"The race is not to the swift" - some hope for us slow runners

"The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill, But time and chance happen to them all."

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I was just reading the quote of the day that popped up on the site (Ecclesiastes 9:11) and felt prompted to write something about it. "The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong...But time and chance happen to them all." This sounds quite arbitrary, doesn't it? But I think it gives us (the ones who are not the fastest, nor the smartest) a little hope... 

And it's not "luck" or "fate" that's behind the "time and chance" either, but God. I think this is what it means to be blessed by Him. You don't have to be the most intelligent, or the one with the most skill at something, but God can put you at the right place at the right time. 

So, if you have ever felt down that you are not good enough at something, or wonder if you can succeed when you know so many people out there are better, stronger, smarter, wiser, etc. take heart. If God is on your side (and He is!) then there's nothing you can't achieve with Him helping. This is something I've got to keep reminding myself of, too. If it came down to the crunch, which would you prefer? To be the most intelligent person on this earth? To be the most talented person, the most popular person, the most lucky person, or to have God looking out for you all the time? 

Slightly off point, but I think it is interesting how people can more readily believe in the concept of luck, Lady Luck, or fate (all non-physical concepts) but have difficulty in believing in God... 




Prayer to Overcome Fear - 2 Timothy 1:7

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7

If you suddenly feel afraid, or are plagued by doubts, stress, etc. this one-line prayer is really handy and powerful. When we are afraid, it can be difficult to just stop being afraid on our own accord. Often if we tell ourselves (or someone tells us) - stop being afraid, or there's nothing to be afraid of, etc., often this doesn't really help, even if we logically know our fears are silly (or we just want to calm down). So we need something more powerful and reassuring than that, and this verse is perfect.

In 2 Timothy 1:7, God is telling us that He did NOT give us a spirit of fear. Our spirit is NOT a fearful spirit. Instead, our spirit is powerful. Our spirit is one of love. And our spirit has a sound mind - that means those crazy, silly, insecure fears and thoughts that may enter our mind is NOT the real you.

I really recommend memorising this simple, one-line verse, and the next time you are caught in fear, pray it out loud (or under your breath if you're in public!) and keep repeating it over and over again until the fear leaves you. And while you pray, imagine your spirit as a powerful spirit, a loving spirit, and a spirit with a sound mind that doesn't succumb to irrational thoughts.

(Then, once you have calmed down, if the situation is appropriate, pray to God for protection!)




Prayer is the answer to every problem in life

YH fowarded me this quotation that was published in 1965. I thought it was lovely and positive, and very apt at describing the Power of Prayer!

"Prayer is the answer to every problem in life.
It puts us in tune with divine wisdom which knows how to adjust everything perfectly.
So often we do not pray in certain situations because from our standpoint the outlook is hopeless.
But nothing is impossible with God.
Nothing is so entangled that it cannot be remedied.
No human relationship is too strained for God to bring about reconciliation and understanding.
No habit is so deeply rooted that it cannot be overcome.
No one is so weak that they cannot be strong.
No one is so ill that they cannot be healed.
No mind is so dull that it cannot be made brilliant.
Whatever we need or desire, if we trust God, He will supply it.
If anything is causing worry or anxiety, let us stop rehearsing the difficulty and trust God for healing, love and power."

Unknown author, Review and Herald, October 7, 1965. 


Fear Not, the Lord is on Your Side - Psalm 118

If you are feeling afraid or fearful, or have something challenging to do and feel like you are facing it alone, firstly, know that you are not alone, and take strength in the knowledge that God is on your side, fighting for you. 

It also helps to read and pray some relevant chapters in the Bible, such as Psalm 118. I especially like verses 5 -6:

I called on the LORD in distress;
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
The LORD is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
(Psalm 118:5-6)

The Lord answers you when you are distressed, and He is on your side. You need not fear what man will do to you - you have the greatest, the strongest, the most loving being, your Creator on your side, fighting for you!

Even long ago, this was the case. King Hezekiah said these words to his men before battle -

“Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.”

(2 Chronicles 32:7-8)

These words can still hold true today - your challenge may be like the king of Assyria and his multitudes... but you have the Lord on your side, and that is MORE than all the multitudes!

Psalm 118 (extract)

5 I called on the LORD in distress;
The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The LORD is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the LORD
Than to put confidence in princes.

10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
11 They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.




Trust in the Lord - Proverbs 3:5-6

Another of my favourite verses is Proverbs 3:5-6. It is also good to memorise and use as a prayer for many different situations, eg. when you feel uncertain, are trying to make a decision, or when you get frustrated with how things are turning out in your day or life. If you are the sort of person who deals with situations like traffic jams by reasoning that the Lord is delaying you for a good reason, then this prayer also helps. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 is also a wonderful prayer to say in the morning, especially on days you face something challenging (like a new situation or difficult task). As you pray the words, feel yourself relaxing and trusting in Him, and know with confidence (and joy!) that He will direct everything you do that day, and that it will turn out well. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

This version is from the New International Version (NIV), and I like it over other versions simply because I prefer the wording. Also, the NIV version of Proverbs 3:5-6 is written on our little stone tablet that is propped up against the wall next to our coffee machine, and I read it as I wait for the coffee. It is a great prayer to say every morning just to worship the Lord.




