EXAMPLES FOR US

Exodus 17: 7 NLT because the people of Israel argued with Moses and tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord here with us or not?”

1 Corinthians 10:9-11 9 NLT Nor should we put Christ to the test, as some of them did and then died from snakebites. 10 And don’t grumble as some of them did, and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 11 These things happened to them as examples for us. They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age.

One of the reasons why it’s good to read scripture is because it gives us advice and warnings about how to behave and how not to behave and to know what not to say!😊

Paul reminds us that the Old Testament records are there to be examples for us to avoid or to follow. If we don’t pay attention then we can’t really complain if we suffer the natural consequences. It’s a bit like telling a child not to touch a hot oven and then they wonder why they hurt if they do!

Have we ever thought, “Where is God in all of this? Is the Lord here with us or not?” That’s exactly the mistake the Israelites made and we have even more reason than they did not to doubt God’s presence with us because He tells us in Hebrews 13:5 AMP “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”

Now we have a choice to make. Will we believe our feelings, our circumstances, or our God who cannot lie! Maybe we forget how deeply God loves us, and the lengths He went to in giving us Jesus to die for us. How could He possibly leave us or forget us and or be the cause of our suffering? 

Let’s ask the Holy Spirit for fresh revelation of just how much God loves and cares for us and ask for forgiveness when we doubt His presence. Rather, let’s declare by faith, 

“God is with me every second of my day and night. He’s with me right now in this moment and He’s supporting and strengthening me. He is my Helper, the lifter of my head, the restorer of my soul. 

Thank You Lord for promising to never leave me, abandon me or leave me without support. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Photo by Muhammad Daudy on Unsplash

GOING AFTER WHAT HAS BEEN LOST

2 Kings 8:5-6 NKJV Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.”

Going after what has been lost! Have you lost anything at any time? Your hearing? Clarity of sight? Money? Relationships? Peace of mind? Strength? Health? Memory? Confidence? Maybe you’re losing your hair? We’ve probably all lost something!😊

In Luke 15 we read about a lady who lost a valuable silver coin - she lost money. We read of a shepherd who lost one of his sheep - loss of earnings and loss of peace of mind till he found it. We read on and find the prodigal son lost his self respect, he lost his brother’s love, his fortune, he lost his position and authority as a son of the house. All gone but the good news is they weren’t lost forever. Jesus tells us they were all restored!

I hope that encourages us all to know that whatever we have lost or had stolen from us, we can ask God to either restore it or replace it with something better. He can even restore lost time. He can restore all.

This lady in 2 Kings 8:6 was in the palace to ask for the return of her lands after being away for years. At the exact moment she arrived Gehazi was telling the King about her. The king not only restored her lands but all the income she would have had if she hadn’t gone away! Over the top blessing! Isn’t God’s timing and restoration wonderful?😊

So, whatever you have lost, name it, and keep declaring this promise, “God is restoring all to me”, as I am doing in my own life. Ask and believe the Lord is restoring it all to you, and giving you something even more than you lost! Start ‘seeing’ it restored in your mind’s eye. Write what you’re believing for in your vision book. Go after what has been lost!😊 Amen.

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash