Thoughts for another day

June 3, 2013.

Today's verse: 2 Mac. 15:8 Wherefore he exhorted his people not to fear the coming of the heathen against them, but to remember the help which in former times they had received from heaven, and now to expect the victory and aid, which should come unto them from the Almighty. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

When in desperate need and in prayer before the Lord, we must remember to remember the past and what He did for us then.  A beautiful and very powerful aspect of prayer, even as you are on your knees and your eyes are moist because of the deep anguish in your heart for the circumstances of life have caused much pain, then look up into the eyes of the Lord and tell Him your situation.  Not that He doesn’t know it, but that He loves it when you come and tell Him what ails you, just as a human father would love his child to sit with him and tell him the problem.

Then pour out from your heart every word of praise you’ve ever made unto the Lord God.  Ring out your song to Him and let Him learn of the condition of your heart.  Chiefly, thank Him that soon you will see the might of His arm even as you saw it years ago when there was something similar which had taken your joy away.  Tell Him how, when you had looked at Him, He had flexed His muscles and kicked the problem out of your life, freeing you from its clutches.

My friend, honestly, I don’t understand, apart from the fact that you’re declaring the faithfulness of the Lord, why He works in our favor when we remember the past.  In fact it’s also there in His Word, when Moses tells the Israelites, ‘be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery’ Deut. 6:12’.  I fail to understand what in our remembering does He like that He works in our favor instantly, but all I know is that He works.  It may be, if you’re able to remember Him, then again you’ll be faithful to Him and look up to Him.  Be that as it may, remember always to remember the favors of the Lord in the former times; and in that comfort, expect victory again and it will be yours.