​Jesus told his disciples to go into the village, find a certain colt, untie it, and bring it to Him. If the owner questioned them, this was to be their answer: "the Lord hath need of him." When I think of all I have, I wonder if there is something God "hath need of." It could be possessions, money, or time. It could be my talents and abilities. God might need to use my hands, feet, or words today to reach out to someone.

I find it interesting that the owner of the colt did not refuse the disciples. Verse 6 says, "And they let them go." But Jesus already knew this. He told the disciples, "Straightway he will send him hither."
 
When the Lord needs something of me, can He say the same? Can He say, “She will do this immediately ('straightway')"? Everything I have ultimately belongs to God. What a good reminder to quickly answer the call: "the Lord hath need."

​The blind beggar Bartimaeus was determined to get help from Jesus. Possibly, he had tried to get Jesus’ attention in the past but could not get close enough. Or perhaps his faith was being tested. On this day, Bartimaeus placed himself close to where Jesus would pass by. Verses 47-48 show the earnestness of his request for Jesus' help. He cried out, and when others tried to quiet him, "He cried the more, a great deal."
 
What are we struggling with today that we would like for Jesus to heal? Is it a physical affliction, a strained relationship, a lack of spiritual eyesight, anxiety, or depression? Whatever it is, we can learn from Bartimaeus. He went where he KNEW he would find Jesus. He cried out for help (no doubt, multiple times). He did not let the opinions and criticisms of others stop him, but "He cried the more."

Can you imagine Bartimaeus' joy when he heard these words: "Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee"? What a blessing to know the Lord is calling for me and you, saying: “Come unto Me. Tell Me what you need. Don’t let others stop you. I am waiting for you.”

​One figure of speech our society often uses is "I’m starving!" Usually, we are not actually starving, just very hungry. I wonder if we have ever said "I’m starving" when it comes to spiritual food? My kitchen has a lot of food in the cabinets and refrigerator, but I will remain hungry if I do not put forth effort by walking into the kitchen, pulling out the ingredients, and preparing a meal.
 
Jesus told us we need to put forth effort if we are spiritually hungry: "come to me." His storehouse is full of everything we need, but we must pull out and mix together all the ingredients needed for a well-balanced, nutritious meal (prayer, Bible reading, meditation, Bible study).
 
As a wife and mother, the food I prepare is often not for me only, but it is for my family as well. One of my married children might come over, see leftover pizza in the refrigerator, and say, "Mom, can I have some of that?" Likewise, our spiritual food might feed others as well. Many times I have had opportunities to share with others what God has spiritually "fed" me. Oh, the importance of seeking God for our daily bread!

​One of my favorite Bible stories is God asking Solomon, "What shall I give thee?" I find great encouragement in Solomon’s answer: "I know not how to go out or come in. . . . Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad." I have often told God that I may not need wisdom to guide a nation, but I do need it to guide my own steps and those of my household! This has not been a prayer I have prayed once or twice, but an earnest prayer, prayed MANY times.
 
I believe James knew when he wrote, "if you lack wisdom," that all of us greatly need wisdom, not only the understanding of deep spiritual truths but that discernment for daily living. How do we get it? One writer said: “It is not dropping down on your knees for two minutes in a morning, before you hurry out to business . . . or praying after you have gone to bed at night, and perhaps falling asleep before you get to 'Amen.' It is not asking, and then not waiting long enough to get the answer. It is not a faint and feeble desire, but one presented with PATIENT PERSISTENCE."
 
The rest of the verse tells me what God will do when I realize my lack of wisdom and ask Him earnestly and persistently: "it shall be given."

Riding the bus to school in middle school and high school, I often watched as the first rays of sunlight began. I would get on the bus in total darkness, and it was light when I arrived at school. I always enjoyed watching the beauty of "light arising."

How often the trials of life can be compared to darkness. At times my soul has cried out, "Is it morning yet?" We long for the "light"  (deliverance, God’s peace, answers to prayers)! This Scripture verse reminds me of those difficult times. What a blessing when "light" (morning) finally came .

We, as Christians, are to be a light to the world. Could it be in this time of spiritual darkness, God wants His people to stand up and shine in a greater way ("the upright there ariseth")? Not only will that be a witness to the lost, but it will strengthen and encourage “the upright.” God, help me to know how to let my light shine in a greater way!

​Israel was facing an attack and a siege by the fierce Assyrians. Fear and uncertainty must have been overwhelming! Then their leader (King Hezekiah) spoke these words of encouragement to them: “There are more with us then with them” and “They are trusting in the arm of flesh, but we are trusting in the Lord.”

How vital good leadership is in troubled times! Our pastor brings messages to encourage and strengthen us, reminding us of the very same promises Hezekiah spoke of. Is it any wonder the enemy fights so hard today against Godly pastors? This verse is a good reminder of how blessed we are to have a pastor who provides Godly counsel and leadership in troubled times!  We can REST in these WORDS, for they are  words of life.

