Psalm 86:17 - Show me a sign of Your goodness...
What a simple and straightforward plea. It was originally written by David centuries ago. He likely uttered this prayer while on the run from King Saul. David's problems started the moment Saul learned that David, and not one of his sons, had been chosen by God to become the next king of Israel. This anointing placed a target on God's chosen replacement. As a result, David spent years living in caves and away from the comforts of home. In all that time, he waited for God's promise - the promise that he would one day be king.
Can you imagine how hard this must have been for David? Can you imagine why a man who'd had enough faith in the Lord to kill Goliath and to lead the Israelite army into multiple victorious battles, could suddenly ask the Lord for a sign of His goodness? There's something about waiting for the fulfilment of the Lord's promise that can drive even those with the staunchest faith to plead for reassurance.
And yet, in the Good News Translation, Hebrews 11:1 states, To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we cannot see. Therefore, as those who have faith in the Lord, we understand that a lot of our walk with Him will involve believing for things we can't see. We have to hold onto the belief that our expectations will come to pass. After all, that is the guarantee contained in Proverbs 23:18 - There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Additionally, God has promised us in Jeremiah 29:11 - I will bless you with a future filled with hope--a future of success, not of suffering (CEV).
Alas, despite all these vows from the Lord, we human beings still seek out God's reassurance just as David did. Thanks be to God that He is understanding of this human condition.
Have you ever desired reassurance from the Lord? Have you ever wondered if that was something you could pray for? I want to encourage you to have faith in God and trust that He answers prayers. His word states in Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. You must believe that He exists and that He will not ignore you as you prayerfully seek Him. Your prayers aren't falling on deaf ears.
And if you are going through something where you need His reassurance, ask Him to show you a sign of His goodness just like David did. I pray that He will reassure you and that your faith will be strengthened, IJMN, Amen.
Join us at Noon EST today as we will worship and pray for others. Then during the last ten minutes of fellowship, we will call on the Lord to bless us with reassurance on the issues we face. Be sure to think of that challenge you would like to seek God's reassurance on. God bless you.
To learn more on today's topic, be sure to read
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You are the great and mighty King! Thank You for another hour of fellowship and please bless those who participated.
I also call on You to gather up those who will participate in the future into Your hands. Bless all and meet them at their points of need.
Lord, please show each of them a sign of Your goodness. They have prayed to be reassured and You are the God who kindly hears and answers prayers. Thus, we look forward to testimonies to Your glory, IJMN, Amen.
From sis FJ - Praise God from whom all blessing flow! I want to thank Him especially for granting me a burst of inspiration for the essay prompts that I have to answer
From sis FJ - God, please have mercy on students around the world. It is written: God puts the solitary in families. Please surround them with the right people, as "iron sharpens iron". My prayer for them is that they experience You and that You lift them out of the darkness and into Your marvelous light.
LAST 10 MINUTES
Let us return to today's anchor scripture: Psalm 86:17 - Show me a sign of Your goodness...
Did you do as suggested? Did you take some time to think about the issues you'd like to call on God to reassure you on?
If you did, then let's not waste any time.
Father, thank You for understanding our human condition. Thank You for being He who has promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13 that even when we are going through tough times You will send us the means to endure it.
In the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, we lift up the issues we are facing right now. We call on You Lord to remember David's prayer as we lift it up to You. Please, show us a sign of Your goodness. Reassure us as we walk through the valley. Take us by the hand and let us feel Your tangible presence by our side. Help us, Lord, to endure till the end. All by Your grace and to Your glory, Amen.
God You have promised that the hungry shall have their tummies filled and that the homeless will have a roof over their heads. For You are the helper of the helpless.
Psalm 10:14 - But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
Lord, I pray for those with empty stomachs. Those who are considered the least among us in our societies. Those who have been taken advantage of. The widows, the orphans. God, stand for them. Thank You in advance for hearing and answering her prayer, IJN, Amen.
From BI - Dependable God, I lift into Your capable hands victims of police brutality. Watch over them and their loved ones. Heal their physical and mental wounds. Lord, let them know that You are with them. Welcome into Your arms Eddie Irizarry and all those who lost their lives to police brutality. Comfort their loved ones and grant them Your transcending peace. I pray for peace, love and police reform IJMN Amen.
Lord, You are our Shepherd. Thank You for being the true example of a Shepherd. You who leave the 99 for the one. You who see each of us as precious. Glory be to Your Holy Name.
