Encouragement

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Psalms:31:1: In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness.
Psalms:31:2: Bow down thine ear to me; deliver me speedily: be thou my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me.
Psalms:31:3: For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Psalms:31:4: Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.
Psalms:31:5: Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
Psalms:31:6: I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
Psalms:31:7: I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities;
Psalms:31:8: And hast not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: thou hast set my feet in a large room.
Psalms:31:9: Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
Psalms:31:10: For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
Psalms:31:11: I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
Psalms:31:12: I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
Psalms:31:13: For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
Psalms:31:14: But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
Psalms:31:15: My times are in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
Psalms:31:16: Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.



Abraham was in this place when he agonised over his unfruitfulness and the barrenness of Sarah. God was comforting him: I am your shield and your abundant compensation.’ (Gen15:1-6) But Abraham was not so sure. He lamented that in spite of the lofty promises of God in Gen 12: 1-3 he was still childless and he feared his servant Eliezer was going to be his heir. God told him, ‘No, I am a God of integrity and what I promise I fulfil regardless of the passage of time. I was before time. I transcend time. I created time. I am the Unchanging Changer, the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End, Author and Finisher. Before Abraham, I was. Time is in my Hands. I uphold all things by the word of My power.
God reassured him that a child from his loins will be his heir.

Abraham looked at himself and wondered when that would be if it will be. He knew he was passing his sell-by date. His biological clock was ticking fast and so was Sarah’s. He wasn’t expecting another promise at that time but an immediate fulfilment of the promise that had been made a long time ago.
But God knew he was not ready to receive the promise and had to process him further. To encourage Abraham again, God reinforced His covenant with Him and, this time, changed his name from Abram to Abraham and Sarai to Sarah. (Gen.17:5,15) By so doing God was communicating to Abraham: ‘we are now like covenant brothers and so I join your name to Mine. Sarah laughed at this juncture and so did Abraham. It sounded too good to be true at that age when Abraham was almost 100 years of age.
But God said about this time next year I will visit you and Sarah will have a child and you will call him laughter (Isaac).
Yes, you laughed in unbelief but still I will give you laughter to wipe away your doubt and tears and fears. And so in the fullness of time Isaac was born.
We all know the story of how Ishmael was born as a result of impatience and the sorrow that that caused Sarah and the strife within the family. The evidence is still here with us as we see the Arabs always at war with Israel. That is what happens when we run ahead of God- an Ishmael is born which becomes a thorn in our flesh.

Our times are in His hands. In His time, He makes everything beautiful.

David, who wrote Ps.31 knew what he was talking about when he said, ‘My times are in your hand.’ This was a man anointed to be king when he was very young but had to endure not just waiting a long time but ran from pillar to post with his life in his hands and Saul in hot pursuit. He had the opportunity o kill Saul several times but resisted the temptation to touch the Lord’s anointed and take matters into his own hands and speed up his destiny. Think of those years when he was taking cover amongst the Philistines, whose hero he had brought down and turn the lights on in Israel. How humiliating that he should then be a fugitive in their land, running away from the King whose honour he championed when Goliath roared and challenged Israel! Well, God allowed all these things to happen to David to prepare him for the throne.

Your times are in his hands even as you are tried sore about your destiny. Wait until your change comes. Renew your strength by waiting on the Lord. You will mount up with wings as the eagles and run and not be weary, walk and not faint.

And even after being crowned king after the death Saul, David was overthrown by his beloved son, Absolom, whom he had forgiven for murdering his brother. David ran away into the wilderness and was exiled for a long time before he returned to the throne.

Noah was shut in the ark and the rain kept falling and failing and falling. He wondered when it would stop. He kept checking it out. But we were told and God remembered Noah and the rain stopped. A New Day dawned. A New Era began. God will remember you. God has not forgotten His promises concerning you. He will perfect that which concerns you. (Ps138:2) You will have rest from your test. After your test your testimony will come. ‘No test, no testimony.’’ No trials, no triumphs.’

Hannah, even though favoured, was barren. And she was tried, taunted and tormented by her rival, Peninnah. She had to learn to rejoice when others around her were blessed with what she badly wanted. She also had to learn to keep her spirit pure in the face of provocation- insult added to injury.

