9. Devotional: Waiting on Him

Devotional: Waiting on Him

Author: David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

    The prophet Samuel's command to King Saul was “Go to Gilgal and wait… I will come, and God will give you directions” (see 1 Samuel 10:8). 

    Saul’s only responsibility was to wait! God wanted to hear Saul say, “God keeps his word. Never once has a word from Samuel's lips fallen to the ground. God said I should wait for directions, and I will wait.”

    However, human pride often reasons, “God must not have meant it. Maybe I heard it wrong.” Instead of standing on God's word, we start trying to figure out things on our own. Lying in bed in the late hours, we say, “Lord, here's how I see it can be done.” It is wicked to do something very logical and reasonable when it is not God's clear word of direction. If you want to prove anything to God, prove you will patiently wait for him to act.

    “And Samuel said, ‘What have you done?’ Saul said, ‘When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed…. Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.’ And Samuel said to Saul, ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded you…. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over his people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.’” (1 Samuel 13:11-14, NKJV).

    Saul waited seven days, but that wait was unholy. He was impatient, angry, fearful, and pouting. We must wait with faith, believing that God cares for us and loves us, that he will be there on his time. This matter of waiting is so important that I must show you some scriptures to prove it.

    “And it will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.’” (Isaiah 25:9).

    “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides you, who acts for the one who waits for him” (Isaiah 64:4).

    Dear believer, let us wait patiently and in full faith for God to move!

20. Devotional: A Promise for Difficult Times

Devotional: A Promise for Difficult Times

Author: David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

    I believe God has given us a very specific promise for the difficult times ahead. It was given to Abraham and his seed as an oath. "The oath which he swore to our father Abraham: To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life" (Luke 1:73-75, NKJV).

    God has sworn to deliver us from every enemy and fearful thing so we can serve him all the days of our lives without fear. Beloved, hunger is an enemy, as are nakedness and poverty.

    This oath from God must be the foundation of our trust in every crisis, calamity and fearful time. Memorize it. Let it be your holy argument at the throne of grace.

    In Psalm 121, David provides one of the most powerful Holy Ghost arguments ever given to man. The entire psalm tells us that all our help comes from the Lord alone. Psalm 124 is yet another holy argument, a specific promise to enable us to build special trust.

    Signature judgments bear a special mark of God in that they mirror the sins committed against him. As these judgments occur before our eyes, our only answer is to have Jesus as our shield.

    Today, run to meet him in the secret closet of prayer. Let your roots go deep into him; know he will keep you in all circumstances. Take hold of the following special promises in readiness for any and all calamities we may face.

    "Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness… His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. His heart is established; he will not be afraid" (Psalm 112:4, 7-8).

    "He shall judge the world in righteousness… The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know your name will put their trust in you; for you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you" (Psalm 9:8-10). 

18. Devotional: Pray and Persevere

Devotional: Pray and Persevere

Author: David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

    God wants to ensure your heart is set on persevering, no matter how long his answers to prayer take.

    Jesus gave us a parable to prove that he waits for us to persevere. It is the parable of the distressed widow who kept coming to the judge and requesting justice (see Luke 18:2-8). The judge finally granted the widow’s request only because he did not want to be worn down by her constant pleading. "Yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me" (Luke 18:5, NKJV). Jesus responded, "Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge his own elect who cry out day and night to him, though he bears long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily" (Luke 18:7-8).

    Most of us misinterpret this passage as Jesus speaking a paradox when he says, "bears long with them" and then "he will avenge them speedily." However, Jesus isn’t speaking of delaying a long time. He says God wants to answer us speedily, but God is "bearing something" that calls for patience on his part. He says, "I will put up with this thing I see in your heart. I will bear with you until you are willing to lay hold as you should for the answer."

    As I look back at some of the things I have persevered in prayer for, I see the Lord saying, "I'm holding up the request to you like a mirror. Through this, I will show you what is deep in your heart."

    I have seen doubt, fear, unbelief, and many things that have made me throw myself at Jesus’s feet and cry, "Oh, Lord, I’m not interested in the answers anymore, but only in getting this spirit out of me. I don’t want to doubt you."

    The hardest part of faith is the last half hour. When it seems God will not answer, we often give up and go on to something else. We think we are surrendering to God’s providence, depending on his sovereign will. We say, "Well, God, you must not have wanted it after all."

    No! That is not what God intended. When praying for God’s obvious will, such as the salvation of your family, you have every right to hold on and persevere. Never give up until Jesus answers.

