10/12/2025
"This is the day the LORD has made;
we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Psalm 118:24
Sometimes God really wants to get my attention, so He confirms verses to me - at least three times on the same day, at some point in each day. This time it was within minutes that He had this verse spoken to me from two pastors' messages', my devotional, and from reminding me of the prayer I speak when I wake up in the morning. It jump starts my day! This Psalm is one that is read at Passover as Jesus our Messiah is remembered and welcomed to the celebration. It is also read at other festivals of the Lord such as Hanukkah, Shavuot, and Sukkot as a song of praise and thanksgiving. I repeat this verse each morning before I get out of bed, because I want to remember that regardless of what happens during the day, I will still choose to rejoice in my Lord and be grateful for a new day to serve Him.
The day has been charged spiritually with expectation and hope in the air as we await the release of the hostages from Gaza who have been held by Hamas for 737 days. With each step made in preparation, it appears that this time the treaty will not be violated, and our prayers of 737 days will be answered. So we wait, and we pray, and, yes, we rejoice and give praise.
As the day progressed, once again the enemy tried to adjust my day and my attitude, but, thankfully, he did not succeed. On my prayer calendars for today these two quotations were given:
"Pray and never faint, is the motto Christ gives us for praying. It is the test of our faith, and the more severe the trial and the longer the waiting, the more glorious the results." E.M. Bounds
"We need to learn to know Him so well that we feel safe when we have left our difficulties with Him. To know Jesus in that way is a prerequisite of all true prayer." O. Hallesby
Time spent in the secret place of the most high is a time of preparation, needed more at other times. It's a place where we must spend time each day to grow in His grace and glory, bask in His presence, and listen to His voice as He reminds us of the things we should know, as He leads and guides, and as He ever so gently prunes and refines us.
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him will I trust.'" Psalm 91:1-2
"You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7
As I'm writing these words the familiar chords of the old hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness, is softly playing. During these times of waiting, rejoicing, remembering His faithfulness to us, I think of Daniel in the Lion's den; his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery pit; and the prophets and obedient kings of Judah. I always thank Him for my family and the incredible miracles He's brought. Although things may appear difficult right now in my family, and certainly not what I would have expected or wanted, still I have no doubts that He will fulfill His promises to me, even if I don't live to see them. I refuse to fall into doubt and questioning when times become impossible at times. People fail, but God never.
"What tore the veil, what empties hell, what never fails, only the blood. What testifies, what prophesies, death to life, only the blood." (Jesus Image)
I am exceedingly grateful to live in a country that stands with Israel as her number one ally and friend, a nation who understands the significance of Israel in our Judeo-Christian faith, the faith on which our country was founded. Our President Donald J. Trump is Israel's closest friend, and he stood against the formation of a Palestinian state and against the United Nations who have violated what the organization was established to do - "maintain international peace and security, protect human rights, foster friendly relations between nations and promote solutions to global problems." I am grateful that President Trump is not afraid to stand up for truth, go against the grain, and do the right thing especially when it is not the popular or "politically correct" thing to do. I'm so thankful to God that He has placed a man in the highest seat of government who obeys His word found in Micah 6:8: "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" He's not afraid to use the words "IN GOD WE TRUST." And He is not afraid to say that Jesus Christ is our Savior and LORD!
The day is drawing close to a close for me, but it's early in the day for Israel, as they wait in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. I'll be up all night waiting with them. Great is Thy Faithfulness, O Lord!
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