Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold. I have come into the deep waters; the floods engulf me. I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. My eyes fail, looking for my God. Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal. (Psalm 69:1-4)

Sister Maria

These are the words of David, the man after God's heart, but at the same time the fugitive king of Israel, calling out to God while fleeing his enemies. He called to God in times of peace and in times of persecution.

I often thought of these verses when I was imprisoned.

I was also reminded of Jesus' warning:

"You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of Me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them...Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit" (Mark 13:9-11).

I am so glad that I memorized so many scriptures beforehand, for when my turn came to be persecuted for Christ, they really sustained me through all the difficult times.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16).

If that is the case, you will always experience the previous verse "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts ... and be thankful" (Colossians 3:15).

[Judy Harder]

If you make the Most High your dwelling ... then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
(Psalm 91:9-10)

Sister Maria

If we fear persecution and its consequences, it simply means that we do not believe He is strong enough to see us through our times of trial.

This marvelous psalm could have been written especially for me. "Surely, he will save me from the deadly pestilence" (v.3).

Under those terrible conditions in prison I became desperately ill in my pregnant condition. (I was four months pregnant when I was arrested.) Two months before the baby was due to be born I thought I was going to die, as would my baby. But God instilled sympathy into a doctor's heart to have mercy on me. He sent me to a hospital where the baby was born.  Later, when my baby became ill, he was taken away from me. My husband was allowed to take care of him for the next seven months.  Thank God, neither myself, nor my child, suffer from any ill-effects today.

"You will not fear the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day" (v.5).

When I was interrogated, they tried to force me to deny my Lord. A loaded gun was pointed at my chest, with my interrogator threatening to shoot me. I was shaking, but I just could not deny my Lord. I was weak, but He was strong.

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge" (v.4).

We never need to fear, whatever the circumstances - for He is with us. The Psalmist speaks from experience - so do I - and so may you.

[Judy Harder]

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange was happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ. (1 Peter 4:12-13)

Sister Maria

Many Christians today live with the false hope that peace will come to this world one day, that famine and persecution will end. his utopia is not in accordance with God's Word.

When I was arrested, His words immediately came to me, When these things begin to happen, "...be on your guard" (Mark 13:9).

Instead of peace on earth we see hunger, disease and war. This happened in my country too. We were promised food, health and peace, but we soon discovered that there was no room for God in an atheistic environment. Our churches were closed, our Bibles burnt and our pastors arrested. Because I taught children about the Lord, I, too, was arrested. Only when the heavy cell door shut behind me and I was left naked in the cold darkness, did the words of Jesus make real sense to me, "Be on your guard."

I do not want to be negative and frighten you. I only say: "...be on your guard." Even when things look like improving in the world today, we do not have any guarantee of freedom from persecution.

Together with the warning: "...be on your guard" comes this other truth, "Rejoice". Peter said it, Paul wrote about it from prison, Jesus exhorted us, "Rejoice".

I can only add, you can.

[Judy Harder]

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

(Matthew 5:11)

Come you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance ... for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat...(Matthew 25:34-35)

Sister Maria

In these scriptures I see an inseparable bond. Blessed are the persecuted and ... blessed are those who help the persecuted.

Although there were times, when in prison, that I doubted God's love, many opportunities arose when my faith was strengthened again and again through the support of other people. Their good deeds came spontaneously, because they loved the Lord ... and me.

It reminded me of Paul's words, "If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."

If your leg is injured, you are supplied with a crutch. Without that crutch you cannot walk. In our walk with the Lord, one may be persecuted, but another supports and strengthens.

We need one another, and thus we fulfill the law of Christ. In doing so we all will be blessed, because, "he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

[Judy Harder]

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:147)

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)

Sister Maria

With our full schedules today we have little time to study the Word of God and pray. We have either been so busy - and thus too tired to pray - or we sleep-in the next morning (because we went to bed so late!). So we always seem to have an excuse for not praying.

Satan does not mind if we work overtime - even if it is for the Lord - as long as he can keep us away from praying and studying the Word of God.

Somebody once said, "If the first minute is for God, the whole day will be. If the first minute is not spent with God, neither will the remainder of the day."

There is never an excuse for not praying. Let us get our priorities right. We will soon discover that the time spent in fellowship with God, will enable us to face the remainder of the day in peace and victory.

Have you lost your peace, your victory? It can be found again. Take time to pray and to read God's Word.