16. Devotional: In God’s Time

Devotional: In God’s Time

Author: David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

    Many years ago, while walking the streets of New York City, I became worn out, tired in soul and body. I developed mononucleosis and ended up in the hospital for six weeks and developed a growth in my throat. I could not swallow, and sometimes I couldn’t even catch my breath. My weight soon fell to less than 115 pounds. Since I could not travel, all the income to the ministry quickly dried up, and it looked like the end of Teen Challenge. 

    I remember the night I cried out in desperation, "Lord, I give up! Teen Challenge is all yours. I am just going to trust you. If you want the ministry’s doors to close, that is up to you; but please, remove this thing from my throat." Within an hour, I coughed up a fleshy growth the size of a large walnut. 

    I left the hospital a day or two later and soon got my strength back. I discovered that while I was away, Teen Challenge had survived! I do not know how the Lord did it, but while I was ill, the staff began to trust the Lord instead of depending on me. That is what God was trying to accomplish.  

    Beloved, your troubles are not unforeseen accidents. No matter what you are going through or how deeply you are hurt, God is right on target and right on time. 

    You may think the devil came in and interrupted God’s plan for your life, but that is not the case. It does not matter if you did something stupid or careless. If you have repented, the Lord can harness everything meant for evil and turn it around for good. 

    Don’t focus on your past mistakes. God promised to restore to you all the years the cankerworm has eaten (see Joel 2:25).  Encourage yourself with these words and let them become your life and hope: "My God can do anything. He has not forgotten me. No one can change his plans. No matter how bad things look, he has everything under control!" 

8. Devotional: Peace Greater than the Storm

Peace Greater than the Storm

by David Wilkerson (1931-2011)

    Jesus gives us more than one reason why we need his peace. Christ said to his disciples in John 14:30, “the ruler of this world is coming.” What was the context of his statement? He had just told the twelve, “I will no longer talk much with you” (14:30).

    Jesus knew Satan was at work in that very hour. The devil had already enlisted Judas to betray him. And Christ knew that the religious hierarchy in Jerusalem was being empowered by the principalities of hell. He was also aware that a devil-inspired mob was coming shortly to take him prisoner. That’s when Jesus said to the disciples, “Satan, the wicked one, is coming. So, I won’t be talking to you much more.”

    Jesus knew he needed time with the Father to prepare for the coming conflict. He was about to be delivered into evil men’s hands, just as he had spoken. And he knew that Satan was doing all he could to shake his peace. The devil would harass and attempt to discourage him, all in an effort to break Christ’s faith in the Father—anything to get him to avoid the Cross.

    You may be in turmoil, thinking, “It’s over. I’m not going to make it.” But Jesus says “I know what you’re going through. Come and drink of my peace.”

    Right now you may be going through the hardest time you’ve ever faced. Your life may be unsettled and things may look hopeless. There seems to be no way out for you and every avenue you turn to fills you with more stress, confusion and weariness.

    It doesn’t matter what you’re going through. Your life may look like it was struck by a tornado. You may endure trials that cause others to look at you as a modern-day Job. But in the midst of your troubles, when you call on the Holy Spirit to baptize you in the peace of Christ, he will do it.

    People will point to you and say, “That person’s world has come completely apart. Yet he’s determined to trust God’s Word, live or die. How can he do it? How does he go on? He should have quit long ago. Yet he hasn’t given up. And through it all, he hasn’t compromised anything he believes. What amazing peace! It’s beyond understanding.”

41. Devotional: He Will Do The Impossible

He Will Do The Impossible

by David Wilkerson

    God can restore whatever has seemed dead in our lives with just a single word. Are you having financial problems, unable to pay your bills? So it was with the Lord’s disciples—and He fixed their situation supernaturally. When tax time came around, Christ and His disciples had no money to pay the needed amount. So how did the Lord fix the situation? He sent Peter out to catch a fish. Jesus told him he would find a coin in the mouth of the first fish he caught, and that coin would cover their tax bill. “Go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish . . . and when thou has opened his mouth, thou shalt fine a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee” (Matthew 17:27).  

