Words by David Hollows
From Psalm 103: Praise the Lord, my soul. All my being praise His name.
Song from Mission Praise number 50: Be still for the presence of the Lord https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZugvUQ4m90U
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi; Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who is, who was and who is to come. Let us praise and glorify Him forever. You are worthy, Lord our God, to receive praise and glory, honour and blessing. Let us praise and glorify Him forever. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive divine power, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and blessing
Let us praise and glorify Him forever. Praise our God all you his servants, honour Him you who fear Him, small and great> Let us praise and glorify Him forever. Let heaven and earth praise your glory; all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth, the sea and everything in it. Let us praise and glorify Him forever.
Photo by Kyle Johnson via Unsplash
A Story from the Bible
(The Second Book of Kings chapter 6 verses 1 – 7)
The sons of the prophets said to Elisha.
‘Look now, the place where we live before you is too small for us. Let us go to the Jordan, and each man get there a house beam and let us make us a place there where we may dwell.’
And he answered; ‘Go’
One man said; ‘Be pleased to go with your servants.’
He answered; ‘I will go’
So he went with them and when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was felling his beam, the axe-head fell into the water and the man cried;
‘Alas, my master, for it was borrowed’
The man of God said; ‘Where did it fall?’
When shown the place, Elisha cut off a stick and threw it in there and the iron floated. He said; ‘Pick it up’
So the man put out his hand and took it from the water.
Key idea from the New Testament in the Bible:
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you (The First letter of Peter chapter 5 verses 7)
Message: Elisha’s school for prophets had prospered and their meeting place had become too small. It was suggested that the meeting place should be enlarged and this would involve cutting logs from the trees in the wood. Elisha and the prophets agreed and all was going well until one of the iron axe-heads fell into the water. No big deal?
It has been suggested that when Elisha rescued the iron axe-head from the river that he simply poked his stick in the water until he located the axe-head and dragged it to the spot where it could be taken out of the water. However, why was this minor detail worth a mention?
In essence, this was a miracle; the axe-head was set in motion by God’s hand and began to float so that the prophet could retrieve it.
This simple miracle contains a profound truth; God cares about the small stuff of life whether it be an iron axe-head, lost keys, lost glasses or any one of the many little things in life which cause us to fret; not enough toilet rolls? God may not always restore to us what is lost, but He understands and comforts us in our distress for the little and the BIG things of our lives.
Next to the assurance of our salvation, the assurance of God’s care is essential. Without this assurance we would feel alone in the world, exposed to innumerable worries.
It is essential to understand that God cares for us and is moved by our losses. Our concerns are His concerns.
Photo by Mike Petrucci via Unsplash
Reflection:
What ‘things’ are troubling you at the moment that you can give to God? How does it encourage you to know that you can be assured of His daily care for you?
Response:
Loving God, here are my concerns. Please take them, provide as You see best and grant me Your peace. Thank you.
(This message is an adaptation of the original message provided by David H. Roper produced in the ‘Our Daily Bread’ devotional by Our daily Bread Ministries on March 28th 2020)
One more thought: Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow – only today of its strength
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834 -1892)
Hymn from Mission Praise number 746: What a friend we have in Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwi_qKVI8lQ
Enjoy the smiles!
Photo by Joshua Earle via Unsplash
Response:
Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will. Whatever you do, I thank you. I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me, as in all your creatures. I ask no more than this, my Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you, O Lord, with all the love of my heart.
For I love you, my God, and so need to give myself, I surrender myself into your hands, without reserve and with total confidence. For you are my Father.
Charles de Foucauld (1858 – 1916)
A Promise:
Know that the Lord is with you; let Him lead you each day into the quiet place of your heart where He will speak with you. Know that He loves you, cares for you and watches over you. Know that He listens in gentle understanding, that He is with you always, wherever you are and however you may feel. Rowland Croucher (b.1937)
Blessing; May the Blessing of God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be yours now and forever. Amen.
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