David’s Prayer
“David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying,
‘Praise be to you, Lord,
the God of our father *Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name'” (1 Chronicles 29:10-13).
*Jacob
As we open yet another (perhaps the last) great book of human history, *366 blank pages await the pen of God. Some of what will be written by this time next year, we can know through what has been foretold to us through Bible prophecy. Some of what we now anticipate will end up being simply speculation and will not appear. Most of what will happen in 2024, though, is unknowable to us. The exact future is known only by our Triune God.
*2024 is a leap year
This year, one thing that I do know will appear every day in my own journal is a prayer of thanksgiving.
I intend to give thanks not only for the good things God will bring my way but also for things that could be considered not-so-good or undesirable. Why? It is easy for us to praise the LORD Almighty when our lives are going well. However, it is a test of faith to continue to praise and love the One Who created all things, including us, when our lives become messy, when illness happens, when loss of job and income happen, when sorrow visits.
Prolific Christian writer and broadcaster Joni Eareckson once said, “Better to receive something from God’s left hand than nothing at all from God.” Eareckson has been bound to a wheelchair, paralyzed from a diving accident that happened when she was a teen. She says everything is a blessing, some of it disguised, to be sure, as a curse, but always working out for the glory of God when we do His Will.
The apostle Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s Will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:18). Paul writes further in Colossians 1:12: “… and giving joyful thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of His holy people in the kingdom of light.”
One day last week, during morning prayers, and while I was giving thanks for His abundance to us, the LORD opened space-time for a split second. It seemed as though the Father Himself was giving me either a Communion wafer or a piece of manna – it doesn’t matter what it was – and for that split second, my heart nearly burst from joy, love, and thankfulness. It was completely overwhelming and wonderful.
Some of you will have studied the Names of God and know that Jehovah-Jireh is the name of God the Provider.
In that split second, He made it known what exactly that means for us, His creatures.
Some, perhaps most of you, know this already, so it’s not a revelation by any means, but in case you are one who doesn’t know – every atom of all that exists comes from God — Father, Son, Holy Spirit. The smallest ort of food is to be given thanks for, for it is being provided by the One Who loves you forever, both when you are still a sinner and after you have repented. Each and every breath is worthy of praise. Every drop of water, also. The fact is, though, that in our time and place, God’s abundance is astounding. How can you not give thanks when food is so abundant in our land that people have to go on diets? At the same time, so many in other parts of the world are starving. Even so, when people’s hearts are right with God, He will provide even in the midst of famine and drought.
The news these days is full of hints that a great economic crash is imminent. We would do well this coming year to cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude and to determine to do the Will of *Jehovah-Jireh in all things.
*Jehovah-Jirah means God will see and will provide.
You might determine to pray David’s prayer from 1 Chronicles 29 each night before going to sleep.
Contemplate the words King David uses, which are all small and easy to understand. We do not need to have a PhD in Theology to know what to say to the LORD God. He knows our hearts and, we are told, rejoices when we want a relationship with Him.
The following comes from the Billy Graham Answers website:
Jesus said, “I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).
Why do they rejoice? Not because they’re surprised but because a great victory has been won! Someone has been snatched from the jaws of Satan and death and hell, so why wouldn’t all heaven rejoice? Jesus’ words remind us of just how valuable we are to God and how much He yearns for us to be with Him in heaven forever.
Can we ever thank our God enough for what He has done for us? No. But we can thank Him constantly and with great gratitude.
The LORD provides all we need to live for Him and in Him. In the LORD’s prayer, which is a great daily prayer for all ages and those in all stages of their walk with Jesus, we say, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Expanding on this thought, we can add, “And thank you, LORD, for it. Thank You also for the bread which feeds our minds and our souls — daily readings of Your Holy Word.”
Are you one who has not yet given your life to Jesus Messiah? Have you come to Rapture Ready out of curiosity, perhaps trying make sense of what is happening in the world? Well, brother or sister, the LORD God has brought you to the right place.
The coming year may well be the year the world is thrown into total turmoil because of the disappearance of millions of people. The Rapture is the next event in the timeline of God’s plan for humankind. According to *Scripture, believers all over the world will be snatched up to meet Jesus in the air, leaving behind a world in chaos.
After that, the foretold Great Tribulation will begin, and believe me, you will not want to be here for that, for the wrath of God will be poured out on those who remain in the worst time ever in human history. Jesus said that unless the days of tribulation are shortened, not one person will survive. It will be a worldwide event, so there is no escaping it should you be left behind.
*Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
The one escape route is to believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the One Who redeemed us from our sins by shedding His precious blood on the cross of Calvary, Who died and was buried, and Who rose again on the third day and ascended back into heaven. Jesus is the Son of God Who awaits the command from God the Father to return for those who believe in Him and who have repented of their sin.
If you decide today to change your life for the best it can be and to be ready in a split second for Jesus to take you out of harm’s way, to be with Him forever, please tell someone of that decision – a pastor or a Christian friend, and be willing to be guided to the safest place on earth – the arms of your Saviour, Jesus the Messiah.
God bless and Happy 2024, everyone. Looking forward to meeting you all at Jesus’ feet one day very soon.
Lynda Janzen
If anyone reading this article has not yet received Jesus as their Saviour, but God has touched your heart by His Holy Word, please email me (amadea0204@gmail.com) or find a Bible-believing local church and ask the Pastor what you must do to be saved in Grace.
In the meantime, please consider the ABCs of Salvation, and may GOD bless you.
A – Admit
Admit what you have done wrong and ask forgiveness.
Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.”
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
B – Believe
Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again as a payment for your sins.
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
C – Confess and Choose
Confess and choose to allow God to be in charge of your life.
Matthew 16:24 “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
Romans 10:9 “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:13 “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”