Now THIS Is a Word!
Yesterday was the National Day of Prayer. It is a time that I look forward to connecting with people of faith across this nation, and the world, in unity of purpose. What I forgot was that there is an enemy that wants to disrupt our peace, and because I neglected to bind him – he was so on the loose in my life.
Early in the morning I could feel aggravation setting in – and later when I went bowling and could not laugh at how horrible I was doing, I should have known there was more going on than met the eye. After bowling I went to the store that sold me my new computer, which has been out of commission for the past few days. It was verified that my cord was faulty. I thought they would give me another cord and I would be on my way. NOT SO EASY! After an hour and a half it was settled that they could not (or would not) be able to help me. I would have to go the Apple store. The major problem – by then it was rush hour and it was raining cats and dogs! I knew I couldn’t make it and get back in time for church to attend the service recognizing the National Day of Prayer. I had no choice but to go another day without a computer. Today, I went to the Apple Store and within fifteen minutes, the problem was resolved.
When I opened my computer the first scripture that I found was:
12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. Romans 12:12 (NLT)
So, the blessin’ in the lesson! First of all, it pays to get up giving your day to God, especially on the National Day of Prayer. Second, I couldn’t help but think about the scripture which says:
‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?
Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’
"In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure,
And exploit all your laborers. Isaiah 58:3 (NKJV)
I can remember so many other years when I set the National Day of Prayer aside to fast and pray – to spend all day in church on that day and pray the scripture for our nation, my family, my community. While there is nothing wrong with bowling, it probably would have been a lot better if I had followed my custom, which includes:;
"If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the Lord honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the Lord has spoken." Isaiah 58:13-14(NKJV)
There are times when setting ourselves aside from the routine duties and chores of the day are necessary. While my cord may not have been "healed" – maybe God would have told me what to do, and in so doing save myself a lot of aggravation. One thing did occur however, I had a wonderful time at the church during prayer and it left me with a "confident hope" that I need to pray without ceasing.
Maria