HOLD ON and ENDURE with CONFIDENCE - a short devotional
By William Akehurst, HSWC
Devotional
We need to endure and be faithful and trusting unto the LORD our GOD, continuing to do what is right, no matter what our lot.
Scriptures Referenced
1 Peter 4:19
Revelations 13:10
Psalm 16:1-11
Psalm 16:4
Deuteronomy 6:4; Mark 12:29
2 Chronicles 7:14
Revelations 13:5-10
Joshua 24:15
1 Peter 4:19 goes hand in hand with Revelation 13:10
1 Peter 4:19 GWT
Those who suffer because that is God’s will for them must entrust themselves to a faithful creator and continue to do what is good.
Revelation 13:10 GWT
If anyone is taken prisoner, he must go to prison. If anyone is killed with a sword, with a sword he must be killed. In this situation God’s holy people need endurance and confidence.
I was reading Revelations 13 last evening. And typically, as a rule, I do not go political, but this one election has me extremely concerned, and/or anxiously awaiting a soon coming King!
I believe we are seeing the end times. As in the days of Noah. Uprising of the ungodly. Wars, and rumors of wars. Terrorism. Hurricanes and disasters. Economic Depression world wide. And Israel has become a nation required by the prophetic word. Something that was not in place during the Depression of the 20’s when folks probably thought the end was near.
Do you suppose verse 5 could be the rule of a president of our USA? 42 months in power. Consider this. It takes about 3 months to get established in the office. And the last 3 months of the presidency are typically unproductive. Or perhaps it takes a good 6 months before true effect is seen from a president.
Either way, considering where it appears our election is headed; we need to hold on to what is true, pure, right and of GOD.
Revelations 13:5-10 Is this to be our daily USA TODAY newspaper?
5 The beast was allowed to speak arrogant and insulting things. It was given authority to act for 42 months.
6 It opened its mouth to insult God, to insult his name and his tent-those who are living in heaven. 7 It was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. It was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation. 8 Everyone living on earth will worship it, everyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life. That book belongs to the lamb who was slaughtered before the creation of the world. 9 If anyone has ears, let him listen: 10 If anyone is taken prisoner, he must go to prison. If anyone is killed with a sword, with a sword he must be killed. In this situation God’s holy people need endurance and confidence.
I heard the words spoken by one of the candidates that America was no longer a Christian nation, but rather one of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist religions. As true as that may be, our country was founded on Christian principles and beliefs.
Even the national monument in DC is an arrow pointing the nation upward, as unto GOD. On its top, unseen by most of the world, are the words LAUS DEO - Praise Be to GOD.
LOOK UP AMERICA!
My question now is this - to which ’god’ has our nation turned?
Psalm 16 is a good psalm for our times. With the recent crash of the stock market, I was taken with verse 4, "Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god:" in this case...in the god of money.
But here is my comfort. Here is my joy. Here is my hope and where I place my trust.
From Psalm 16:
1 Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.
5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.
11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
We need to be a people unto the LORD our GOD.
We need to hold on, endure with confidence and trust in the LORD our GOD
We need to remain constant, even though our world is changing around us.
We need to BE GOD’s people, turning from the wickedness of this world, humbling ourselves before HIM, praying and asking HIM to heal our land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
HEAR, OH ISRAEL: THE LORD our GOD, THE LORD IS ONE
And that goes for me and my house
