I have had my moments where I was enjoying victory, being giddy, having fun, and then all of sudden, something more pressing came to confront me and rob me of that joy. It is amazing how quickly joy can be shut down.
And so the joy of victory was turned into sadness for all of David’s troops that day, because they heard that the king was mourning for his son. – 2 Samuel 19:2 GNT
LIfe can be strange that way – it makes for a rather unsteady life – I want, I don’t want; I pray and I don’t want the answer, or at least, not so – but thus, a crooked answer to a straight request. These are the times that I conquer such a life by the Spirit of God – it is when I pray and have it out with heaven. Then these words hit me too…
But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan’s messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. But his answer was: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak.” I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me. I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. – 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 GNT
My prayer continues in pleading with God for deliverance and I strive to keep them God-centred. I realize how much time I am spending on praying for myself and try to intervene on behalf of others so that His name may be honoured in their lives too.
But remember, O Lord, that your enemies laugh at you,
that they are godless and despise you.
Don’t abandon your helpless people to their cruel enemies;
don’t forget your persecuted people!Remember the covenant you made with us.
There is violence in every dark corner of the land.
Don’t let the oppressed be put to shame;
let those poor and needy people praise you.Rouse yourself, God, and defend your cause!
Remember that godless people laugh at you all day long.
Don’t forget the angry shouts of your enemies,
the continuous noise made by your foes. Psalm 74:18-23 GNT
The Psalmist teaches me to pray for the sake of God’s name and reputation, for the sake of His praise and for the sake of His covenant faithfulness.
Father, I pray that Your Kingdom come and will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Your name is I AM and I bow my knee before You and cry holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. You have proven Yourself in my life over and over again. Though I may find myself mourning, I know, deep in my heart and soul, that joy will come again in the morning. For that I bless You and love You always.
Erwin (evanlaar1922)
Sixty-six books in a year 