When things are going well, it is easy to shower God with praise and more devoted time studying the Bible. However, when things aren't working out, many have a hard time loving Him. Our faith dwindles and it becomes difficult to trust Him.
And yet, we are told to thank Him in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). We are called to trust Him especially when things go wrong hence His instruction to cast our burdens unto Him (1 Peter 5:7).
But how? How does one, in fact, trust God when things have gone wrong? Especially someone who once had a good rapport with Him?
It all boils down to a choice each of us has to make. A choice to trust and believe in Him through the good times and the bad. Joshua was frustrated when his army went into the City of Ai and was defeated, leaving 2000 of them dead. Keep in mind the Lord had told him in Joshua 1:5 - Joshua, no one will be able to defeat you as long as you live. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will always be with you; I will never abandon you (GNT).
So how did Joshua react to God when things went wrong?
He went to the Lord and sought understanding on what happened. He went in humility, having torn his clothes and sprinkled ashes upon himself - a sign of deep sadness among his people. He chose to look to God instead of walking away from Him.
Just as Joshua did not abandon his God when things went wrong, so also did God not abandon him. The Lord revealed what caused the defeat - the disobedience of one man, Achan. He'd taken things from Jericho though the Lord commanded the Israelites to leave Jericho with no plunder for themselves.
Following Joshua's example, we can't go before the Creator prideful or even angry but instead with deference recognizing He is the God above all gods. We must also keep in mind that the reason Joshua could continue to walk with the Lord was because God had a track record with him. Joshua had seen God do the incredible and he respected that. He knew that God was still to be trusted despite the disappointing defeat.
Each of us can make a similar choice to trust God in the heat of our disappointment by not abandoning Him. Instead we must go right back to Him who has promised to never abandon us, a commitment that He's made to all His children. After all He promised to never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
It isn't easy but we must all remember our Jericho Moments - those times where God showed up and showed out on our behalf. We must also focus our gaze on God even when things have not happened the way we expected or prayed for. That is the time to not walk away from Him. It is the time to approach Him with praise, acknowledging that He is perfect and we are not. We can then pray for divine understanding and guidance.
May Joshua's experience remind us that we can still trust God when things go wrong. Joshua did just that and after obeying God, him and his army completely destroyed the City of Ai. They went on from there to witness many more of God's miracles. All because they placed themselves at God's mercy, despite a big defeat and trusted Him to be the way to bring redemption and victory.
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CLOSING PRAYER
God, You have done it again and we are thankful! Thank You for favoring us with the opportunity to gather in honor of You. We pray that our praises and intercession for others have been pleasing to You. We pray that You will remember us for doing such and that Your mercy will temper judgment, bringing blessings.
We claim the blood of the Lamb and call on You for protection and grace. Let us experience more of You this weekend and return next week refreshed and renewed in You, Lord.
Take all the glory and the praise for what You've done before, what You've done today, and what You will do in the future.
IJN, Amen.
God bless you guys and have a wonderful weekend!
From C - Amen amen Glory be to the one who remains the same throughout the ages our God is unchanging, our constant strength and shield, Lord we praise and thank You for renewing us and our faiths. We praise your wonderful name Hallelujah Somandla wena uMusa, Siyabonga uJesu wam. Amen
LAST 10 MINUTES
We've all seen those movies where the rich girl is super popular as long as she has money and provides access to the best things of life for her circle of friends.
When her situation does a 180°, she loses her friends and becomes a social pariah. That's when she learns what true friendship is as well as who she can actually trust.
As Christians, none of us should be the fair-weather friends who walk away when the money stops flowing.
Similarly, we shouldn't be the type of people who only trust God when things are good but walk away from Him when things go wrong.
It's not easy but we must choose to not be fickle with God and stick to that position. We must be the ones who ride or die with Him, come good or bad. We must continue to trust Him, knowing that even when things do happen as we expect He still has good plans for us. That He remains trustworthy.
Let us pray -
God, there have been times when I have failed to stick with You. Times when life has dealt a hard blow or the choices I made led to disappointments. Yet, You never abandoned me and I want to thank You. Forgive me for all the moments I turned my back to You. I repent.
Thank You for loving me despite my failures and thank You for Your restorative grace which I claim right now, IJMN, Amen. I commit to following the ways of Joshua to look to You even in the periods of pain. Joseph didn't let You go even in the midst of his slavery and imprisonment. David was depressed because his family and others had been captured at Ziklag, but he found strength in You and got guidance. I fix my face like flint this day, knowing that no matter what comes, I can trust You, the true God, to see me through, IJN, Amen!
Lord, I pray for people to drink from Your fountain of life. For whosoever drinks shall never thirst again. May people drink from Your fountain of joy. Your fountain of healing. Your fountain of provision. Your fountain of wisdom and much more.
You are this and so much more. May Your people drink from You and never ever thirst again.
IJN, Amen.
From BI - Lord, I pray my fellow peppers waiting on You receive divine visitation right now. I pray You Lord will show up as El Shaddai in their lives. I pray they will receive their answers and carry their evidence all to Your glory IJMN Amen.
Good God, You are the Almighty. Nobody compares to You. Father, thank You for hearing my prayer for people that they come to a knowledge of You as You promised in Jeremiah 24:7. Thank You for giving people a desire for You. Thank You for whetting their appetites for more of You. Thank You for letting hearts clamor for You. Thank You for kindly pouring out Your Spirit on all mankind in accordance with Your word in Joel 2:28. Be glorified, Lord our Redeemer.
