Down by the Riverside
Posted by Dion Todd October 22nd, 2023 3,072 Views 0 Comments
Down by the Riverside from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.
Sometimes, when reading or listening to something, you know it was meant for you. That somehow, someway, the Lord put it in front of you for such a time as this. An anointed word or song is timeless, just as the Bible was written thousands of years ago, but it can speak something new to you every day.
Yet, you could be standing in a crowd, all listening to the same message, and no one else would understand what was spoken to you. An altar call can be given at a church, and two may come forward while ten remain in their seat. There is a time when the Lord calls - when He opens your heart to comprehend.
(Acts 16:13–14 NKJV) And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.
One Sabbath day, there was a group of women meeting by the riverside and listening to the Apostle Paul speak. One woman named Lydia heard Paul speaking, and the Lord opened her heart to understand. So Lydia and her household were saved, while others sat there without comprehending. For whatever reason, the Lord wasn't calling them at that time.
The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves and speaks to us in ways we can understand. There are even times when the Lord opens our minds:
(Luke 24:45 NASB) Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures
Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, and His sheep recognize His voice:
(John 10:2–4 NKJV) But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
That is so beautiful: "The sheep follow Him, for they know His voice." Just as above, when you know that it was meant for you. The Lord still speaks to His people today. Let no one convince you otherwise.
It is wonderfully comforting to hear the Good Shepherd's voice speaking to you. His word turns confusing darkness into a well-lit path. It drives away fear, calms anxiety, and refreshes our hope. A timely word from the Lord changes everything.
Before the Lord pushed us into ministry, we ran a computer business, and I specialized in troubleshooting networks. It was work I enjoyed, and I probably would have retired doing it. But the Lord had told me when I was around twenty that I would be in ministry one day. So, for Him to get me to change careers, He completely dried up our business.
After months of being out of work and hearing only silence from Him, I began to feel abandoned. Perhaps we had missed a turn somewhere. When I prayed, I only heard silence. When I fasted, I was just hungry. When we gave, we just had less. I couldn't find work anywhere. The bills began to pile up. Nothing worked like it was supposed to.
The week finally came when we began packing to move out of our home and in with family. I had prayed with my face on the carpet for months, but I was so exhausted and stressed that I didn't bother to pray anymore. I came into this room, sat down on a bean bag in the corner, and immediately had a trance-like vision like Peter's:
(Acts 10:9–11 NKJV) The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth.
Time suspended, and it was like watching a giant movie screen in front of me. I saw a boxing ring, and I was standing in a corner, pulling on the gloves. The view was from behind, and I appeared to be alone, but then it panned around to the front of me, and I could see the Lord standing outside the ring behind me like a coach. He spoke these words I will always remember:
"You are not alone, for I am in your corner, and I have prepared you for this day. Now get in there and fight!"
His presence was so powerful in the room that I began weeping. What a relief. All the stress, anxiety, and fear were instantly gone. A peaceful calm replaced them, and I knew through and through that everything was going to be alright. I came out of the room and told Sylvia that everything was going to be fine, for I had heard from the Lord. I didn't know how yet, but I knew that a word from God changes everything.
By that Friday, I was a pastor. And that computer networking that I enjoyed doing, I still do here every day, but now it is to tell the world about Him. I know I am not alone, for He is in my corner. Looking back, it is so simple: I just couldn't see that He was trying to squeeze us out of the old so we could begin something new.
(John 10:27 NKJV) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
Believe in Him. Learn to hear His voice speaking to you and push away the negative thoughts. Hang on one more day. The Lord always encourages His children, and even if He has to discipline you, it will only be done because He loves you and wants the best for you. He has a plan and a purpose for your life. Put Him first in everything you do, and you will find things falling into place automatically.
You can pray this with me if you like:
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You so much for another day. Please let me hear Your voice and recognize when You are speaking to me. I want more of You in my life. Help me get in tune with You. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!