Hymns like this one written by William Bathurst, gives me courage along life’s pathway and I just wanted to share it with you this morning. Our faith is constantly being challenged and we must find ways to bolster our faith lest unbelief gains a stronghold on our lives.

“O, for a faith that will not shrink, though pressed by many a foe; that will not waver on the brink of any earthly woe. That will not murmur nor complain, beneath the chastening rod, but in the hour of grief or pain, can lean upon its God. A faith that shines more bright and clear, when tempests rage without, that when in danger knows no fear, in darkness feels no doubt. A faith that keeps the narrow way, till life’s last spark is fled, and with a pure and heavenly ray, lights up a dying bed. Lord, give

How many of you this morning are convinced that whatever you ask of God that he is able to perform?  Many of us have been praying for a long time, and waiting for God to answer favorably seems long and hard. For twelve years I have been praying to God for one thing, and many times, I will admit, that my faith wavered, and I had to remind myself, that God said he would bring it to pass in his own time, and now, I am fully convinced, that God is able to bring it to pass. I’ve been waiting twelve years and it seems like a long time, but Abraham was a hundred years old and still fully convinced, that what God had promised him that he was able to deliver. We read in Romans chapter 4, “And not being weak in faith, Abraham did not consider his own body, already dead, since he was a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb, he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what he had promised, he was able to perform.” God, give us a faith that will not shrink though pressed by every foe that will not waver on the brink, of any earthly woe. Teach us, Lord, to meekly wait and murmur not, convinced, that whatever you promise that you are able to perform. Keep us strong in the faith, continually giving you all the glory and all the praise, so that it may be accounted to us for righteousness. Thank you, Lord!

We have all looked for love in all the wrong places, and we continue searching for that perfect love, but until we come to understand that God is love, we will continue to search and not find, we will continue to drink from wells which cannot satisfy, and we will continue to be heartbroken time after time. My brothers and sisters in Christ, if you have been searching for love and still cannot find, why not make a commitment today to begin an intimate relationship with God. I can assure, you that once you enter into a relationship with God, he will never let you go, he will never disappoint you, he will satisfy your needs in parched places, he will comfort you, love you, care for you, provide for you, and give you the desires of your heart, and if you are faithful to him, nothing will be able to separate you from God’s love. Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you, and remember, that there is no greater love than what could be found in God. Praise the Lord!

Listen carefully to me says the Lord, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to me, hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you. Seek the Lord while he may yet be found, call upon him while he is near, let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, for our God will abundantly pardon.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Pursue what is good, shun all evil that it may be well with you. Praise the Lord!

Do you realize that God allows situations in your life and mine to remind us of how awesome he is? Thank you, Lord, for the situations that brings me to you in prayer, you have my undivided attention, so I will be still in your presence and wait for you to act. When I wrote this prayer in my book (PFEL) I was faced with a situation in my life where I tried to handle it in my own strength, and it kept getting worse, and it brought me to my knees in prayer before God, and when I opened my mouth to pray, it was not to ask God to relieve me of this situation, it was to thank Him for the situation which brought me to my knees in prayer before Him. I realized then, that there was no problem, situation, or circumstance, greater than God, and that when I allowed myself to be humble, to kneel in prayer before Him, He strengthened my weak knees, so that I was able to stand up, and be strong, in the face of my situation. I am encouraging you this morning, to never allow your situation, problem, or circumstance, to play a greater role in your life than God, when they arise, fall on your knees before God and acknowledge Him, give Him your undivided attention, be still in His presence and wait for Him to act, and watch him fix it for you. He did it for me and he will do the same for you, trust Him.

“While the world looks upon me as I struggle along, they say I have nothing, but they are so wrong, in my heart I am rejoicing, and I wish they could see, but I thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me, There’s a roof up above me and a good place to sleep, there is food on my table and shoes on my feet, you gave me your love Lord, and a fine family, and I thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me. Though I am not wealthy, these clothes are not new, I don’t have much money but, Lord I have you, and to me that’s all that matters, though the world may not see, thank you Lord, for your blessings on me.”

Lord, I am thankful for each new day, for health, for strength, and for your unending mercies. I am especially thankful for my peace of mind, I am learning to be content in any situation; I am surrounded by people who love and care for me. Lord, I did not understand where you were leading me and I was rebellious at times because of lack of wisdom, I wanted to followed my own desires, forgive me dear Lord, because I can see clearly now where you brought me from, you have washed me, you have molded me, and you recreated me, and I can say with confidence, that I don’t know about tomorrow, I won’t worry about tomorrow, I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know you hold tomorrow, and I know you are holding my hand. Thank you Lord!

We read in Genesis 35:2, “Jacob said to his household and all who were with him “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you and purify yourselves and change your clothes.” Then we are reminded in the book of Joshua chapter 24, ”But, if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are now living. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve others Gods.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, the choice is ours, to fear the LORD and to serve Him, and Him only, in sincerity and truth; let us pledge today to put away from us all foreign gods, anything that we put before God, anything that separates us from his love, to purify ourselves and change our clothing, and serve the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Praise the Lord!

Look around you this morning and instead of focusing on the troubles of yesterday, thank God for the blessings of today. When I awoke this morning, I felt a peace, a sweet peace, it was so calm, so quiet, and I stood at the window and looked out on God’s beautiful creation and I just said, Thank you Lord! I don’t know what this day will bring forth, but I will ask God to let his peace surround me this day and no matter what face me today, I believe his calm assurance will see me through. My brothers and sisters in Christ may you also be blessed with God’s peace today and let it surround you like a shield. Praise the Lord!

Do you believe this morning that God works in mysterious ways? Indeed he does! Many times when we are on the brink, when we think all is lost, God plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storms in our lives. Many of us this morning have been praying to God for one thing or the other for a long time, and we are close to giving up, but I am here to remind you this morning, and to reassure myself, that the God we serve is a mysterious God, he moves in mysterious ways, and I am confident, that our God is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever ask or deserve, all we need to do is to have faith in God. So, my brothers and sisters in Christ, if you are fearful this morning, fresh courage take, for the clouds that you so much dread, are big with mercy, and will break with blessings on your head. Amen!