pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: attacked


by Leave a comment

Rejoice? Yes, rejoice!

Reading: Philippians 4:1-4

Verse 4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

Today we turn to our Epistle reading. After a word of encouragement – “stand firm in the faith” – and some pleading to end a little in-fighting, Paul gives us verse 4. The directive is straight forward: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” He says it twice for reinforcement. After a worship service when God was in the house – easy to rejoice! After some really good news – easy to rejoice! After a beautiful walk in the woods – easy to rejoice. Paul adds in a word, though: “always.”

When the stress of work begins to really weigh us down? Yes. When the worries about having or being enough mount up? Yes. When we are being attacked or abused for our faith? Yes. When the diagnosis is grim? Yes. When chained up in prison, sitting on death row? Yes. Oh, that last one? That’s Paul’s situation as he pens these words about rejoicing always.

Is it always easy to rejoice? Well, obviously, no. There are times when it is downright hard to rejoice. Paul would say, rejoice anyway! And do it again – make it a habit. We might not yet be able to rejoice in the stress or worry or abuse or… but we can rejoice in God’s love for us, in the gifts of forgiveness and salvation, in that time that God carried us through, in that time when God made a way when we saw no way, in that time when… Slowly but surely we will move from rejoicing for what God has done into rejoicing because God is there in the midst of our current stress, worry, fear, hurt… And, soon enough, we will be able to rejoice in the Lord always. May it be so!

Prayer: Lord God, the long walk of faith yields a heart rejoicing. Continue to walk with me, helping me to the place where I can rejoice in the lows and valleys of life, knowing you are there with me. Build up my trust and confidence and faith in you. Amen.


by Leave a comment

On Our Side

Reading: Psalm 124

Verse 8: “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth”.

Have you ever felt like the psalmist feels? Have you ever felt like life was about to topple you over and sweep you away? As we live on this earth and pass through our years, we will have moments where we can relate to our reading for today. There will be days when we feel attacked, when we feel “anger flare against us”, when we feel the raging waters about to engulf us. On these days and in these seasons we too have turned to the Lord for strength, comfort, courage, direction, protection… We too can relate to the opening verse: “If the Lord had not been on our side…”. We would have crumpled, given in, been overwhelmed.

The Israelites would have sung this Psalm while going up to the temple or while traveling to Jerusalem for one of the yearly festivals that worshipped God. It reminded them of how God had spared them, breaking the enemy’s snare. What events in your life could be used to sing a song of God’s deliverance? Looking back over your life, when has God been your rescuer, your helper, your shield? In verse eight we read, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth”. God is indeed our help. Take a moment, collect those times in your mind, and lift a song or prayer of worship and praise to God, thanking the Lord for his presence in times of trial.

Prayer: Living and eternal God, you have been so good to me. When I have felt the fire, you were my shield. When I have wept tears of pain, you were my comforter. When I faced my giants, you have been my strength. When I have wandered in the desert, you were the clear voice calling me back. Thank you, maker of heaven and earth. Amen.