Dear Father, the enemy is content to infiltrate the Body of Christ with wolves dressed in sheep's clothing, but God, Your word states in Jeremiah 23:4 - I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the LORD.
Oh Great Shepherd, have mercy. Let Your compassion rise up as it did in Christ who looked upon the people as sheep without a shepherd. Lord, do as You have promised, place Your shepherds over those who have been led astray by the wolves. God, so many are dealing with church hurt, touch them, remove the grief, heal the trauma. Lead them to Your genuine shepherds to minister to them and save them from the teeth of the foolish and worthless shepherds, IJMN, Amen.
And over Your shepherds, God, I pray that Your gracious hand will be upon them. Surround them with Your hedge of protection. Protect that which concerns them. Empower them, good Lord that they may speak and teach Your word with boldness. Destroy each and every of the devil's plans against them. May their feet not knock a stone as Your angels help them on their way, IJN, Amen.
Hallelujah! Glory belongs to the Lord on High. Thank You Lord for being the One we turn to in our times of need. Thank You for standing by us in good and bad times. Faithful God.
Psalm 107:17-20 - Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities. They loathed all food and drew near the gates of death. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
Heavenly Father, I want to lift up the sick before You. Great and mighty King, You are the Jehovah Ropheka, our Healer. As such it is to You we come on behalf of those in need of Your healing. Father, You said when they call out to You, even if their iniquity caused their sickness, You will save them, sending out Your word to heal and rescue them from the grave.
Lord, I stand in the gap for the sick. I cry out to You on their behalf. Good God, send for Your healing grace. Let Your word heal and rescue them. Take every evidence of sickness from their bodies. Just as Your Word became flesh and dwelt among us according to John 1:14, let the living Word - Christ - do His healing work in these ones, IJMN, Amen.
PRAYER TIME
Pray for the people in your life. Ask the Lord to meet them at their points of need.
Pray for that person you saw begging on the roadside. Call on God to make provision available to them.
Pray for your neighbors. Ask the Heavenly Father to protect them from sickness and death.
Pray for others and watch your prayer needs be fulfilled.
From M22 - Thank you Abba for another fellowship day. This week has been exhausting for me mentally and today it manifested physically (quite weak with body pains) but I want to thank God that he is holding me through it all. Even though I don't see or hear him, his word is my place of refuge. I pray for his goodness over the life of Peppers, myself and my siblings.
I am doing my best to ease off any form of pressure I have put on myself lately and I pray to rest in God's comfort knowing he's way bigger than everything I am going through. Thank you Beautiful Abba.
From BI - Mighty King of kings, Thank You for not letting it end the way the enemy planned it. Thank You for every victory Jesus has given me, is giving to me now and will always give me. You Lord are my comfort and peace. Thank You for being the same yesterday, today and forever. Glory be to Your holy Name forever Amen.
Lord. I want to thank You for being the way maker. You are He for whom nothing is impossible.
So I want to thank You in advance for the goodness You have poured into the lives of Peppers. I believe there shall be testimonies to Your glory of the great things You have done for them.
Praise be to the Lord!!
Thank You for being our Helper in all things.
Thank You that we can bring every burden to You and that You are more than capable to take them from us.
Praise be onto You now and always, IJN, Amen.`
Glory be to God! Glory be to God! Glory be to God!
Father, I can't thank You enough. For joy and happiness even in the midst of troubles.
Wow. You said, my Presence will go with you and I will give you rest.
Thank You for being the God who kept that promise to Moses and keeps it to all who claim it.
Promise Keeper!!
I praise You, Lord!
Lord, my Hallelujah is for You!!!
Messiah in the Highest!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the Highest!
Thank You forever, my God!
From CMC - Thank you Father
From BI - Thank You Lord for loving me.
Thank You Lord for forgiving me.
Thank You Lord for healing me.
Thank You Lord for protecting me.
Thank You Lord for keeping me.
Thank You Lord for delivering me.
Thank You Lord for providing for me.
Thank You Lord for guiding me.
Thank You Lord for blessing me.
Thank You Lord for smiling on me.
Thank You Lord for all You have done, all You are doing and all You are going to do in my life.
PRAISE TIME
Are you ready to give God His due worship?
Well, the time has come to do just that. Let us praise the Lord together for all He's done and what He shall surely do for us all.
From SM - Love this! Can I be added to the list?