OUR LORD REIGNS!

Clouds and darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.

A fire goes before Him,
And burns up His enemies round about.

His lightnings light the world;
The earth sees and trembles.

The mountains melt like wax at the presence of the LORD,
At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

The heavens declare His righteousness,
And all the peoples see His glory.

Let all be put to shame who serve carved images,
Who boast of idols. Worship Him, all you gods.

Zion hears and is glad,
And the daughters of Judah rejoice
Because of Your judgments, O LORD.

For You, LORD, are most high above all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.

You, who love the LORD, hate evil!
He preserves the souls of His saints;
He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Light is sown for the righteous,
And gladness for the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

(Psalms 97:2-12 NKJV)


BEHIND ALL clouds is the clear pure air of God's love. We are not dismayed by the storms that sweep the earth's surface, for beneath them are immeasurable depths of stillness. God sees His way through them, and is using them to fulfill His great purpose.

Difficulties are nothing to Him. He weighs the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance. He is our Father, and we need not fear. The children who are cozily comfortable in the car which their father is driving are not afraid of the hail-storm that rattles on the window and the wild winds that sweep the earth. It is enough for them that their father is with them, and knows his way, and is making quickly for home. And if we are following hard after God, then His right hand will uphold us, and we can leave all the rest with Him.

None of the children that wait for Him will be ashamed. Revolution and anarchy may devastate the land. Storms of deluge may sweep the world. The savings of a life-time may disappear, but we will be kept in perfect peace; because our Lord reigns and He will always be mindful of His covenant to us.

We will not be in need for sustaining grace. If we cleave unto God, we will be upheld by His right hand, and no person will be able to pluck us from our Father's hand.

God, not selfish ease, nor human confederacies, is our end and aim; and He will not, cannot fail those who have left all for His companionship. Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, and the labor of the olive shall fail, and the flock shall be cut off from the fold, yet we will rejoice in the Lord; for the Lord God shall supply all our need, and will make our feet, like hind's feet, to walk even on the edge of the precipice.

The world is full of tumult. The floods have lifted up their voice, but above the noise of this world, our Lord on high is mighty; and He must reign till He has put all enemies beneath His feet.

Remember that when He was mocked in Pilate's hall, His enemies placed a reed in His hand. They were nearer the truth than they knew, for He who opens the sealed book of destiny, is the Lamb that was slain. He rules with the reed as the symbol of His government.

PRAYER

Our Father, let us hear You say to us, as we step out into the new day, that You are with us, holding our right hand. Keep us in the midst of the storm, and guide us in the path You have for us. In Jesus’ name AMEN.