Lord, many of us have gone astray because we followed the wrong shepherd, we bonded with the wrong flock, our ears heard deceitful things, and because we were walking in darkness we were unable to discern good from evil. But we give you thanks and praise dear Lord, for your word that has become a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, that we meditate on it day and night, so that we will fear your name, so that we will follow you the good shepherd, and do only what is good and right in your sight. Lord, our afflictions open our eyes to our dependency of you, when we are afflicted we have no other help but you, and this morning, we recognize how much we need you, so you have our undivided attention, so we will be still in our presence and wait for you to act.

Time is something we take for granted, time is something we don’t respect, time is something we don’t understand, especially, when waiting on God. My brothers and sisters in Christ, understand that, whatever you are facing this morning has a time limit. It did not come to stay, it came to pass; because to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. So today, if it is your time to be sick, your time to weep, your time to speak, your time to build up, your time to plant, your time to reap or your time of war, know that this was preset, that whatever God does nothing can be added to it, or nothing taken from it, but that God does these things so that we will fear him.

Dear Lord, when I am facing the trials and tribulations of this life, it would be so easy for me to turn away from you, from trusting you, but today oh Lord, I realize how much I need you, that you are the great Physician, the Master Potter, and that only you could do the impossible. So dear God, as I lift up the sick and suffering, the poor, the needy, the unemployed and the afflicted before you, I am confident that my prayers have not gone unheard, and that is why I could boldly say 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. (PFEDL)

Who is walking with you in the midst of your fire this morning? My brothers and sisters in Christ, we serve a good God, we serve a God who promised to be with us when we go through various trials, and today, they may bind you hand and foot and cast you into a fiery furnace, but if you trust in the Lord, the fire will have no power over you. No matter how they may try to harm you, trust in the Lord your God, and he will give his angels charge over you, so that no weapon formed against you shall prosper. They will look at you in wonder, for all that they try to do to you, the fires they set up to destroy you, will not singe a hair on your head, your garments won’t be affected, and you, to God be the glory, you will come through the fire without a smell on your garments, for the God whom you serve is an awesome God, he is a God who delivers on time, so, this morning, whatever fire you are going through, go through it praising God, for there is no other God who can deliver like this. The Lord will make your enemies your footstool. Whatever was meant to hurt you, God will turn it around for your good and to bring honor and glory to his name. Praise the Lord and bless his holy name!

Lord, I will continually give you thanks and praise for all that you do and continue to do for me, for without you I am nothing, without you leading me and guiding me my destinations would be fruitless; therefore, I will praise you all the day long. (PFEDL)

Is your heart depressed or glad this morning? Are you walking around with a broken spirit? Are you worrying about the situations in your life that you are not able to control, or will you rejoice in the Lord and be glad? Many of us will put on a good show in front of others, laughing, even though the heart is sorrowful. But, we need not be pretentious in the presence of the Lord, we could come naked and bold before him, for he understand the burdens of our hearts, and that is why he said, “Come unto me, all ye who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Take comfort in God’s promises, for we cannot serve God will heavy, sorrowful hearts. Learn to let go and let God fight all of your battles. Say with confidence, “This battle that I am facing today, is not mine, but the Lord’s.”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, weeping may endure for a night or two but joy will come in the morning. Your affliction, your trouble, your adversity did not come to stay, it came to pass; for God has promised to give rest to the weary, to comfort those who are sad, to lift up those who are bowed down, to heal those who are sick, if you call upon his name in times of need, in times of affliction, and in times of adversity. Know this morning that you serve a God who changeth never, whose promises are true, a God who promised to turn your deserts into pools of water, who promised to enlarge territories beneath you, to give you houses that you did not build, wells you did not dig, and vineyards you did not plant when he delivers you; all you need is faith in God, to be believe that he is able to do immeasurably more than you could ever ask or deserve, all he asks is that you not forget him when he brings you out; so, choose for yourselves this morning, whom you will serve; for many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. Praise the Lord!

Master, speak! thy servant heareth, waiting for thy gracious word, longing for thy voice that cheereth;
Master! let it now be heard. Master, speak! though least and lowest, let me not unheard depart; Master, speak! for oh, thou knowest, all the yearning of my heart, knowest all its truest need; Speak! and make me blest indeed. I am listening Lord for thee; What has thou to say to me

“He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock, and established my footsteps. He has put a new song in my mouth, praise to our God. Many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, for many oh Lord, are your wondrous works, and your thoughts towards us cannot be recounted in order, if I would declare and speak of them they are more than could be numbered.” Oh what can I give to you oh Lord for all your benefits towards me? I would daily come into your gates with thanksgiving and enter into your courts with praise, being thankful and blessing your holy name.  Amen!

How can we forget to thank you Lord, for all the many blessing of this life? Lord, you have been with us through the fire, you have been with us through storms, you have broken down barriers before us, released strongholds in our lives, you have lifted us up from our sick beds, and in times of trials and temptations you always make a way for us to escape. Teach us dear Lord, to be always thankful, and to be always prayerful, for you did not have to do it but you did. Thank you Lord for answered prayers this morning, and for those prayers not yet answered, we will hold on to you in prayer, for prayer changes everything if we believe. Praise the Lord!