By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
MONDAY
THEME: MAY THE LORD ANSWER YOU . . .
SCRIPTURE: Psalms 20:1
“May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;”
REFLECTIONS
One of the evidential characteristics of a genuine loved one is the person’s readiness to respond to your calls. When you have loved ones, you feel free to call on them whenever you deem convenient. However, if you have an urgent need, you do not worry about calling on them at even odd times. The relationship motivates you to call and make the demands you may have. Jesus alluded to this in Luke 11:5-13. Our trust in God is a valid credential that allows us to access Him every day, at any time, and from anywhere.
Every human being, at some point in life, may need the help of someone else. In times of trouble, your need for help is urgent and crucial – you do not wait for a convenient time per se; you act on the spot. In times of trouble, you do not seek help from where the support will be challenging. You always have an assurance of someone you can rely on for assistance. David’s prayer is our prayer for you today. Psalms 20:1 states, “May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you.” This motivating prayer is premised on your trust in the Lord as your God, Helper, and Deliverer.
You live in a troubled world; therefore, your need for help is colossal and unending. But David points you to the One and Only One who has the power to change any situation you may face. The non-troubled days indicate that the Lord had already answered and showered you with His favor. But the moment trouble strikes, send a distress call to the control room of God. Because David had experienced receiving help in times of trouble uncountable times, he can encourage you to trust God to help you when you call in times of urgent need. He invokes the name of the God who defended Jacob in his sojourn and delivered Joseph from an assassination plot, illicit sexual conspiracy, and imprisonment for no offense. This is real for anyone who trusts God. Trust is a vehicle that transports you into the very presence of God for help in times of trouble. So may the name of the God of Jacob be a defense for you. May the Lord answer you when you pray.
In verse 4, we pray with David, pleading, “May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, And fulfill all your purpose.” You can rest assured that God will grant this petition in the context of His promise in Jeremiah 33:3 – ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’” Whether you are going for an interview, seeking a job offer, writing an examination, facing any challenge, or needing to make critical decisions, may the Lord answer and grant you according to your heart’s desire. If you have such a loving, caring, compassionate God, why do you carry the problems of your world on your shoulders? The Lord will answer you in the day and period of trouble.
DECISION: What two conclusions do you make about God, and what two actions would you take after meditating on this devotional?
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 505 – “I Need the Prayers”
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for the privilege to call on Him anytime; thank Him for His faithfulness; pray to have implicit faith in Him at all times;
– Pray for family, friends, acquaintances, neighbors, colleagues, and church members who are challenged or troubled;
– Pray for displaced people, refugees, asylum seekers, starving populations, disaster victims, and families separated by wars;
– Pray for the peace, stability, security, and development of the nation; pray for workers to be faithful and employers to be caring; pray for divine healing for the unwell and the spread of the word of God.
