Topic: Retrospect And Prospect [DCLM Daily Manna 22 May 2019 Daily Devotional]
Text: 1 Samuel 7:1-12 (KJV)
Key Verse: “Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us” (1 Samuel 7:12).
MESSAGE:
Life is short. However long a journey is, it must surely come to an end. Most men wrongly hold that life will last forever only to discover in the long run it is like vapour seen one moment, yet evaporates the next minute.
The children of Israel had suffered much from the hands of the Philistines because of their sin. They were in bondage of fear. The Ark of the Lord captured by the Philistines had been released because of the wrath of God poured upon the idolaters. At Bethshemesh, the Lord had smitten the people and fifty-seven thousand died as a result of looking into the Ark of the Lord. The men of Kirjathjearim came and fetched up the Ark and brought it into it the house of Abinadab, consecrating Eleazar, his son to keep the Ark. Looking back, the children of Israel were compassed about with so many occurrences of disaster, destruction and death. It was as if their future was bleak and hopeless. Then Samuel came and preached repentance to them. They hearkened to him and returned to the Lord. Although the enemies that defeated them over the years came again, the Lord gave them a resounding victory.
Looking at your own life too, you might have passed through the valley of the shadow of death. Maybe the devil and his agents have been making life difficult for you in your family, academics and business. Don’t give up. “Prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only and He will deliver you.”
God loves you. Jesus cares about you. Think of what the Lord has done for you. If the Lord has not abandoned you despite your many failings, indications are that He will perfect what He has started in you, once you make your calling and election sure.
Thought For The Day: Trials provoke triumphs which in turn midwife testimonies..
The Bible In One Year: 1 Samuel 3-5
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
