31/07/09

Natural calamities

Joel 2:26 - And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.


What is natural about natural calamities is it naturally directly or indirectly from God.

When God cursed Adam, one of the curses was on the earth. God cursed the earth and the days of man on earth. Man then onwards faced hardship to survive on earth.

In today's message the Lord (Joel 2:25) clearly states the pestilence and diseases are the devouring armies of God, which He sends when He express His wrath.

But His mercy overcomes Him and He stops when He sees His people and remembers His commandment or sees change in His people.

Today's message is to His people of Zion (fortified city); people who take refuge in Him. That does not mean just to request God for protection. To remain in God's protection one needs to pursue righteousness. So today's message is to all those who approach God for refuge and have made up their minds to walk according to His Word.

We may not be fully successful but what matters is an honest attempt and perseverance to keep on trying.


[ Prayer Starter ]

Father God, You are a righteous God, but at the same time You are merciful and ever forgiving to your people. Father, forgive me for again and again I have failed You, in my weakness I have forsaken your Word. I had hardened my heart to your Voice. But Father in me cries out for your love. Ever part of my spirit longs for You, but I helplessly fail against my carnal mind and flesh. Father, forgive me for hurting You and help me renew my mind to be in You and under your wings forever...

We ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]

Genesis 3:17
17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

Joel 2:23-27
23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)