Saturday, March 18, 2023

FINDING DONKEYS

Today’s Reading: 1 Samuel 9-10

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

This donkey is employed full-time in Petra, Jordan, helping to transport tourists over the difficult terrain.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: 1 Samuel 10:9

So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.

Surprise! “Another heart.” It’s amazing what can happen when we’re looking for donkeys. We may discover that God is up to something in our lives other than donkeys. It’s great comfort to know that God is in charge. He knows the donkeys are fine. He wants to make us “Kings and Priests” (Revelation 1:6). Sometimes He may want us to be burden-bearing donkeys. We need “another heart.” We just don’t know when we may be at the start of a brand new adventure in God’s plan for us. Remember it was a donkey that carried Jesus into Jerusalem (John 12:14-15). If we are available to God, He’ll do the most useful and creative things in our lives. His ways are exciting and also very challenging.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, how often I have been perplexed, frustrated in not finding what I think I’m looking for, when all along You had everything under Your guidance. I pray for a deeper understanding of Your overarching providence, and for a simpler faith in Your promise to “work all things after the counsel of Your will.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

I’ve just read all of Ephesians chapter one as my New Testament reading for today. What assurance! (click here).

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day, and I’ve been thinking back on a Crossroads/100 Huntley Street outreach to Ireland called, “To Ireland With Love.” Violence was raging between ungodly Protestant and equally ungodly Roman Catholic factions, so we determined to send a team of Christians, RC’s and Protestants, to work with local groups of Christians who were fasting and praying for God to intervene. The churches were packed and hundreds came forward at the invitation to receive Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Not long after those days, the powers of hell were driven back and a time of tranquility and evangelism emerged.

I can’t remember why I was in Winnipeg back in 1976. I may have been “looking for donkeys,” but that was the occasion when I first met a local Jesuit priest. He had let it be known amongst the charismatic prayer meetings that he was to perform an exorcism and he wanted a Pentecostal Pastor to accompany him. I ended up being that Pastor. Before agreeing to accompany him, he gave me his testimony of personal salvation and I gave him mine. The Lord found a couple of donkeys, the priest and me, and that day, God delivered an immigrant man from Brazil, who had become deeply involved in voodooism.

Yours for God’s intervention while looking for donkeys,

David

A father and son tending their sheep and goats at Nazareth Village. This village, in modern-day Nazareth, is run by a Christian ministry and it depicts what life was like at the time of Jesus.

 

5 thoughts on “Saturday, March 18, 2023

  1. An amazing happening – that God gave Saul a new heart. I believe I know who the Jesuit priest was that David speaks of. He worked along side of David on 100 Huntley Street. He was a powerful man of prayer. Blessings all today.

  2. Found this lovely prayer on one of my devotionals this a.m.
    Blessings on all saints.

    Lord, You are our dwelling place. In You, we are secure and have life. Give us a love and understanding of Your Word, and help us lean on Your everlasting arms each day, for You are all we need.
    Brenda Williams.

  3. Watched a great history of St. Patrick yesterday from “Drive Through History”, which told some of the history of the expansion of Christianity through the ages. Good stuff.

    David reminded me today of the song, “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! …”

    And, a prayer from Michael Youssef, from his devotional for today that reminds us that, even in the silence, God is at work:

    “Prayer: Father, thank You that, though You are sometimes silent, You are ever with me and Your silence always has a purpose. Help me to listen to You in whatever manner You choose to communicate. Grant me discernment and great faith as I wait on You. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.”

    “I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him'” (Lamentations 3:24).

  4. Thank You Lord God that even in the silence,You are at work.
    Please grant me great faith as I wait for your guidance, in Jesus’
    Name I pray, Amen. May God bless you all.

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