Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

Intimate fellowship with God is possible for everyone, but it is not to be taken for granted. To serve God whilst living in sin is impossible. We must show by our words and our deeds that we follow and obey the Lord.

David

Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellow-man,
who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken. (Psalm 15)

[Judy Harder]

You will fill me with joy in your presence. (Psalm 16:11b)

Horacio Herrera

One of the members of my church had been in prison for his faith for more than 15 years. I had not seen him since his release. But one day we met. He told me, "Pastor, only the presence of Christ kept me alive; in the nights of shadow and fear He was at my side."  I knew this was true, because He had been that near to me also when I was in prison.

"In His presence" is not just a theological and theoretical truth. No, it may be experienced. Or should I say, "I speak from experience."  Those painful experiences, horror, bitterness, doubts (yes, doubts too!) are forgotten when the presence of God comes and fills us with joy and peace, even under the most horrible circumstances.

Do we need to be in prison to experience His presence? No, we have the privilege to enter the most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus ... let us draw near to God ... (Hebrews 10:19-22).  The darker the place (prison) the clearer the light of His presence will shine. Let us draw near to God always, in times of hardship and in times of prosperity, in times of sorrow and in times of joy.

"You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

Horacio Herrera from Cuba. Because of his leading role in the Cuban Church, he writes using a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

You will fill me with joy in your presence. (Psalm 16:11)

Horacio Herrera

Thirty years of labor for God in an atheistic country have taught me a secret. For that bad hour, that dark night, that gloomy day, that time of temptation, that moment of trial and those years of persecution ... just one moment in His presence will compensate for all.  The presence of God makes us conscious that everything worldly is trivial, and temporary.

After "Marah" (place of bitter water) there will always come an "Elim" (an oasis) where the bitterness of hardship will be changed in the sweetness of His presence. After the desert of terrible trials will come the Canaan , a land of flowing with milk and honey.

It reminds me of a song we often sang in our church. It has been present in my soul for all these years and I hope to live it till the end of my days, "We will be faithful to the one that bought us with His blood. We will follow Christ, even if a thousand voices all around us call. If the road is full of thorns and the cross is heavy, a moment in His presence will compensate for all."

Horacio Herrera from Cuba. Because of his leading role in the Cuban Church, he writes using a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

Horacio Herrera

While ministering to the believers in Cuba during a time of crisis we came across Joshua 20. It talks about the "cities of refuge" and we compared it with God, who is our eternal refuge. The cities of refuge in Joshua 20 were for those who had killed somebody accidentally or unintentionally. They could flee to those cities and find protection until they had stood trial (Joshua 20:6).

Psalm 91 speaks about God, our eternal refuge. We may flee to Him in times of trouble. We do not have to stand trial, because that trial has already taken place, "He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, that was against us and that stood opposed to us: he took it away, nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:14).  We can therefore call on the Lord in days of trouble and say, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust" (Psalm 91:2).

And listen to the promise, "He will save you from the fowler's snare ... He will cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day ... I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation" (Psalm 91).

Is there anything troubling you? Flee to Him, your eternal refuge, and rest in the shelter of the Most High, your Abba, your Father.

Horacio Herrera from Cuba. Because of his leading role in the Cuban Church, he writes using a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. (Revelation 1:9)

Horacio Herrera

To live on an island is very interesting and challenging. Having been born on an island myself (Cuba) I find it is interesting to meditate on John who was on the isle of Patmos.  It was not an interesting place for him. He was sent there to be imprisoned, lonely, isolated. No contact with other countries, without the support of friends and family. That must have been very, very difficult for a 90 year-old man.

Yet, John not only survived, he was also given revelations that no man had ever been given before. Our God is not limited. Distances are no problem to Him. He sometimes allows us to get into a prison to reveal something very special. That sounds strange, yet true.  Is it that God could not reveal these wonderful things when John was still going around preaching, teaching in freedom? That he was so busy for the Lord that there was hardly any moment to relax and listen to God?

I do not know if I understand John's attitude correctly. He must have taken much time to be with God. Yet God allowed him to be sent to a lonely place to reveal the future to him. John transformed the island into a sanctuary, his loneliness into the company of millions of angels, and his exile into the entrance of heaven.

Yes, God can change our problems into His plans.

