Steve & Jan Burbridge circulated these promises and scriptures around their life-group – I thought it could be good to share these and encourage people to use these as a focus for meditation and prayer.
“Rejoice, and again I say, rejoice.”
These are difficult times but, as with Paul in prison writing to Philippi, we can still offer up praises to God and number our reasons to rejoice:
We have a powerful God and a loving Saviour who intercedes for us.
We know that there are times when God points out to us, ‘You are not in control’, and now may be one of those times. There is nothing quite like the experience of feeling ‘there is nothing I can do to control this situation’. It pushes us back into the arms of God. Let us be thankful that God still takes these steps with our nations. Let us listen to what He is saying to us. Let us remember what we believe.
Many of us are, for the most part, healthy.
Many of us have, for the most part, wonderful families and friends.
Even if we do not enjoy the fullness of these blessings, we live in a country where communication is fluid, television can keep us informed and the telephone links us with others.
We live in a developed nation that has resources; it may seem that they are stretched at present, but in many parts of the world they are absent.
We have a government that does act in the interests of its people. We may be cynical at times, but we do not live under a regime that is corrupt and that prioritises itself and allows its people to suffer. Action is being taken; the situation is being monitored; resources are being planned.
We are a resilient people, with a sense of humour.
Let us look after one another, look after the people on our street, take care of ourselves and launch a smile-offensive whenever we can.
We are, perhaps, engaging in a battle with an unseen enemy. There is only one ‘offensive’ bit of equipment available to us – the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Let us read it, digest it, quote it. Dip into it daily, randomly, methodically, alone or together. I can recommend Every Day with Jesus daily devotionals e-mailed to your inbox every day – £14.25 for an annual subscription*.
Let’s remember
God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fail. God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall, he lifts his voice, the earth melts…….
“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.[1]
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written;
‘for your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.[2]
[1] Psalm 46:1-6, 10,11
[2] Romans 8:35-39