Hope Reflected

Encouragement and Hope from God's Word

God answers prayer Archive

Tuesday

19

September 2023

Touch His garment

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Published Work

"But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth." (Mark 5:33) | read more of "Touch His garment" on hopereflected.com

“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.” (Mark 5:25-27)

Is Christ our first instinct or our last resort?

This woman, who had suffered many years of a condition that would have caused her to be ostracized from her community, had tried everything. Then she heard of Jesus. Is Christ our first instinct or our last resort?

We often say, “All we can do is pray,” when really the best we can do is pray! Matthew Henry wrote that “It is usual with people not to apply themselves to Christ, till they have tried in vain all other helpers, and find them, as certainly they will, physicians of no value. And he will be found a sure refuge, even to those who make him their last refuge.”

Christ puts honour upon faith

The woman’s faith certainly wasn’t perfect—who’s faith is?—but she knew enough that if she touched Jesus she would be whole. At the time, if someone in her condition touched anyone, that person would be made unclean, just like her. But not Jesus.

“For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” (Mark 5:28). She didn’t say this audibly, but to herself.

As Spurgeon said, “Groanings which cannot be uttered are often prayers which cannot be refused.” The woman with the issue of blood believed that Christ could heal her if only she could touch the hem of His garment. Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary that “Christ puts honour upon faith, because faith gives honour to Christ.”

Like God provided the brazen serpent in the wilderness to heal all those who looked upon it, when we earnestly seek Christ, we can rest assured that He does indeed hear us, and He will honour our faith. First though, we have to come to Him.

Coming to Christ

The woman came to Christ, and she came in humility. There was nothing hid between her and Christ. “But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.” (Mark 5:33)

“To be completely transparent with Christ, we cannot try to cover anything up, and we cannot pray how we think He wants us to pray. We’ve got to show Him everything that’s in our hearts, after all, He knows it already!”

Hope Reflected

The woman came in fearing and trembling, and fell down before Him, as there is no honesty with Christ without humility. The two go hand in hand. To be completely transparent with Christ, we cannot try to cover anything up, and we cannot pray how we think He wants us to pray. We’ve got to show Him everything that’s in our hearts, after all, He knows it already!

We can’t hide anything from Christ

Nothing is hidden from Him, so it really is of no use to try to hide things from Him. The Lord knows every heart and every thought (1 Chronicles 28:9).

“Do not despair, dear heart, but come to the Lord with all thy jagged wounds, black bruises, and running sores. He alone can heal, and He delights to do it. It is our Lord’s office to bind up the brokenhearted, and He is gloriously at home at it.” (Charles Spurgeon)

Originally published as “Touch his garment.” Independent Plus. July 7, 2022: 5. Print. Web.

Thursday

5

August 2021

Illumination

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Published Work

The Bible says "and it came to pass," It did not come to stay! God is with us. Read more at hopereflected.com

We are living in some dark days. People are plagued with anxiety and stress, and are grappling with grief. It’s easy to caught up in our circumstances; just look around.

It came to pass

What’s not easy during times of distress is remembering that this season will end. Throughout the Bible we read, “And it came to pass,” – it’s been said before that these words can act as a reminder that everything comes to pass, it does not come to stay! Dark days can be daunting, discouraging, and demoralizing, but God, even in our darkest days, is still with us. Even when we think He is being silent, even when we think He is not near, and even when we think He doesn’t know what’s going on.

“God, even in our darkest days, is still with us.”

Hope Reflected

God is our source of light

“For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD God will enlighten my darkness.” (Psalm 18:28). David penned this psalm after Saul’s death (we think we’re living in difficult times; for a reality check, read about Saul and David’s tumultuous relationship in 1 Samuel). Being relieved of someone who tried multiple times to kill him wouldn’t enlighten David’s darkness. Being crowned king wouldn’t enlighten David’s darkness. Only the Lord could enlighten David’s darkness. To what, to whom, and where are we looking to light our candle? No person, no place, no possession can do it for us; only God can enlighten our darkness. He is our source of light.