[Judy Harder]

Throughout the ages, this psalm, more than any other psalm, has been an encouragement and comfort to countless people. David knows prosperity and adversity. He has experienced "the valley of the shadow of death." But he also knows the God who is always with him. His faith in that God makes him triumph over all suffering and pain. "For you are with me."

David

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name"s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
(Psalm 23)

[Judy Harder]

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" (Isaiah 6:

Brother Jacob

I was very burdened by the problems of my people who suffered so much under a communist government. Pastors were executed, Bibles were burnt and many Christians thrown into prison.

I decided to visit the Christians in some remote areas, to encourage them and give them new Bibles. I had to travel by car to a remote area in a convoy, because it was too dangerous to travel alone.  At a road block the convoy was stopped. Some armed soldiers came up to my car and arrested me. Everything was confiscated - my car, my personal belongings, my money and all the Bibles.

The soldiers put me into an army vehicle and took me to prison. My first question was, "But Lord, why me? I want to serve you, but how can I serve you in prison?" Then I remembered a meeting I had had with some pastors in that part of the country. They were burdened with the many people in prison. We decided to pray and ask the Lord to burden someone with a love for these people and to send such a person to them with the Gospel of salvation.

Little did I realize at that time that I was to be the man to bring them the Gospel.

We can become the answer to our own prayers. Are you willing?

[Judy Harder]

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. (Isaiah 61:1)

Brother Jacob

After being thrown into prison I had to undergo hours of harsh interrogation. Finally I was brought to a dirty cell in which a number of other prisoners were sitting or standing around. It was a group of pathetic, dirty and hungry human beings - my co-inhabitants for an undisclosed time.

One man looked at me and asked, "What are you here for?" Yes indeed, why was I there? For no other reason than for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I realized that the Lord had placed me amongst these captives because they were there without hope. They were not just physically hungry, but also spiritually. I started to witness to them and the response was beyond belief! Two of the prisoners were back-sliding Christians. As soon as I started to speak about love and forgiveness they started to cry. They fell on their knees, confessing their sins, weeping bitter tears of repentance. Others followed their example and in the following three months many accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

That dark, dirty, smelling prison cell became a place of light. Such was the change that two prison wardens also accepted the Lord. The place of curses changed into a holy sanctuary, filled with songs of praise and hope.

We all can be fruitful in the place where we are. To the glory of God and to the salvation of others.

[Judy Harder]

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him  (Acts 12:5)

Brother Jacob

With me in the cell was a man accused of co-operating with a rebel group in our country. This was never proven however, but in a Marxist country, proof is not essential. Even the least suspicion is enough for you to face a firing squad. We all knew that within the next week this man would be executed. He was filled with fear and listened very attentively to the Gospel.

One day we decided to stand around him and pray for him. His heart cried to God. We worked out a plan to get him out of prison. We did not know if our plan would work, but we prayed and planned his escape. Every morning we were taken from the cell under armed guard to wash. When an armed soldier opened the door, we were marched down the corridor. Another soldier, with a machine gun, stood at the entrance to the washroom. As agreed, we all turned straight into the washroom, except our friend who kept walking straight on, into freedom. The two armed guards did not make a move to prevent him from escaping, for at that moment their eyes were blinded, just as we had prayed.

Joy filled our hearts when we witnessed this miracle. Yes, miracles can still happen if you stand in prayer around those in captivity.

[Judy Harder]

The Lord provides food for those who fear him. (Psalm 111:5)

Brother Jacob

When I was arrested I was worried about my family. How would they cope without me? I realized however that to worry about them would not solve their problems; neither would it make prison life easier for me. At the same time I had to prove to my fellow prisoners that, as a Christian, I had no reason to worry. I prayed for my family, that the Lord would take care of them.

Some weeks after my arrest, a woman brought some food to me in prison. This is a custom in our country. The food was nicely prepared, a bowl of rice with meat on top. I started eating the food with great enjoyment. When I got close to the bottom I saw that something was hidden there. I carefully scraped the rice away with the spoon to find a tiny plastic bag. Inside the bag was only a piece of paper. My hands shook as I pulled the scrap of paper from the plastic. It was a very short note from the lady who had brought me the food, saying, "Your family is fine. Other Christians are looking after them. We pray for you." Peace and joy flowed into my heart.

Worry breaks us down. Trust builds us up. Put your trust in the Lord - for yourself, your loved ones and for your fellow Christians, because He cares.