PRAYER OF DELIGHTDate: 13-08-2010
Speaker: Sis. Evangeline Paul Dhinakaran Gist: Prophet Nehemiah declares, “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength"
Delighting in the Lord means that we place our trust on HIM without any reservations. Job delighted in the Lord when he stated, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in HIM” (Job 13:15). The following verses by various saints of God confirm the same. The Psalmist says, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Prophet Nehemiah declares, “…for the joy of the LORD is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10).
There was a man called Billy Bray. Before he accepted Jesus as his personal Saviour, he was addicted to the evil habit of drinking liquor. Owing to the influence of alcohol, he would always stagger in his walk. Every evening his beloved wife would anxiously wait for him wondering, “Where is my husband now?” When it gets late she would go in search of him only to find him lying near a gutter. Then she would carry him back home.
However, when Billy Bray accepted Christ, he became a servant of God. He rejoiced always saying, “Glory Hallelujah”. He got only potatoes to eat but he offered thanks with a grateful heart even for such a meal. Since he had a longing to serve the Lord, he made a makeshift church in a thatched shed and gathered people there and worshiped the Lord. While he went to buy a table for that church he saw someone auctioning a cupboard.
He wanted to purchase that also for his church. Although he had only six dollars, he also took part in the auction. When he shouted six dollars for the cupboard, one of his neighbour offered seven dollars. Finally his neighbour got the cupboard. However, Billy Bray was very confident that God would somehow help him to get that cupboard. So he came out shouting, “Glory Hallelujah”.
Then he noticed his neighbour loading that cupboard in a vehicle in order to transport it to his house. Unfortunately the neighbour could not take it into his house as the cupboard was big but their door was small. Billy Bray smiled witnessing this scene. Since his neighbour could not take the cupboard into his house, he angrily told Billy Bray, “You better take this cupboard.” Billy Bray shouted, “Glory, Hallelujah” because he was happy to receive that cupboard without having to spend for transport charges.
Dear Friend! If only Billy Bray had got the cupboard in the auction, he would not have had money to pay for transporting it. The Lord, who knew his plight made his neighbour buy that cupboard and bring it to his house. Whether things are favourable to us or not, let us also rejoice in the Lord always just like Billy Bray and say, “Lord I praise You because You do everything for my good”. Then He shall fulfill all the desires of our heart.
Prayer:
Loving Lord
I firmly believe that You alone can fulfill the desires of my heart and make me happy. On this day I trust that those things which seem impossible for me is possible with You. You do great and might things without number that is beyond my comprehension. As Apostle Paul declared, help me also to say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” May Your joy alone be my strength always.
In Your precious name I pray.
Amen. |