Horacio Herrera from Cuba. Because of his leading role in the Cuban Church, he writes using a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

On the Lord's Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: Write...
(Revelation 1:10)

Horacio Herrera

John was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day. He must have been in prayer, worshipping God, interceding for his "spiritual children" in Turkey. He must have been in tune with God. God can only reveal eternal truths to us when we are in touch with Him. No room for complaints, Lord get me out of this prison, Lord rescue me from this island of isolation, Lord I am of no use here, deliver me please.

If this would have been John's attitude, God would surely have revealed other things to him, His presence, His peace. But John was in touch with God. He was "in the Spirit." Despite the circumstances, suffering and loneliness, John was in tune with the Lord.

We too need to move our eyes away from circumstances and look up to God. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2).  Not on problems, not on defeats, but on Him whose eyes "range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9).  Maybe you are often lonely, in despair, in darkness. Be encouraged by John's situation and attitude. Be in the Spirit and transform your horrible Patmos into a beautiful place of worship. Then you will hear the voice of the Lord.

What more can we desire?

Horacio Herrera from Cuba. Because of his leading role in the Cuban Church, he writes using a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be my witnesses... (Acts 1:

And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)

Horacio Herrera

There are various reasons why we so often feel alone. We feel alone when we lose a loved one, or when we go through times of suffering, spiritual or physical. We feel alone when we are forgotten or feel rejected, sometimes ignored or even despised. The Lord exhorts us to hold on to Him; and He holds on to us. The disciples were saddened when Jesus went back to heaven. They felt alone, but the angel of the Lord gave them a wonderful promise, together with a great task, "This Jesus will come back."

One day, the Lord will return in glory. We will be changed into His likeness and we shall be like Him. What a day that will be, a day without end.  Christians do not have a hopeless end, but an endless hope. In the meantime He will guide us by His Spirit, who lives in us and who will be with us, until we meet our Savior.

We certainly can face the future with these promises. But that is not the end. He also gives us something to do. God's promises are connected to a task; they always are. "And you shall be my witnesses." No time to sit back and spend all our time lamenting and complaining. There is work to be done. Work till He comes.

When we do so we will experience this great truth, "And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Horacio Herrera from Cuba. Because of his leading role in the Cuban Church, he writes using a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church,


David's life is in danger. We do not know of which danger he speaks. He does not think it necessary to mention that. What is important to him is that the believer is always safe in God's hand, under all circumstances.

David

Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
(Psalm 16:1-2, 7, 8, 11)

Copyright [C] 1995 Open Doors International. Used by permission

[Judy Harder]

If we are distressed, it is for your comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:6)

Horacio Herrera

There is an infinite and glorious harmony enclosed in these verses which is a reality for the Body of Christ, worldwide. If one is distressed, it is for the comfort of somebody else.

What does Paul mean by this? The answer is found in the preceding verses (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God comforts Paul in his troubles so that he can comfort those in trouble with the comfort he himself received from God.  If we have never been poor, how can we fully understand the situation of those who are?  If we have never been in pain, how can we help those who are? Having experienced it ourselves, we can feel with others who go through that hardship today.

What a wonderful unity in the body. Even if it is dispersed throughout the world, it keeps a harmonious unity. If anyone is troubled, the other is comforted. It is almost a mystery. Our present times of suffering become your encouragement. Because we share with you, even through this book, how God has strengthened us in times of trouble. So that you can be assured that God has not forsaken us and that He will not forsake you if you may ever have to endure the hardships we have already endured.

"And surely I am with you always" (Matthew 28:20).

Horacio Herrera from Cuba. Because of his leading role in the Cuban Church, he writes using a pseudonym.

[Judy Harder]

If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26)

Horacio Herrera

Luke informs us in Acts 12 that Peter was imprisoned, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The church felt that Peter was an integral part of them and thus they felt prisoners with him. We are a universal Body of Christ. We feel joy or affliction, happiness or sadness, freedom or persecution with all the members of that Body, wherever that part of the Body may be.

The affliction of our brothers in Eastern Europe are ours, the struggles of the Christians in Muslim countries are our struggles also. The victories of the Christians in any part of the world are also our victories. "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering." Another translation says, "since you are also in the Body."

Let us remember them today in our prayers, stretching out our hands of fellowship to them. In doing so, we can bless those who are still in prison for their faith in Jesus Christ. While praying, we feel their burdens, their hardships and their pain.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).

Horacio Herrera from Cuba. Because of his leading role in the Cuban