Our Faith and Frailty [Podcast]

In reading 1 Kings 19– 2 Kings 2, we are told of the faith and the human frailty of the Prophet Elijah. As I focused on his faith–he prayed for no rain for three years and his frailty–he ran away from Queen Jezebel, who threatened to kill him. Even so, he was translated without death, taken up in a fiery chariot to heaven, as witnessed by his successor, the prophet Elisha. I’ve come to realize that God is a loving, gracious, and merciful Heavenly Father.

Despite the masquerade of strength that we present to those around us, we are as naked babies before God. The Omnipotent Father God knows the depths of brokenness in our hearts. As we approach God for His divine intervention, we do not need to be ashamed of our weaknesses. There is no pretense with God. All He expects is for our prayers to reflect the honesty of our hearts. Yes, it is a humbling experience to admit that we cannot make it through life without God. Remember that God did not create us to live independently. He is Abba [Father] when we have a personal, intimate relationship with Him.

In the early church, there was a false concept that one should not suffer any physical or emotional disorders if one is genuinely a Christian believer. But Jesus revealed to the Apostle Paul that all of us have weaknesses.

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might be part for me. And he said to me, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, and persecution, in distress has, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Paul acknowledged [his and] humanity’s inherent character weaknesses and our constant need for God with humility. Jesus Christ imparts His strength and power to every believer that approaches Him in prayer. Praise God that we never have to think about God condemning or judging us when we ask for His help.

Casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. (1 Peter 5:7, Amplified Bible).

Prayer: Thank you, Abba–Heavenly Father that we can come boldly before your throne of grace for help. God, we ask you to resolve our dilemmas and remove our cares and anxieties. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

The Lord Forgives and Helps His Troubled People [Podcast]

Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. Psalm 2:12 (b) Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, There is no help for him in God. But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. Psalm 3:3-4

God spoke to the prophet Samuel that King Saul had stepped beyond His boundaries and He would appoint another King, “a man after God’s own heart.” “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart.” (1 Sam. 13:14).

Yes, young David was selected, anointed, and appointed by God to replace the disobedient King Saul when he was 15 years old. David was a meek shepherd boy who possessed the courage to kill wild animals and Goliath. Still, for the next 15 years, David lived a wilderness life. During that time, He became a man of war, which was necessary for the Nation of Israel to have a fearless leader to defeat the heathen nations.

Most are aware of his sin with Bathsheba. Yet, David committed another sin, the sin of pride and self-confidence. Because God blessed Israel to become prestigious in their military accomplishments, the people developed a spirit of conceit. Instead of giving honor and glory to God, King David and Israel strived for worldly greatness among the heathen nations.

The Census of Israel and Judah: “Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, ‘Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.'” (1 Chronicles 21:1-2 BSB).

For this sin of pride, David received this message from the prophet Gad:

God’s Judgment: “Then the Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, ‘Go and tell David, saying, Thus says the Lord: I offer you three things; choose one of them for yourself, that I may do it to you.’ So Gad came to David and said to him, ‘Thus says the Lord: Choose for yourself, either three years of famine, or three months to be defeated by your foes with the sword of your enemies overtaking you, or else for three days the sword of the Lord—the plague in the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel. Now consider what answer I should take back to Him who sent me.'” (1 Chronicles 21:9-12).

The Punishment: “So the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell.” (2 Chronicles 21:14).

God’s Love and Mercy: “And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was destroying, the Lord looked and relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, “It is enough; now restrain your hand.’ And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.” (1 Chronicles 21:15).

Great had been David’s fall, but deep was his repentance, ardent was his love, and strong his faith. He had been forgiven much, and therefore he loved much. “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Luke 7:47). Our love for God is demonstrated by our humility and conviction to repent and ask for forgiveness of sins. When we contemplate the many times we have fallen into sin and have relied on God’s loving mercies to save our souls, we love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind.

The psalms of David pass through the whole range of experience, from the depths of conscious guilt and self-condemnation to the loftiest faith and the most exalted communing with God. His life record declares that sin can bring only shame and woe, but that God’s love and mercy can reach to the deepest depths, that faith will lift up the repenting soul to share the adoption of the sons of God. Of all the assurances which His word contains, it is one of the strongest testimonies to the faithfulness, the justice, and the covenant mercy of God. EGW

Prayer: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” God, we thank you for your great love and mercies toward us. Great is Your faithfulness. Please examine our hearts and reveal the things that are displeasing to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Desperately Seeking a Miracle? [Podcast]

“You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.” (John 14:13 NLT).

Following a dental procedure [in December 2021], I began to have problems with my asthma, which did not respond to the prescribed medication. Several visits were made to the hospital emergency department and urgent care for immediate medical intervention for the next month. I was continuously evaluated, treated, and discharged, receiving advice to schedule an appointment with my Primary Care Doctor. My response was, “Yes, I have an appointment with my Dr. on January 25th, 2022.” During my last visit to the emergency room on January 9th, the physician told me to stop worrying because my condition was stable.

While waiting to see my Doctor, I began to diligently pray and ask God for healing. After a few days of silence from God and my condition not improving, discouragement set in. On January 14th, I convinced myself that I had COVID. Yes, that had to be the reason for the change in my condition. I scheduled a test and was in disbelief when the result was negative. I was also relieved when the chest x-ray was normal. But it was then that fear and anxiety began to escalate. A sudden change in my condition for no obvious reason resulted in imagining that my condition had progressed to Chronic Lung Disease.

In desperation, I started a prayer vigil, asking God for answers. Still, God gave me the silent treatment. I began to examine my lifestyle choices. Was I being disobedient? Why wasn’t God healing me? Remembering God’s promises, “The prayers of a righteous man avails much” and “Ask anything in my name, and I will do it,” without an answer left me feeling abandoned.

I began to feel depressed but listened to some familiar gospel songs on YouTube. I received a response from the Holy Spirit while listening to the introduction of a song. The singer stated that often God uses a decline in our health to get our attention that we need to spend time with Him. Still, God increased my understanding by providing a second answer. A suggested sermon showed up in the YouTube feed entitled “When God says No.”

It wasn’t that God did not desire to heal me. I was fixated on my physical health, but God’s focus was on my spiritual health, which had plummeted. Many distractions during the holiday season kept me from daily prayer and studying the scriptures. Instead of strengthening my faith and relationship with Jesus Christ, I enjoyed watching musical programs, videos, and movies.

Once I began to give God the time He deserves by putting Him first, my physical health began to improve. And further diagnostic testing revealed that my asthma has not progressed. Yes, it is stable! Even so, it is the healing of my spiritual condition that received a supernatural miracle! God desires us to live with Him forever in the New Heaven and New Earth. And He will do whatever it takes to turn our focus back to Him.

Desperate for a miracle? Ask God to anoint you with the Holy Spirit as you seek to do His will through continuous prayer. We then understand a thorn in our flesh or an ongoing circumstance may remain, but God uses His ways to get our attention, thus drawing us closer to Him. Remember, our destination is heaven!

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…” (2 Corinthians 4:17).

Prayer: God, we thank you for using your ways to draw us closer to You when we lose our way. We ask you to give us strength during our trials and sorrows. We thank you in advance for a victorious outcome. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.