    I can only imagine what Peter must have thought; “Tax money in a fish’s mouth? This I’ve got to see. I’ve been a fisherman all my life, and I’ve seen a lot of things inside fish—worms, hooks, seaweed. But I’ve never seen a coin inside one.” Yet, when Peter reeled in the fish, he opened its mouth to find a gleaming coin. The amount was enough to pay their taxes, just as Jesus had said.  Why did the Spirit move upon the gospel writers to record this story? And why did Jesus choose to fix their situation through a miracle? Why didn’t He just take up an offering, or send the disciples out to work for a day to bring in wages for the tax?  

    I believe Jesus moved supernaturally here because He wanted to prove to His children that He will do the impossible for us. He can fix any financial problem, any family crisis, any overwhelming need. He wanted us to know that He is the same God who fed Elijah with bread delivered by ravens (see 1 Kings 17). He fed a crowd of 5,000 (see Mark 6:34-44) and another crowd of 4,000 (Mark 8:1-9) with a few fishes and loaves of bread. He knows that at certain times in our lives only a miracle will do. And He wants to assure us that He can do the impossible for us, in any situation!

40. Devotional: It's Never Too Late

It's Never Too Late

by David Wilkerson

    Mark 5 tells the story of Jairus, the desperate synagogue ruler who asked Jesus to heal his daughter. The twelve-year-old girl was dangerously near death, and Jairus pleaded with Christ to come to his house and lay hands on her. Jesus agreed to go with him. But first He stopped along the way to minister to a woman with a blood disease. (This was the woman who was healed when she touched the hem of His garment.) Yet, while Jesus tarried, a messenger came with tragic news: Jairus’ daughter had already died. The messenger told the synagogue ruler, “Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?” (Mark 5:35).  

    Jairus’ heart was gripped with grief. He thought, “If only we had gotten there on time. Now it's too late. My daughter is gone.” But Jesus assured him, “Be not afraid, only believe” (verse 36). As the group approached Jairus’ home, they heard sounds of wailing and mourning. It was Jairus’ family and neighbors, grieving over the girl. Picture the contrast in this scene: Here was God in flesh, Creator of the universe, able to perform any work imaginable—yet the people were weeping in His presence. In short, they were testifying, “God can only help as long as there is some sign of hope left. But once all life is gone, there is no need to call on Him anymore. Even He can't restore this kind of situation.”

    How many Christians today no longer call upon the Lord because they think their problem is hopeless? Multitudes trust God only to the point that something in their life dies. I’m not referring to the death of a person but rather the death of a marriage, a relationship, a dream, your hope for an unsaved loved one—anything in your life you think is impossible to fix, change or restore.  

    Jesus rebuked such unbelief. He said to the weeping crowd at Jairus’ home, “Why make ye this ado, and weep? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth” (verse 39). He was stating, “This situation is not what you see or think. You think all hope is gone but I say there will be restoration.” He then went to the little girl’s room and, speaking a mere word, He brought the child to life. “Straightway the damsel arose, and walked” (verse 42). Why did the Holy Ghost include this story in Mark’s gospel? He did it to show us that nothing is too “dead” or too far gone for Him to restore to life. He is saying, “Put your trust in Me to fix your problem. It’s never too late for Me to work.”  

1. Link: Daily Devotionals

1. Streams In The Desert by L. B. Cowman
     http://www.christianity.com/devotionals/streams-in-the-desert/archive/

2. Faith's Checkbook by C. H. Spurgeon
     https://archive.org/details/thechequebookoft00purguoft

3. Morning By Morning by C. H. Spurgeon
     https://archive.org/details/morningbymornin00spur

4. Evening By Evening by C. H. Spurgeon
     https://archive.org/details/eveningbyevening00spur

5. Days Of Heaven Upon Earth by A. B. Simpson
     https://archive.org/details/daysofheavenupon00simp

6. Daily Open Windows by T. Austin-Sparks
     http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/openwindows/003109.html

7. Day By Day With T. Austin-Sparks
     https://bookministry.wordpress.com

8. My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers
     http://utmost.org

9. None But The Hungry Heart by Miles J. Stanford
     http://www.abideabove.com/hungry-heart/

10. Daily Strength For Daily Needs by Mary Wilder Tileston
       https://archive.org/details/dailystrength00tile

11. J. R. Miller's Year Book
       https://archive.org/details/drmillersyearbo00mill

12. The Continual Burnt Offering by H. A. Ironside
       http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/series/6104

13. Truths To Live By, One Day At A Time by William MacDonald
       http://www.plymouthbrethren.org/series/6233

14. Devotionals by David Wilkerson
       http://sermons.worldchallenge.org/en/view/devotions