TAKE THE DAY

Time with Jesus - Friday, 22 March 2013

Jim & Phyllida Strickland at home in Jo'burg

Hi all,

Attached herewith, please find a copy of my latest Daily Light Meditation in rhyme and metre.

Anxiety and worry are not supposed to be part of life for any Christian. Jesus said, ²⁵ "For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Mat 6:25 NASB This was endorsed by Paul in his letter to the Philippians. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philip. 4:6 NASB This makes it very clear, that to be anxious or worried about anything, is sin.

In His discourse in Matt 6, Jesus pointed out; God feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field. Commenting on this remark, David Pawson pointed out that worry and anxiety is a slur on our God. He stated, “God looks after His garden and His birds, but I’m only His child. I must worry?” Mmmm

Today’s meditation instructs us to “Take the Day!” What God has done before, He is more than able to repeat. Gideon’s victory over the Midianites, gives us the assurance that God will not desert His people.

Comments and previous Devotionals can be found on my Blog – http://jimnphyllida.blogspot.com

Please forward my poetry to others you think would enjoy it. All I ask is that it is not used for commercial purposes.

Shalom,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland 

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 22 March 2013			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
©	These devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it is for non-commercial Christian purposes					©
INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	Take the Day
We are told that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This statement is supposed to originate with King Solomon. 10 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Proverbs 9:10 NLT This is true. Only in God can we find wisdom. Solomon is sometimes spoken of, as the wisest man who ever lived. Sadly, he appears to have been a womaniser. 3 He (Solomon) had 700 wives of royal birth and 300 concubines. And in fact, they did turn his heart away from the LORD. 1 Kings 11:3 NLT There doesn’t seem much wisdom in that. For most men, one wife is more than enough. How do you live with 1000 women simultaneously? Where is the time to marry 1000 wives? If he had married one wife or taken one concubine every day it would have taken 2.74 years. That somehow does not encourage the idea that Solomon was the epitome of wisdom! One statement he made recorded in Ecclesiastes, was very wise. 9 Whatever has happened before will happen again. Whatever has been done before will be done again. There is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 GW This statement had nothing to do with science and technology. It is also very comforting. In essence, it means that Satan has nothing up his sleeve. He cannot invent a new form of temptation. He’s stuck with the ones he has. Sadly, that seems more than sufficient for his evil purposes. It also means that the examples we have, in our collective past, can be equally efficacious today. So we can be confident that what God has said, is sure to happen. Also, what He has said to previous generations, could well apply to us today. The implications for us are that situations similar to those faced by Gideon, are possible today. Gideon was hiding in a winepress, from the raiding Midianites. He was beating wheat so that he could get food for himself and his family. His prospects looked bleak. He didn’t think he could stand up to the Midianites. God knew otherwise. Not because of Gideon’s ability, but because He would undertake for Gideon. Gideon had a part to play. That part was to do what God told him to do. What is so encouraging about this is simple. Gideon may be dead and buried. God is not. What He did for Gideon and His people, He can do for us. The real question is whether or not we are listening for Him. Try looking over your shoulder. You may be surprised. Today’s meditation looks at the wisdom of man and the assurance from the Lord. Who do you believe? Jim & Phyllida Strickland			12 Now give me this mountain region which the LORD spoke of that day. You heard that the people of Anak are still there and that they have large, fortified cities. If the LORD is with me, I can force them out, as he promised." 13 So Joshua blessed Caleb, son of Jephunneh, and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. Joshua 14:12-13 GW 5 Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." 6 So we can say with confidence, "The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT 16 I will come (go) with the mighty deeds of the Almighty LORD. I will praise your righteousness, yours alone. Psalm 71:16 GW 16 Then justice will live in the wilderness, and righteousness will be at home in the fertile field. 17 Then an act of righteousness will bring about peace, calm, and safety forever. Isaiah 32:16 -17 GW 12 This is not a wrestling match against a human opponent. We are wrestling with rulers, authorities, the powers who govern this world of darkness, and spiritual forces that control evil in the heavenly world. 13 For this reason, take up all the armour that God supplies. Then you will be able to take a stand during these evil days. Once you have overcome all obstacles, you will be able to stand your ground. 14 So then, take your stand! Fasten truth around your waist like a belt. Put on God's approval as your breastplate. Eph. 6:12-14 GW 12 The Messenger of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, "The LORD is with you, brave man." 13 Gideon responded, "Excuse me, sir! But if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracles our ancestors have told us about? Didn't they say, 'The LORD brought us out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and has handed us over to Midian." 14 The LORD turned to him and said, "You will rescue Israel from Midian with the strength you have. I am sending you." Judges 6:12-14 GW	Men are realistic. That’s always been the case. We like to know before-hand, the problems we could face. It’s hard to fight an army whom none of us can see. How do we defend against invisibility? Do we use machine guns, an axe, a sword, or tanks? Which way do we send them? Are they Brits, or Yanks? Can we use our archers and arrows tipped with fire? This is information we essentially require. Where to send our forces? Behind us or before? But fighting men in hiding! Please don’t go through that door. We tried it in Afghanistan and also in Iraq. But how can we protect against a suicide attack? We need someone to shoot at. But if they are not there. We can only get help if we will turn to God in prayer! We’ve heard all of these arguments for many, many years. But let us put away these thoughts and all our other fears. Concentrate on righteousness in all we say and do. And we will find in everything, He always will be true. He’s said He’ll never leave us. This truth is guaranteed, If we follow justice and go where He will lead. He has never failed us and He will do once more, The things that He has promised and He has done before. Perhaps you are a Gideon and you are beating wheat, Somewhere in a winepress to get enough to eat. Perhaps you are a-tremble, the enemy is near. All is done in secret, in quietness and fear. But take a look behind you and see Who’s standing there. You didn’t spot Him earlier, while blinded with your care. Then He says, “Mighty warrior” and looks you in the eye. “Is that me You’re talking to?” You ask Him with a sigh. “If only it was possible. If only it was true” That’s when the Lord said, “Gideon, I’m speaking unto you. You’re the one I’ve chosen to beat your enemy. I will do the fighting. Just listen unto Me. Your enemies are handed over right into your hands. You will lead the army and smash their evil bands. You will save your people by the power of My might. Do just what I tell you and you will see the sight, Of being liberated in a way you’ll never guess. Go and lead your people right out of the mess. You’re My Mighty warrior; your people are all Mine. You are in the presence of the One Who is Divine. I will make it happen. You needn’t be in fear. They may be invisible; but I am drawing near. So My son, take courage; march forward to the fray. You will be victorious, for I will take the day.” Jim Strickland Written 22nd March 2012.