Daily Courage

[Judy Harder]

In this first part of the psalm, David cries out to God for help. He is surrounded by enemies. Even his own health is suffering because of it. In the midst of this sickness and strife, David calls on God for help. The Lord knows, the Lord sees. We can trust such a God under all circumstances.

David

In you, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.
I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the Lord.
I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
(Psalm 31:1-8)

[Judy Harder]

The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him and he makes known to them his covenant.
(Psalm 25:14)

Lung Singh

The Suffering Church is a praying Church. Persecuted Christians pray a lot. When it comes to praying, they even seem to be leading figures, for their prayers seem to be much more powerful and intensive than the prayers of many in the "free" world.

Many times when I listened to their prayers, I was deeply moved. And strange as it may seem, I often watched them while they were praying. I felt that they were so close to God that they could almost touch Him.  These were prayers without verbiage, without shame, without searching for sentences. Prayers with a deep realization of being in the presence of the living, holy God.

Their prayers were characterized by genuineness, simplicity and ... tears. Not from emotion, for the Suffering Church has learned to restrain emotion long ago, but because of the consciousness of their own sinfulness and weakness when meeting God. Is this the reason why their prayers are so powerful? And yet they know and address this holy God as "Our Father."

True friendship with God is brought about by intimate contact with Him, the Holy One ... Our Father.

"Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).

[Judy Harder]

In quietness and trust is your strength.  (Isaiah 30:15)

Lung Singh

In spite of the sorrow, a burial in Laos often looks like a celebration. Immediately after the death of the sick person, when the ceremonial dirges are over, there is a feast - apparently. Sometimes a film is presented in front of the house of the dead person, preferably a comedy. Inside, people play cards or dice, and there is drinking and talking.  It looks as if they are trying to laugh away their distress.

Of course this is not the case. There is sorrow - great sorrow, and they show it when the dirges are sung. But after this, the spiritual world must be given the impression that the dead person has already been received by the good spirits, while the evil spirits must be misled by pretending as if nothing has happened - by means of a comedy, drink and gambling games.

The night after the death, the so-called "death watch," the whole family sits around the dead body, while outside there is the film and inside there is the drinking and gambling. For Christians, the death watch is an opportunity to testify to the hope and eternal life through Jesus Christ, the risen Lord.

That is what Lung Singh did that night. Outside there was a high wind and Singh looked worried. He called me to a quiet place behind the house.  "Will you pray for me?" he asked. "The storm frightens me. I am not afraid myself, but I am worried about my wife and child and our little pile house. I want to stay here and testify, but I can't keep my mind on it."

I prayed for him and Singh prayed too. After we prayed he got up and said, "Well, I can go and testify in peace now."  He had presented the problem to the Lord and it was off his shoulders now.

Childlike trust - mature faith - and a divine answer.  "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7).