“Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.” Proverbs 30:5
A couple of weeks ago, I was at my lowest point and I was in one of the darkest valleys of life and I thought that I had hit my rock bottom and all I needed was something/a word or someone just to speak to my heart and situation. Nothing seemed to make sense to me and the only place or person I could turn to was God. It is at this point in time that I made a simple prayer unto God and I have seen him fulfill and answer my prayer each and everyday. All I did was to make a simple prayer that was more of a risk to me because I wasn’t sure how God would do it but I knew that He is a God who is not deterred by anything and He can use anything and anyway to fulfill his word and the prayers that we make unto him. It is so surprising, amazing and awesome at the same time the way and means that God chose to speak to me.
Many times, I know you have found yourself at such a point and you really wonder what is happening and where God is at that moment in time. David, the man of God who conquered many kings and won many battles too had such moments. And at one point he writes and says “I will lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah] - From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” Psalms 121:1-2. David understood that when he was surrounded and encompassed by his enemies, God was his only refuge and source of help. Where do you run to and turn to when you are at such a moment? When you are low and discouraged; when your soul and countenance is low, where do you seek your help from? When David was low in his spirit and he needed encouragement, this is what he told his soul; “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you…” Psalms 42:5-6a. May we teach our hearts to hope and wait on God even when the circumstances do not favour us.
For the last two weeks, God has been speaking to me through the Matatus (PSVs) as they are commonly called here in Kenya. And many of my friends on Facebook have been asking me why I have been so attached to the matatus and where they have touched my heart. Even this morning, one of my friends told me that it seems like we have become ‘bossom buddies’ but God has been speaking to me using them. And this morning, I want to share with you some of the insights that God has given me and challenged me with from these vehicles.
|One| You will realize that very early in the morning between 4:30 am - 5:00 am, you will hear matatu’s hooting on the road to alert you that if you want to travel early, they are already operating. You will realize that many of the drivers and the conductors sleep late in the night and yet they are up very early the next day to get the vehicles ready for you and me to travel in. This challenges me - These are people who are employed and others drive their own matatu’s and they sacrifice so much of their sleep daily so that they can be up to start working. How many of us sacrifice their sleep or even their time to wake up early or even sleep late just because they want to spend time with God? Many of us (I included), we get home when we are so tired from the busy schedule that we had in the day. Those who work in the corporate world will say that I spent many hours seated in meetings and my back is tired thus I need to sleep and rest.
David knew the secret of seeking God in the morning. In Psalms 5:3, he says “In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Not only did David knew that, Jesus too knew the best time to talk to his father was in the dawn of the morning and thus, the bible tells us "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed." Mark 1:35. There is one thing that I realize when I was young. Whenever we had the family alter after we had eaten, most of the times, we ended up sleeping in between the session. When my dad realized that, he made it a rule that we would be having the family altar then eat. I challenge you, Rise up early in the morning and seek God and get the direction for the day. (Read Isaiah 50:4b; Psalms 63:1)
|Two| The matatus are always in a rush. They are rushing not only to beat the traffic jam but also other matatu's so as to make most profit at the end of the day! I know most of the Kenyan people like a matatu which they know will take the shortest time to get to where they are going. At times, you will realize that they will overlap and drive on the wrong side of the road. They break traffic rules but they reach their destination. Am reminded that I am also in a race every day! Am running against the temptations of the world!! Like Paul said; Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…” Hebrews 12:1. We need to know that each and everyday, we are in a race and there are people around us who are looking at us to see if we are running this race as per the rules.
Our actions speak more than our words do. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:13-16 that we are the salt and the light of this world. We cannot be hidden and whatever we do is seen by everyone. you need to know that your actions preach more than you do. Do not preach water and take wine or vice versa; walk the talk. Paul speaking to the Corinthians reminds us that “… Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God's living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it.” 2 Corinthians 3:2-3. My sister my brother, know that in whatever you do, you are a letter.
|Three| I have observed that many times, the matatu drivers n conductors have to bear with moody, uncooperative & unreasonable passengers and policemen too. As we run this race, you will realize that the terrain is not the best. Paul said, "and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us..." Hebrews 12:1 I can guarantee you that in this race/journey of faith, not everything/one will be on your side. You will meet with obstacles, hindrances, stumbling blocks but if you persevere, you will come out victorious. Just as the athletes have to jump over huddles and the water pool in the in the 3000 meters Steeplechase race, you also need to overcome the hurdles that you meet on the way.
Paul encourages us and tells un “Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection]. He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God” Hebrews 12:2 When temptations come, opposition comes, do not sit back and start complaining, instead thank God because He is with you and above all, remember, it is the test of perseverance! and if you hold on, you will come out refined and you will pass the test. If you fail, I guarantee you that you will keep on repeating the same till the day you will pass.
|Four| Did you realize that Matatu drivers know almost every route in town? When a certain route has traffic Jam, the quickly change routes and you arrive to your destination. Paul said to the Corinthians... "No temptation has you in its power but such as is common to human nature; and God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. But, when the temptation comes, He will also provide the way of escape; that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13. Many times when we come to or pass through a rough patch, you will realize that many people will cry foul and think that God has left them,but I want to assure you this day that it is is the promise of his word that He (God) will never leave us nor will he forsake us (Romans 8:5). Solomon says that He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). What else would we want?
|Five| You see many buses in a bus station lining up waiting for their turn for people to enter in. I was seated in this bus that was ½ full. As per the rules here, it can only leave when its is full thus the driver has to be patient and here I thought to myself: How many times have we(I) walked out on God before He was thru' with me? How many times have we(I) grown impatient with God simple because He hasn't answered my prayer? Many of us are never patient with God or even other people. We are a generation that wants instant things, instant answers to our prayers and yet we know God doesn’t operate in such principles.
God told the children of Israel in Jeremiah 18:5-6 “… the word of the LORD came to me. He said, “Can I not do with you, Israel, as this potter does?” declares the LORD. “Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.” We are so in a hurry to do our own things at the expense of God’s purposes for our lives. One thing that I have learnt about God over the time is that God is never in a hurry. If you are in a hurry, He will leave you and then later you will catch up with him or circumstances will corner you and you will have no option but allow Him work on you and make you into the kind of a vessel that He wants from you! Would you love to be cornered like Jonah or Jacob was? Moral thought: Let's learn to be patient both with God & Man!
At times, our fellow brethren wrong us and we are never patient with them! We cause tantrums and we reach a point that we are not even willing to forgive. Paul urges us in Ephesians 4:2-3 and says “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” How I pray that we will learn to exercise patience and bearing with one another in everything that we do. We need to realize that the same way that we are not perfect, so are others!! Just as the matatu people bear with our moods and uncooperativeness; and above all, God bears with us, we also need to bear with each other!!
This is my prayer this day for everyone - That God will teach us, mould us and make us into the kind of people that He wants us to be!! For us, Let us be readily available, willing and patient for the Lord to deal with us. The process will not be easy but I promise you that the fruits and the out come is worth!!
Amen!!
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