff]

In 2 Chronicles13 v18. we read,/Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time,and the children of Judah prevailed, because they  relied upon the Lord  God of their fathers/.I like to think that I can be relied upon,but I may through circumstances,let others down. I wonder have you ever been let down,by your father or mother?. A friend of mine was cheated out of a partnership, by a friend,thankfully that did not destroy him.Jesus was let down by His disciples, Paul was also let down by His fellow labourer Demas[2 Timothy 4 v10] I have a reliable car,but so often in the past,those old cars that I had, let me down,you usually cannot rely on an old car. In Joshua 1 v 5 ,our Lord speaks to Joshua,with words of encouragement,/As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee,can we rely on God,to treat us as He treated Paul,or David, or  the disciples?,the answer is yes.. Next.../So I will be with you/,surely He will not always be there,no one is always there,not so ,He has given us His word,and He will always keeps His word.So many people have left wives,husbands,children.,they have forgotten their vows,but God will never forget His promise that He will always be with us[ Hebrews 13 v5 ] Nor forsake thee.../God will be with us in trouble,the prodigal[Luke 15] found himself with no friends when trouble came,our Saviour is not a good weather friend,He was with the disciples in the storm [Mark 4 v35 ff]
A  prayer ....../ Dear God we praise You that You are reliable, You will never fail us,we can rest in he fact that You always be with us,in the good times and in the bad times,You are,our forever Friend.,for which we praise  and thank You in Jesus name Amen/