Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “A Fresh Encounter”
Our Bible verse for today: “He gives strength to the weary and strengthens the powerless. Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:29-31 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “He is there for you.”
Sunday night, in our weekly group session of those participating in the Bible study “Fresh Encounter” someone mentioned that her closest times with the Lord seem to come at the lowest points in her life. This person had suffered through the early death of a spouse. She explained that during such times all the minor issues of life fade to insignificance and you find yourself focused like a laser on only those things that truly matter. In her case what mattered were her husband and her Lord.
As a result she had a very tender and close time with her husband as she walked with him through that time of dying, and she also had a great awareness of the Lord’s presence with them both. In the middle of all the pain and suffering, they discovered that God was there. The reality of His presence was profound and He did indeed strengthen them.
The truth is that God was always there, even before the cancer and the resulting death. It’s not that God suddenly showed up, it’s that they were suddenly focused on Him more intently than they had been before, and that then opened their spiritual eyes to what had always been true.
Isaiah 40:29-31 is a great word of encouragement for all of God’s people. It was spoken first and specifically to the nation of Israel in the days of Isaiah, but it’s as true for you and me today as it was for them back then. When we turn to the Lord and patiently wait on Him, bringing Him our pain and sorrows, our weaknesses and fears, He in turn gives us the strength to persevere and to keep going. Such times help us to develop a patient faith in God, a firm trust, and that then helps us to endure even the most difficult of trials.
Whatever it is you’re going through today the truth you need to cling to is that He is there for you and He will help you. That’s true whether you’re walking through a deep and dark valley in life, or if your current situation has you on a mountaintop with the sun shining and the birds singing. God is there. He is always there. And He wants you to have a fresh encounter with Him now, in the middle of whatever your circumstances are.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 