Now and forever more, IJMN, Amen.
Father, You are the Creator of Heaven and Earth. You control the nations and all things are subject to Your authority.
Lord, Your word states in Psalm 119:38 - Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you.
God, the accuser doesn't want Your people, those who fear You, to experience Your promises. In fact, the devil wants Your children to lose sight of Your promises which are their great inheritances.
However, I thank You that Your word makes it clear that Your purpose cannot be thwarted and that Your word shall accomplish the purpose for which it was sent. As such, what the devil intends is irrelevant.
Therefore, I pray for those who are waiting on You to receive the promises that are their inheritance. Great King, You who remembered Your Holy promise to Abraham, Your servant. Remember Your promises to those who fear You. Those who hold onto Your garment waiting for You to bless them before they let go.
For those who can no longer see the possibility of receiving what is their right, I decree that the scales fall and the spirit of deception lift from them now, IJMN, Amen. I pray they reconnect with Your word for them and say Amen as they claim what is theirs in You. Reassure Your people of Your promises just as You have consistently done for me. For You are the God of comfort, compassion and all good things, IJN, Amen.
From BI- Lord, I Lift into your capable hands victims of xesual assault. Lord, heal them in mind, body and spirit. Help them to see themselves the way You see them. Give them the ability to see the abundant and satisfying life that Jesus wants them to have through Him. Lord, Grant them comfort as they uncover and confront pain and trauma. Teach them to cast all their cares until You. I pray that the Light of God pierces the darkness in their lives and fills them with hope and peace. I pray perpetrators of xesual assaults are brought to justice and that they experience a renewing of their minds. Lord, I pray Your children come together to create a world free of xesual assault and harassment IJMN Amen.
Job 13:15 - Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
Father, help Your children to stick with You even in the turbulent seasons. Lord, provide grace that Your people will remember what You've done and who You are. That even when things don't go well, You are not to be abandoned just as You never abandon Your own. IJMN Amen.
PRAYER TIME
We don't pray for others enough and yet we are called to do so in 1 Timothy 2:1.
So, let's rectify that by interceding on behalf of other people. You can pray for those you know, strangers, nations, institutions or focus on troubling issues affecting the world.
Whatever you do, focus on the needs of others.
Daddy God, You never fail.
Thank You for being the Steadfast God.
You are Indefatigable. The Mighty Warrior who neither slumbers nor sleeps.
You are He who cannot stumble. The One before whom the mountains tremble and knees melt.
Lord, I praise You!
From C - Lord I thank you for the lives you’ve put around me, people who’ve testified and will one day too testify of your goodness. Abba I want to uplift into your hands all of them, my neighbors, as well as Ms C as she battles infertility and lipoedema, I pray that you Lord bring that long awaited and desires baby, inorganic over Mimi and her family with the passing of her grandpa, I pray over Ms Bee and Nf their dissertation journey that you bless them with victory during this special exam season. Over the people in my lab as we begin a new journey, I pray over Tess and her family that you free her father from depression and suicidal ideation Lord, that you help her go back to school and complete her studies. Lord over every prayer here lifted, every pepper’s family be God above all in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amennnn
From BI - Thank You Lord for being my strength when I am weak.
Thank You Lord for being my joy when I am sad.
Thank You Lord for being my hope when i am in despair.
Thank You for never turning Your love away from me.
Thank You for the roof over my head. Thank You for waking me up and smiling on me.
You are an everlasting source of comfort.
Thank You the Great I Am, my Father, my creator, my love.
Father, I thank You for Your mercy upon my life and the lives of my loved ones.
Glory be to Your Holy Name for all You've done!
From PBS - Dear Lord, You are the only God of the breakthrough! Lord, please remove every mountain to be cast out and destroyed. May Your Power continue to break through and set the captives free. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—Let the blind now see, let the deaf now hear, let the door knocks now be answered—to Your Glory. Every need that’s been prayed for and faith stood upon to be released to receive the answers—financial, healing, security, protection, love, favor, wisdom, understanding, joy, peace, comfort, goodness, mercy, forgiveness, wholeness, discernment, justice, provisions, etc—breakthrough and rain down on Your children right now, in Jesus Name, amen!
Lord, I thank You for the miracles I saw You do in the lives of people this week.
Thank You for showing them great favor before men. I know they only experienced that because they have favor before You.
You are great, God!
Psalm 119:140 - Your word to me, your servant, is like pure gold; I treasure what you say.
Lord thank You for the privilege of Your eternal word. It is a precious treasure. Thank You for it redeems and sanctifies.
Hallelujah!!
From BI - Thank You Lord for Your love, compassion, forgiveness and so much more. Thank You for all the times You said Yes and all the times You said No. Everything You do is for my good and I thank You. You are my pain-taker, chain-breaker and healer. Thank You Abba for this new month and for keeping me safe. Only You are worthy of all praise.
PRAISE TIME
Are you going through a tough time right now? I want to invite you to praise God wholeheartedly.
Our praise is a weapon that transforms our situations because it pleases and glorifies God.
Chop chop, folks. We've only got 25 minutes to praise Him together.
From C - God who heals!
Abba father we pray that you bring healing and cure to the sick, doctor of all doctors Lord just as you healed the paraplegic man, the blind and the leprous, revived Tabitha and cured the woman who bled for years. Ivory’s that you bring forth healing and comfort to all the sick and burdened. IJN Amen