FIVE UNDERSTANDABLE WORDS FOR TODAY:

“On whom are you depending?”  Isaiah 36:5

The trials of this world force us to make a decision. We are boxed into a corner. Each of us is manipulated to exhaust every known maneuver, skill, ability, resource, or contact. Then, when we have come to the end of ourselves, the end of human effort, the proverbial fork in the road where we have to choose the path… then we may come to consider this question Sennacherib’s field commander had posed to King Hezekiah’s representatives. The Assyrian king was using the question to taunt the Israeli’s before his impending assault on Jerusalem. The Assyrians had vanquished all other nations in the region and were now poised to conquer Israel. It’s an incredible story of Israel’s leader who humbled himself and sought God’s face… and God answered in a way that proved it was only God Who can intervene in such overwhelming odds. (Isaiah 36-37) 

Charles Spurgeon, noted theologian of the 19th century, when contemplating this question stated his convictions on the matter:

“I trust in a triune God. I trust the Father, believing that He has chosen me from before the foundations of the world; I trust Him to provide for me in providence, to teach me, to guide me, to correct me if need be, and to bring me home to His own house where the many mansions are.

I trust the Son: Very God of very God is He – the man Christ Jesus. I trust in Him to take away all my sins by His own sacrifice, and to adorn me with His perfect righteousness. I trust Him to be my Intercessor, to present my prayers and desires before His Father’s throne, and I trust Him to be my Advocate at the last great day, to plead my cause, and to justify me. I trust Him for what He is, for what He has done, and for what He has promised yet to do.

And I trust the Holy Spirit – He has begun to save me from my inbred sins; I trust Him to drive them all out; I trust Him to curb my temper, to subdue my will, to enlighten my understanding, to help my weakness, to illuminate my darkness; I trust Him to dwell in me as my life, to reign in me as my King, to sanctify me wholly, spirit, soul, and body, and then to take me up to dwell with the saints in light forever.”

Are you feeling like the Israeli king… a bit overwhelmed by the worlds assaults on you, your finances, your work, your family, or even your own inner conflicts with temptation and corruptions of all sorts? Take a lesson from history and let your requests be made known to God Who will go before you and fight your battles.

Dr. Spurgeon went on to say: “Oh, blessed trust! To trust Him Whose power will never be exhausted, whose love will never wane, whose kindness will never change, whose faithfulness will never fail, whose wisdom will never be nonplused, and whose perfect goodness can never decrease! Happy are you, reader, if this trust is yours! So trusting, you shall enjoy sweet peace now, and glory heareafter, and the foundation of your trust shall never be removed.”

God will fight our battles using His means, His people, and His provisions. We are in the midst of a spiritual war in our country. The definitions of marriage and sexuality are becoming increasingly more blurred, while the conflicts between racial and religious cultures escalate. There is so much bad news in the world that we have become numb to its effect on our psyche. Perhaps a bit of good news will light a spark of celebration and encouragement to you:

Recently, I spoke with a representative of a major credit card company linked with a national insurance provider. The rep's name is Sheila. While I was on the phone, I shared with her about my new book. She asked about it and I described it to her. Then we had a brief conversation about her son who is also published (twice!). Then she shared a GREAT story.

Sheila's son plays on a local high school football team in Springfield, MO. At the beginning of the season last year, the head coach informed the players that, due to the interpretation of the law, he could no longer lead the team in prayer before each game. So Sheila's son raised his hand and asked the question:
Does that mean that YOU can't lead the prayer or does that mean that no one can lead the prayer? (He's an astute young man with discernment!) The coach replied that he could not lead the team in prayer. Sheila's son then stepped up to the plate and volunteered to lead the team in prayer before each game, AND THE TEAM SUPPORTED HIS DECISION!!! God has blessed the team with no serious injuries last year, and none so far this year! Isn't that great!!!

I was grinning from ear to ear as Sheila told the story. I was praising God from my heart that He is working in the lives of young people to be intentional about the exercise of their faith. It's hard enough being a young person faced with all the assaults the world gives them today... and to stand and lead his team in prayer meant he was taking a stand for Christ. God bless him! Of course, it was also a blessing to hear this mom describe her son’s conviction and courage to stand for his Savior.

Hope you were blessed by this story! PLEASE SHARE IT!!!!