Where do we find light when we’re having trouble seeing in the dark? “The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8). Similar to another psalm he wrote (Psalm 119), David uses Psalm 19 to praise the virtues of God’s Word. Among them, “enlightening the eyes”. Cheer and comfort, commandment and correction, everything we need to navigate the darkness can be found in God’s Word.

“I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun, not because I can see it, but by it I can see everything else.”

C.S. Lewis

The Power of Prayer

We can also find light for our darkest days through prayer. Yes, to the tired soul it may sound trite, but it is true. When we pray, we understand that the eyes of our understanding are enlightened (Ephesians 1:18). Prayer should always be a priority, but it’s a misconception that our prayers must always be pretty and put together. When we come before Him, He sees every tear we cry. God doesn’t merely comfort us; He collects our tears and keeps track of them (Psalm 56:8). Our Lord knows every thought, even the ones we don’t acknowledge to Him (Psalm 139:2). Even when we can’t speak, God hears every groan (Exodus 2:24, Psalm 6:6). C.S. Lewis wrote that, “I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun, not because I can see it, but by it I can see everything else.” Getting closer to God is of utmost importance at all times, even when we find ourselves in dark days. Jesus promises, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12).

Originally published as “Illumination.” Independent Plus. February 18, 2021: 5. Print. Web.

Monday

11

September 2017

Hope Reflected | Encouragement | Zechariah 10:1

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

"Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain." Zechariah 10:1 | See more at hopereflected.com

“Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” Zechariah 10:1

Here’s what Matthew Henry has to say about this beautiful passage of scripture, Zechariah 10:1.

“Spiritual blessings had been promised under figurative allusions to earthly plenty. Seasonable rain is a great mercy, which we may ask of God when there is most need of it, and we may look for it to come. We must in our prayers ask for mercies in their proper time. The Lord would make bright clouds, and give showers of rain. This may be an exhortation to seek the influences of the Holy Spirit, in faith and by prayer, through which the blessings held forth in the promises are obtained and enjoyed.”

How often do we not receive from the Lord because we don’t take the time in prayer to humbly approach the Lord and ask?

Ask ye of the Lord.

As you head into this week, remember that God is with you. Whenever you’re ready to start a conversation with Him, He’s ready to hear you.

“Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” Zechariah 10:1

Monday

12

September 2016

Encouragement: Psalm 138:3

Written by , Posted in Christian Living, Encouragement

encouragement encouraging psalms

Psalm 138 is one of the most encouraging psalms. Written by David, a man after God’s own heart, Psalm 138 is filled with some amazing truths.

“In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.” Psalm 138:3

One of David’s psalms, Psalm 138 is so encouraging and inspiring. It speaks of whole-hearted praise for God, worship of His Holiness, God’s lovingkindness and truth, the power of God’s Word, God’s ways, and so much more.

Perhaps my favourite verse from this Psalm of praise is verse 3, when David says: “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.”

This verse tells me at least four facts:

  1. God is always there for me, I just need to seek Him. “When I cried out…”
  2. God’s answers prayers. “You answered me…”. It may not always how we think He will answer, or how we think He should answer, but God hears our prayers, and He answers our prayers. Thank you, Lord!
  3. God makes me bold. “You…made me bold.” We all know Proverbs 28:1, which tells us that “the righteous are bold as a lion”. True boldness comes from Christ. D.L. Moody once said, “When we find a man meditating on the words of God, that man is full of boldness and is successful.”
  4. God provides strength for my soul. “…with strength in my soul.” God is more than capable of bringing me through anything. I’m reminded me of one of the other encouraging psalms, with the incredible promise of Psalm 27:14: “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” God will provide the strength you need for whatever you’re facing this week. Note it doesn’t say that He’ll remove the problem in front of you, but He will, HE WILL! provide the strength you need to come through it. Praise the Lord!

We serve an amazing God, and He longs to have a relationship with us, and to provide for us. If you’re looking for examples God’s goodness, check out any number of the encouraging psalms. Written by various authours who faced various challenges—and received various blessings—throughout their lives, the psalms are some of the most inspiring and incredible chapters of the Bible. All we need to do is cry out to Him! Wherever you are today, God is there for you, He will answer your prayers, He will make you bold, and He will provide you with strength for your soul! God is good!