Hannah resorted to stepping up her prayer by fasting in addition and God heard her prayer and remembered her, she became pregnant with Samuel and sang a New Song. Samuel became a judge and great prophet and intercessor of God. We did not hear anything about Peninah’s children, did we?

Are you barren and being provoked by those around you who seem to have everything together? Are people pointing 0he finger or seem to be doing so, saying, ‘If you are a child of God, why are all these things happening to you? Why are you so far from reaching your destiny? Are they showing off with their ministries, wives, husbands, houses, jobs, careers, degrees, promotions etc etc.? Do you feel left behind, forgotten, and abandoned?
Listen: 1Sa:1:17: Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
1Sa:1:18: And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
1Sa:1:19: And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

Your day of remembrance is coming!

1Sa:1:20: Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
Like Joseph, those who forgot you because it was not time,
will remember you because it is your time:
to rise out of obscurity into prosperity, rise out of decadence into prominence
rise from nonentity to a celebrity
rise From penury into plenty
rise from floundering and wandering
into strategic positioning and abounding
like Esther.
did not know he had an appointment with the Holy spirit. Peter exercised his faith and that man was healed, leaping, dancing and praising God. Your day of leaping, dancing and praising God is coming.
Blind Barthimaeus was also begging as usual but he heard the commotion around him and when he enquired was told it was Jesus of Nazareth. He knew it was his time and did not let his miracle pass him by. You too will recognise your time and grab it with two hands.
Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

46 Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.
Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.”
50 And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus.
51 So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.”
52 Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. Mark10:46-52
Woman with issue of blood
She was exhausted, depleted, dispossessed, dispirited as she went from physician to physician drained of her resources and yet grew worse. But that day her anguish came to an end as she made a determined effort to go into he city where Jesus was and reach to touch the hem of His garment. Her story changed for the better. What is your issue today? Take your step of faith and Jesus will not disappoint you.
42For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
43And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
Luke 8:40-44
Or are you like Mephibosheth who was hopeless, quivering in a desert land- Lo Debar in the house of Makir (a sell out) and crippled soon after his birth? favour knocked on his door, covenant spoke for him; the king remembered covenant and sent for him. Dignitaries will send for you and grant you favour at a time you least expect it.
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth ] Now David said, “Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Ziba answered the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in both feet."
4 "Where is he?" the king asked.
Ziba answered, "He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."
5 So King David had him brought from Lo Debar, from the house of Makir son of Ammiel.


Now when Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, had come to David, he fell on his face and prostrated himself. Then David said, “Mephibosheth?” And he answered, “Here is your servant!” You therefore, and your sons and your servants, shall work the land for him, and you shall bring in the harvest, that your master’s son may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth your master’s son shall eat bread at my table always.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king has commanded his servant, so will your servant do.” “As for Mephibosheth,” said the king, “he shall eat at my table like one of the king’s sons.” So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for he ate continually at the king’s table. And he was lame in both his feet. 2sam:9:13-5,,6,9,11,13

Your times are in His hands.

God Will Not Forget You
Isa:49:15: Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Isa:51:13: And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
Isa:54:4: Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

Sing Before You See
Isa:54:1: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
Isa:62:4: Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzi-bah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.

God is faithful
Isa:66:9: Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

There is Nothing Too Hard for God
Ge:18:14: Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Ex:2:24: And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.
Ex:6:5: And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage; and I have remembered my covenant.

Ge:8:1: And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;
Ge:19:29: And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.
Ge:30:22: And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb.
And can I say God remembered Joseph too, even as He remembered David. Joseph was brought out of the dungeon to become the Prime Minister of Egypt and fulfil his purpose, his dream, his destiny.
You too will, regardless of the trials and the passage of time. Why? Because, Nu:23:19: God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

God has a good and great plan for you

Jer:29:11: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Ge:15:1: After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Wait on the Lord
Isa:40:31: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isa:25:9: And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Salvation belongs to God
Isa:33:2: O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

Put Your Hope in God
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Ps42:5,11
Isa:43:18: Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Isa:43:19: Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
Isa:46:9: Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,
Isa:48:3: I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
Isa:61:4: And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Isa:65:17: For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

e:21:1: And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
Ge:21:2: For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
Ge:21:3: And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
Ge:21:4: And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
Ge:21:5: And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
Ge:21:6: And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
Ge:21:7: And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.

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