Daily Bread - August 1, 2004

But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

Your prayers have been set before me as incense, and the lifting up of your hands is as the evening sacrifice. I have set a watch before your mouth, and I have kept the door of your lips. I have overthrown those in the courts of evil and deception, but I have kept your eyes upon me. You have made me your trust, and your soul shall never be destitute. I have kept you from the snares that your enemies have laid for you. They shall fall into their own nets. You shall escape the bondage that they have prepared for you. What they meant as banishment for you shall become a paradise. I have made you the apple of my eye and a priest unto me. You shall not be slain in my sanctuary, for I brought you into it to minister. Go and minister, but first minister unto me.

Lift up your heart with your hands unto me, for I am God. Though your enemies have opened their mouths against you, no fear or snare has come upon you. I have removed desolation and destruction far from you. Though your eyes run down with rivers of water, your heart has been kept from bitterness and resentment. By my grace, I have kept you and revived you in this evening time. Behold the dungeon that they prepared for you. It shall be the place of their dwelling. I shall cut them off in the places prepared for you. I shall hang them upon the gallows that they erected themselves. From the low place of rejection, you called upon my name. I heard your voice. I did not hide myself from you, but at your cry, I drew you near me and held you within my bosom. I do continually speak in your ears and say, "Fear not, for I will plead the cause of your soul."

I have redeemed your life from destruction. I have washed you in my own blood from all of your sins. Lift up your eyes from the dungeon prepared for you, for that is not the path chosen for you. Though you have done wrong, you found mercy and forgiveness in my sight. I saw the vengeance and all the imaginations that were against you. I heard their reproach and all the imaginations that were against you also. The lips of those that rose up against you shall not sing the music of joyful songs. I shall turn their planned joy unto sorrow, and their sitting down shall be a hell for them, for I shall render unto them recompense according to the works of their hands and the voice of their evil hearts. Lift up your eyes unto me, the Holy One of Israel and of the Church. To whom will you liken me unto?

By the greatness of my might, I do bring you out of this dilemma. I am strong in power. I am the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. I do not faint, neither do I grow weary. There is no searching of my understanding. You almost fainted, but I have given you power in your time of fainting. You had no might of your own, but now I have increased your strength. You waited on me, and I renewed your strength. Mount up with wings as eagles. Run and be not weary. Walk and do not faint. I have given you more grace that grace might cause you to overcome and conquer.

Amos 3: 7 - 8

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? The Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?