CONCERT OF PRAYER                                                                                         Pray Week 912

“Medicine Cabinet Faith”

Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; … their courage melted away in their evil plight; they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress…. (Psalm 107:23-30)

Have you ever denied not feeling well? Do you deny your need for medication only to get progressively worse and ultimately, reluctantly, end up rummaging through the medicine cabinet desperately seeking a remedy only to find expired medicines?

Is your relationship with Jesus, like that of your medicine cabinet? Like the sailors in our reference Scripture do you come to Him only as a last resort, after you have tried all other avenues and are at your wits’ end? When you do cry out to Him, are you unsure of the results, much like the uncertainty of the effectiveness of expired medications?

Faith that transcends ‘medicine cabinet’ faith requires an ongoing, personal, day-to-day relationship with Jesus Christ. It is by getting to know Him intimately – to know His heart and to know His awesome power and majesty that our faith is strengthened.

The Psalmist concludes our reference Scripture with, Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord. (Psalm 107:43). No problem or issue is too small or too great for Him. He cares about that sales call you are about to make; He cares about your company’s finances as well as that of your family’s; He can heal your child’s fever and break the bondage of a sin issue in your life; He can heal your marriage.

Don’t put God in the ‘religion’ category; on the shelf to be taken out only on Sundays or Holidays when it is convenient for you. Don’t put him in the medicine cabinet ‘For Emergency Use Only’.

Overcoming faith – faith that can move mountains – comes from the indwelling presence of Christ in you through His Holy Spirit. This faith is steadfast through all your circumstances. This faith remains active. This faith always trusts and believes. This faith does not doubt because it is the faith of Jesus Christ in you. It is the Spirit interceding and crying out to God for you and God always hears the prayers of His Son. This is your confidence.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (Romans 8:26)

“Father, I thank you that you have heard me…that you always hear me…” (John 11:41-42)

May the Lord give you a fresh anointing – a double portion to overflowing of His Holy Spirit. May He continually encourage your heart each day with renewed overcoming faith and confidence as you persevere through the trials and difficult circumstances of life. May He fill you with all joy and hope through the abiding presence of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.