Pastor Johnnie's Devotional Archives
March 2006
March 3, 2006
Psalm 134:1 "Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord who minister
by night in the house of the Lord."
Many years ago, on furlough from missionary work in Central America, a
Christian friend asked, "What were you doing on such and such a date?"
Of course, I wasn't expecting the question, nor was I at the time (nor
am I now!) proficient in remembering every detail of my life on a daily
basis and, therefore, able to recite, from some four years earlier, the
particulars of a given day. Because I have kept a personal, abbreviated
journal of my life for many, many years, I assured my friend that I would
check my journal and get back with him.
When I read that some fellow missionaries and I had gone through quite
"a day and a night in the deep" kind of experience on a flooding
river, I returned to him and told him the story of the Lord's protection
of our lives when our canoe sank, of the way He saved our lives, and of
the miraculous ways He provided for us, I couldn't help but ask him why
he had asked about that particular day. He simply said that the Holy Spirit,
on that very day and night, had prompted his heart: Pray for Johnnie!
Pray for Johnnie! He did! And I can't tell you how powerful a lesson that
was to me of the love, attention, oversight, and care of the sovereign
Lord over all His children, and certainly over those who involve themselves
in the spread of His Word worldwide.
So, if the Holy Spirit awakens you in the night and brings to mind the
name of an individual, don't complain about loss of sleep. Rather, praise
Him for His love and faithfulness, and take it as a cue to you, His servant,
to pray for that person. Be sure they need it! Therefore, pray. Be a servant
who is willing to minister by night in the house of the Lord!
Loving Father, teach us to pray. Prompt our hearts often - day or
night! - with names for whom to pray. Teach us to minister by night as
well as by day! Amen.
March 7, 2006
Psalm 147:1 Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and fitting to praise him!
I've not read any recent studies about the time spent by Christians 'complaining'
about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness compared to the time
spent praising the Lord. I must admit, however, that unless I intentionally
sit down and peruse my emails and review recent conversations, there seems
to be an unhealthy amount of energy and time spent objecting to the ways
of the Lord. Of course, murmuring is not unique to us in the 21st Century.
The purest and most beguiling form of it began several thousand years
ago in the Garden of Eden when Almighty God Himself was charged with inequitable
dealings, which charge was seemingly all too quickly bought into by others
of His created beings. So, in the spirit and appropriateness of praise,
I decided to review some recent communications from or conversations related
to some of the Lord's people around me.
A mother was overjoyed at the immeasurable grace of God in bringing her
son back to Himself and observing the radical life changes which only
the Spirit of God could perform in the human heart! Fittingly, she is
overjoyed and overflowing with praise to our God! A gentleman was humbly
offering praise from the depths of his heart for the mercy and grace of
God to him, in spite of a previous lifestyle that brought disrepute to
the name of Christ. His praise was certainly appropriate! A teenager was
relating the joys and blessings of a recent youth retreat. Her praise
was gratifying. A brother in Christ extolled the blessings of God through
a recent series of men's meetings where some 3500 men gathered to worship,
praise, and learn. His praise was refreshing. A family member praising
God that a recently deceased loved one is now in the presence of the Lord.
What an appropriately pleasant thought!
Now you take a moment and praise the Lord, in general and specifically,
for His goodness to you. It is appropriate for you to do so!
Father, we praise You with words, with song, with uplifted hands,
with bowed knee, with tearful eyes, and with hearts which are filled with
awe by the fullness and preciseness of Your attention, Your mercy, and
Your grace in our lives! We bless You, O Lord, our God! Amen.
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