God Is Sovereign
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Deuteronomy 3 and Psalm 113 (NIV)
(Cassandra Leung, PTM Children’s Ministry)
READ:
Deuteronomy 3 (NIV)
OBSERVE:
The Israelites won another battle against the strong army of Og, King of Bashan, because God fought for and with them. The victory came when they were encouraged by their former win to trust God for another victory – “… Do to him what you did to Sihon king of the Amorites …”. Deuteronomy 3:2 reminded me that our God can help regardless of the problems I face. He is our ever-present help and He will keep His promises.
In verse 21, Moses encouraged Joshua, who was to succeed him. “… You have seen with your own eyes all that the Lord your God has done …” and again in verse 22, “… Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.”
APPLY:
Our battles may not be against well-trained kings and their armies, but they are just as real as Joshua’s in our modern context. I remember nine years ago when I had a medical condition, I was not just fighting my battle to get well, I also had to care for my aged parents who both needed assistance particularly my mother who concurrently had several of bouts of pneumonia and was under palliative care. The financial burden was heavy. Everything caved in on me. God was there as I sought for peace and I surrendered as I trusted and obeyed Him. I remember being blessed by a Muslim Pakistani friend who encouraged me with a plaque of Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” It was a huge encouragement from a non-believer!
DO:
Encouragement can really make a deep impact on one who is overwhelmed with surmountable problems. One may never know how even a few words of encouragement can help another run an extra mile to overcome their circumstances.
In small ways, I want to continue to be an encourager to share the hope in God, who fights our battles for and with us.
PRAY:
Dear Father God, thank You for the battles You put me through. It is indeed hard but I have hope in You to see me through. You are there to watch over me. Give me the strength to trust and release my concerns to You. I also ask You to use me to be an encourager to those in need and share the hope we have in You. I pray in Your Son’s mighty Name, Amen.