Enforce Your Healing Rights

God made a lot of promises to His people in the Bible, but you'd have to agree that many Christians today are not living the blessed, abundant life that God promised. Why? First of all, it is not because God was lying, or that He chooses to bless some people over others. God doesn't want to see His people lead lives full of pain, suffering or misery. Christians are meant to be an example to the world about how great and wonderful God is.

One of the things God promised His people is health and healing. 

"Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases" Psalm 103:3

“So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days." Exodus 23:25-26

But, you may ask, why do I still get sick or have that painful symptom?

Your sickness/disease is NOT from God

Firstly, the world we live in is a fallen world, with pain, sickness, and disease. But it is extremely important for you to know and believe that God did not give you your sickness or disease. 

Some people believe that God made them sick as a kind of test or punishment. This is NOT true. God is not punishing you, because all your sins have already been forgiven. Jesus already bore all your sins on the cross. 

God said, 

"For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12

"Who forgives all your iniquities" Psalm 103:3

Nor is sickness a test from God to make you stronger or to teach you some lesson. When Jesus walked on earth, He didn't go around healing some people and giving others diseases to teach them something! He cured all the sick people who went to Him. And "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8. 

If you really believe sickness is some test to teach you something, would you then pray for your children or loved ones to be "blessed" with some teaching, too? Of course not! You wouldn't want your child to be sick, neither does your Heavenly Father want you to be sick.

So, why are Christians still suffering from sickness and disease?

I believe that one of the reasons is the lack of knowledge of their healing rights. God says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6. 

God has promised us health in the Bible, but do we really believe it? And why must we believe it for it to take effect, can't we just be healed because God has promised it, and He's all powerful, so He should just heal us whether we believe it or not?

Sometimes miracles do happen and God steps in. But more often than not, we need to take some action, too. It's like we are hanging off the side of a cliff and God is reaching down to to rescue us. But we may also need to stretch our hand up for His hand to pull us up.

Here's a shopping analogy to help explain why you may need to take some action regarding your own healing:

You decide to become a member of a tennis club, and upon joining, you are given a membership brochure with information about the club, when and where they hold classes, and additional benefits of being a member.

The next day, you head out to the local sporting shop to buy some tennis equipment. You pay for the equipment, then leave. What you didn't know, though, was that members of the tennis club enjoy a 20% discount off all tennis equipment at that shop. The information was in the membership brochure, but you had not read it. As a result, you didn't inform the salesgirl you were a member, and you didn't receive your discount. The shop was willing to give you the discount, but because you did not speak up, you didn't benefit from it.

Healing can work the same way. You are a member of a club, ie. a Christian. Being a member entitles you to certain benefits given by God. But you also have to speak up and enforce your benefit ie. healing in order to receive it.

Why do things work this way?

Well, it doesn't always work this way. People can get healed without prayer. But it's better to pray bold prayers than not to take any action at all. If you are suffering from some sickness or are in pain, why not remind God of His promise that He will heal you? When you pray words like, "God, you said you are a God who heals all my diseases, so I know you have healed this disease/this pain of mine!", isn't this a bold and faithful statement of your trust in Him? 




The Benefits of God - Psalm 103

This is another of my favourite psalms, especially the first five verses, which list the benefits of God. 

Verses 1-5 are quite short so it is good to memorize, as it is a very handy prayer to pray as you go about everyday life. Of course you can always pray using your own words, but there's power in quoting God's Word, too, and sometimes when you are in the midst of your emotions, it can be hard to express yourself.

Pray these words under your breath whenever you are feeling down, want to pray for healing, long life, protection, or when you just want to worship God!  

Psalm 103:1-5

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
3 Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

I believe in the truth of the Bible (see previous post The Bible - the basis for everything) so when I read these verses, I believe them. Literally.

The benefits of God we are entitled to as Christians:

• God heals ALL your iniquities - your sins have ALL been forgiven (due to Jesus' work on the cross);
  
• God heals ALL your diseases - the question of Will God heal me? is answered!
  
• God redeems your life from destruction - this includes an early death. God will save you from your life being destroyed by destructive habits, behaviour, drugs, alcohol, etc.
  
• God crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies (self-explanatory)
  
• God satifies your mouth with good things and renews your youth.
  

Psalm 103 Praying Tips:

Here are some tips when praying Psalm 103:1-5 that I find helps me. I visualise each line as I pray it. This helps the words become a lot more meaningful and real to me as well.

When you are saying, "all that is within me, bless His holy name!", feel your entire body, all your limbs and organs praising God... 

When you pray the words, "who heals all your diseases", imagine your body in perfect health, or imagine God immediately healing the parts that are troubling you at that moment, and visualise them healthy...

If you are walking in a dangerous area or you suddenly have a fearful thought like - what if a car appears and hits me? - recite "who redeems your life from destruction" and visualise yourself protected and walking past without anything happening.

When you say, "your youth is renewed like the eagles', imagine your whole body regenerating and youthful!