Just as in Daniel’s experience, the “Prince of Persia” sometimes delayed the answer to our prayers. But Michael will come to our rescue. I just paused this morning to tell you that your weeping is just for the “night”. God isn’t sleeping. He will deliver. Whatever your struggles – hold on! Just as a day consist of a dark part and a light part, our light will come. Just as the sunshine comes after the rain, The Son of righteousness will shine on you – just hold on!

So many parents are now experiencing a similar crucible as I am: back to school expenses and empty pockets. With school fees to be paid, books and uniforms to be purchased, together with other expenses, we can do no other but to call on Jehovah Jireh. Even with classes to begin in a couple days, I must wrestle with God. I know the education of His children is important to Him. And so, I wrestle, I pray, I keep believing. God will come through. He will make a way! You should too. Hold Him to His promises.

Are you spouse hunting? Blood washed, born again Christian men and women seem to be in short supply. But you do not need to settle for less than the best: for less than God’s standard. Close enough to perfect is shortchanging yourself and robbing yourself of the possibilities that could’ve been. Why not allow God to be and make your perfect choice! Do not settle. Close enough is not ideal.

Many, whom others thought would not make it, will be saved. They would have sincerely prayed the Publican’s prayer, believed like the Centurion, and reached out to Jesus like the thief on the cross. They touched the hem of His garment and were made whole. They accepted the wedding garment of Jesus’ righteousness so their sins were all covered. Yes, though stained by the blight of sin, they made sure that a corresponding credit of pardon was written beside their deeds. They humbled themselves and allowed Jesus to work His transforming power in their lives.

The first book of Samuel, the twenty-fifth chapter, recorded the death of Samuel the Lord’s prophet. People loved and admired him; now that he was dead, they all felt hopeless since King Saul, their other leader, was considered to be a mad man. Why? He was obsessed with killing the only person who gave him the victory over the Philistines. He spent many days chasing after David, his designated successor, because he wanted him dead.

As I reflected on this story and the setting, I found myself thinking about supper time in Heaven. I seemed to be thinking about Heaven more and more these days and my constant prayer is to be ready to go. I am not afraid to die. I just want to be ready to meet my Savior in peace. And so, I gladly answer His call to come home. Supper time with Jesus in Heaven is almost here. It’s suspended in space between two verses in Revelation. But any day now, supper will be served.

It’s one thing to have a death threat hanging over your head by the government or anyone else. But a death threat from within the body of believers is frightening. Such was Lazarus’ experience. He was the next best choice since he was responsible for many Jews believing in Jesus. In Jamaican Creole we say: “If yu kian catch quako yu catch im shut”, meaning if you are unable to get to the person you need, you will take the next best. Since Jesus was proving to be so ‘slippery’ to their grasp, they would take Lazarus instead and make him a public example of what will happen to all who believe in Jesus. Imagine that, the leaders of the Church, who are appointed to be the intercessors between God and man on Earth, planning to murder?

There isn't a child of God who does not face challenges, impossible situation from time to time. For some, it is a daily experience - sometimes a continuous challenge. We've prayed, put our faith into action, prayed some more but still nothing happened. We've asked, seek, knock: but still nothing is happening - or so it seems. Like this father, we know Jesus can help, but we sometimes wondered, would He?

Doubt - it has been his strategy from day one, one which proves successful time and again. One third of the angels in Heaven were deceived because they doubted. Eve was deceived because she doubted. In fact, if you should go through Bible Characters you will find that most of them were deceived because they doubted. They doubted God; the instructions He gave; the guidance He provides; that God can and that He will.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Why were you afraid?” And to us His question is the same. When we take our eyes off Jesus and put in on the problems around us, we will loose our peace and our souls! The devil knows that if he can get us distracted from our real mission, even when we become over zealous about good things, he was in the winning seat. Let us put away all distractions that rob our time with God, that take our peace.