It was time for a new song. A new attitude. Of Faith and belief.
This happened to be the very beginnings of a New Year.
Those who came to the Sanctuary, for the first mid-week service of the New Year, of praise and pronouncing truth from God’s Word, heard the Pastor ask,
“What do you hear God speaking to you for this coming year?” Then he offered to share the mike.
Everyone was thinking, and some came forward to speak. I heard not audibly, mind you, but impressed upon my heart,
“Sing God’s victory song, before the victory.”
“Before I part the Red Sea, sing praises to My name.”
The starting is easy, it’s the persevering that’s tough. As the old saying goes, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish that counts.”
My thoughts often raced at an accelerated pace, filled with new courage, but then Fear came running to trip up the steps. But God is greater, each step of the way, my mind would gird up thoughts: “Guard your heart.
Guard your mind.
Guard your tongue. And then, God’s gentle Spirit would remind, ‘The battle’s Mine:'”
“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3).
The Word of God directs continually.
By February, only weeks after my “mountaintop moment,” I felt the crashing of waves and fear enveloped me.
The fight to praise was overcome by fretfulness.
God prepares us ahead of time, giving the remedy to stand and succeed. Do you feel as me? Do you face a giant sea of circumstance? That always shouts out, “There is no chance!”
Then an army comes: Fatigue, Fear, Failure, and chariots of Doubt and Depression at my heart’s door. Their main goal is to defeat and destroy.
What is God’s plan for us? We must keep His plan in view and continue to walk in victory. The Battle is rough and we grow weak. Yes, the Lord watches us be as the disciple’s story in Mark 4:35:
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
Can we remember to sing the victory song at such a time as this?
Oh, how sad to look as the disciples in my trials. Forgetting that God is on the boat with me. God’s Word is the remedy that I need.
“Lord Jesus, help me read, and receive, and let Your Word transform me. How I fail and become faint-hearted and forget that You care. I forget that You see. I forget that You are with me. My thoughts become circumstancial only, . . .
instead of praising Your Name, trusting fully.
Mark 4:39, Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”
I am thankful that His voice sounds compassionate to my heart. Perhaps today, you and I can make a fresh new start.
Let us hear His voice, Be still, and know that I am God; Psalm 46:10.
Let get back on the horse again. Let us give God praise for being gentle and kind, and though we may stumble, we will not fall, “for the LORD upholds us with his hand.” Psalm 37:24.
Let us lift His Victorious name in the midst of our storm, and watch Him deliver us from all harm. Amen, He is able.
Amen. He loves.
Together we will worship and lift up His Glorious name. “Jesus, we thank You for Your love everlasting.”