Guaranteed!

 12 Then he said to me, “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.   source Daniel 10

I confess when I read this verse this morning it was out of context. I invite you to click HERE and read the whole of it. 

But, before you click, let me share a short word. Do you see these words?

Do not be afraid

Upon reading them I asked what is it in this regard that I must not fear? Daniel had been praying and in response to his prayer he received a heavenly visitor. It is the heavenly visitor that instructed Daniel: “Do not be afraid . . .” So why? Now I think I know why Daniel was afraid. But what might we be afraid of when Father’s response to our prayer seems delayed? 

Consider this. When His answers do not quickly come, don’t be afraid.
Don’t be afraid that He did not hear.
Don’t be afraid that He does not care.
Just don’t be afraid.
Just trust that He IS.
Just trust His answer is on the way and it will be right on time! Guaranteed! 

Chazaq! 

You’re Welcome

Romans 8:1 (CSB)  Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,  source

There’s a word in that verse I really don’t want us to miss! 

NOW!

Because of Jesus, those IN Jesus are not condemned!  And it’s not just some future time in the sweet bye and bye but today! NOW!

Today if we have exchanged our state of sin-ship for His righteousness we are today NOT condemned. Not condemned to hell. Not condemned to wrath. Not condemned to being an outcast. NOT Condemned!

That is good news!!  And if you listen closely you will hear Him say: “you’re welcome.”

Chazaq! 

A Poem 

I’m reading again. And today I’d like to share a poem from the book, Waiting For A Miracle by Jan Markell.

Nobody Else Will Listen, Lord

I had a monumental need today, Lord.
I needed someone to talk to.
I needed a conversation that went beyond
     my neighbor’s rose bushes, or 
      last night’s election results.
Such a paradox it seems,
     to be surrounded by people,
     to have their voices vibrating through me,
     to be numb from shaking hands,
     to hurt from smiling . . . 
     and yet to feel alone.
Alone because conversations
     center on things of insignificance for eternity.
Because conversations focus on
    the high cost of living
    and not on the Giver of Life.

Yes, alone in a crowd,
But never alone, Lord,
     for You listen
     even if I ramble and make little sense,
     or if I can’t quite explain myself,
     or if I am redundant
     and never get to the point.
Thank You, Father,
     for being my Companion,
          Confidant,
           and Counselor,
And for listening, when all the world
Is caught up with the fun and games of life,
Too busy with yesterday’s sports results
To listen to a needy soul. 
                                                      Amen.   (found on pages 50 and 51)

Jeremiah 33:3 (TLV) 3 “Call to Me, and I will answer you— I will tell you great and hidden things, which you do not know.”  source 

Chazaq!