Notes of Faith November 29, 2024
Prayer, Then Praise
[The righteous] will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he will not be afraid.
Psalm 112:7-8
There are numerous instances in the Old Testament where God said something was done before it happened. For example, before the Israelites conquered Jericho, God told them, “I have given Jericho into your hand” (Joshua 6:2). Between the time of God’s promise and its realization, the Israelites acted in faith and saw the walls fall down.
In the New Testament, promises were made, and faithfulness was expected in the interim. For example, ten lepers were cleansed only after they obeyed Jesus’ instruction to go to the priests (Luke 17:11-14). A blind man was healed only after he obeyed Jesus’ instructions to wash in the pool of Siloam (John 9:6-7). So what should we do in the interim between asking God for something and seeing it realized? Absent any specific instruction, we can praise and thank God for what His love and goodness will deliver in our time of need (Psalm 103:1-5). That is how we exercise faith after we have made our needs known to God (Philippians 4:6-7).
After you pray, be sure to praise God for the answer He is going to bring.
If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Charles Spurgeon
Ps 103:1-5
103 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
This psalm speaks of things that are all true though some have a future context. Those who come to Jesus in faith are spoken of thereafter as saints, no longer sinners, righteous, those who walk with God, those who trust God through any of this life’s circumstances. May you be blessed today, no matter your circumstances. If you are in Christ, you are an overcomer, a victor over sin and death and will reap reward from your Creator, Savior, and King that lasts forever!
Pastor Dale