​My grandfather was a pastor, and my mom often has talked about being a P.K. (preacher’s kid). I’ve heard the saints' children called "church kids" and "children of the church." Regardless of the label, they are a new generation, and too many times, all they know about God is what they have heard and been taught. Growing up, I heard about God in Sunday school, church, family worship, and children's Bible programs on the radio. I had a lot of "hearing with the ear." But did I really know for myself who God was? Did I see Him with my spiritual vision?
 
At the end of Job's trial, after he had struggled, suffered, and seen God move, he was able to say today's verse. It was like he was saying, “I see it now!” How vital that we see God and not just go only on what we have heard. He wants a personal relationship with us. Whatever we are going through, God wants us to turn to Him, to lean on Him, to trust Him. As we do, He becomes more real to us. It is then that we can say, "NOW mine eye has seen You!"

 I tend to be a bit rushed sometimes when following a recipe. "Sift the flour"? No, it’ll be fine. "Mix the dry ingredients first"? I’ve skipped that step a few times. But there are some steps that should not be skipped. One of these is "temper," the process of adding small amounts of very hot liquid to eggs or cream to carefully bring them up to temperature. Otherwise, you might possibly have scrambled eggs or curdled cream in your mixture. Did you know that God  tempers us for the test? No doubt, when there’s a severe trial coming our way, God knows we need "tempered." So, He allows a few smaller trials to come our way first.
 
First Corinthians 12:25 talks about God tempering the body of Christ. In other words, He prepares us ahead of time. Wherever there’s a lack or a weakness, a place that might bring about a spiritual fall, God sends along a little fire to strengthen us. Many hard trials have come in my life, and I can look back and see how God tempered me (or prepared me ahead of time). He knew I could not handle that severe heat without a few small trials to temper me for that test. God is faithful!

Quite possibly, WAITING is one of the hardest lessons we will ever learn. As a child, I felt like the wait for anything was forever! As a teen, it seemed like I would never be old enough to get a job and start dating. As a mother, I learned to not tell the children about something too soon, or I’d be overwhelmed with their questions: "Is it time yet? When is this going to happen?"
 
Spiritually, waiting can try our patience as well. We wonder: "Why is the Lord taking so long? Is God ever going to change this situation?" If we are not careful, we can become discouraged. But HOW are we waiting?

Charles Spurgeon said, "Wait at His door with prayer; wait at His foot with humility; wait at His table with service; wait at His window with expectancy." Instead of impatience and frustration, how much better to include with our waiting prayer, humbleness, service, and good expectations! God’s timing is different than ours (usually longer), but there is something He desires to accomplish in the waiting.
 
Teach me, Lord, HOW to wait!

​There have been times when praying about heavy burdens, I find myself asking: "God, are You hearing me? Are You moving on these situations?" Not long ago, He answered me, saying: "I am. I AM THAT I AM." What a reassurance that He is in full control and that He is taking care of those burdens!

​When Moses was called to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt, he asked God who he should say had called him. This verse was God’s answer. This name (I AM) let the people of Israel know God was, God is, and God would be all they would ever need. In the power of this name, Moses left the wilderness to do what must have seemed like an impossible task – lead the people of Israel out of slavery and travel to the Promised Land.
 
Today we might be facing some difficult, maybe even seemingly impossible situations. We might wonder, "God, are You hearing me?" What a good reminder of exactly who God is: "I AM THAT I AM." Like Moses, when we realize Who is with us, we can face whatever trials come our way today. The I AM is still in control!

During last year’s pandemic, many literal doors were closed. Schools, churches, and non-essential businesses had to shut their doors. We were told to “stay at home.” For the majority of us, this was frustrating! We could not wait until life returned to normal. But nothing just happens with the Lord! What if we looked at the shutdown through the lens of this verse? “I will stay at home” (why?) because “a wide door of opportunity for effectual (service) has opened to me” (AMP).

​During the pandemic, people who had not been attending regular church services began watching the online services. What a door! Others who were troubled about what was happening were more open to hearing about God. What a door!

Perhaps God wanted some doors to be CLOSED so other doors could be OPENED. When situations like this arise, let us (like the Apostle Paul) say, "I will tarry, I will wait." In the meantime, let us pray: "Lord, show me the doors You are opening with the lost and the hurting. Lead me to some soul today!"

​This Scripture verse inspired a housewife named Ruth Caye Jones to write the song In Times Like These. It was during World War 2, and this mother of five was troubled by the headlines in the newspapers. Included in those newspapers were the lists of the soldiers who were wounded, missing, and killed in action. An end to this war seemed a long time away. Ruth opened her Bible and read 2 Timothy, Chapter 3. The words to a song began forming in her mind, and she wrote them down.  
 
How many times do we have days (like Ruth) of stress, worry, heartache, and uncertainty? “In times like these” we are tempted to continually check the news instead of reading our Bible and praying. Verse 2 of this song is so timely: “In times like these you need the Bible.” There is comfort and strength in God’s Word. He knows exactly what we need today!
 
In times like these we need a Savior;
In times like these we need an anchor.
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!