Morning by Morning, October 1 - Bitter Waters Made Sweet!
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name -- the name above every other name -- and I listen for Your voice -- for Your sheep hear Your voice. ...
"Then Moses ordered Israel to set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter. That is why it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, 'What shall we drink?' He cried out to the Lord; and the Lord showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet" (Exodus 15:22-25).
You're the God who makes our bitter waters sweet. In the days of Moses, You led Israel through their wilderness by the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night of Your Spirit (Exodus 13:21-22). And You still lead us through our wilderness on the journey into the fullness of Your promises by Your Spirit (Romans 8:14).
You led them to a place of bitter waters to "put them to the test" and see if they would trust You even in the bitter places of the wilderness (Exodus 15:25b). And You still lead us to show us any place of bitterness in our hearts that would poison our peace and hinder our journey into the fullness of our inheritance in You, for when a "root of bitterness springs up ... many become defiled" (Hebrews 12:15).
When the people tasted of the bitter waters, they complained (Exodus 15:24), but Moses cried out to You in prayer and faith (v. 15:25). And You turned his eyes to see "a piece of wood" that would make the bitter waters sweet (v. 15:25). And there You revealed to them another dimension of Your nature, expressed in another of Your names, saying "I Am Jehovah Rapha-- I Am the Lord who heals you" (Exodus 15:26).
That "piece of wood" speaks of the cross of Christ. "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24). When we cast our burdens, our anxieties, and all our cares upon You (1 Peter 5:7), when we let You search our hearts to uproot any bitterness or other "wicked way" that would hinder our journey to "live for righteousness" and live into the fullness of Your promises (Psalm 139:23-24), we are casting the cross into the waters of our struggles and sins.
Then and there, You make our bitter waters sweet! You remind us that You are our Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals us! You remind us to praise You and turn to You in prayer instead of complaining and turning away from You in despair. And You remind us to keep trusting You and keep following You by the pillar and presence of Your ever-abiding Spirit who will keep leading us through the wilderness and into our promised land! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
My friend, may you look to the cross of Christ and cast it into your struggles and sins, that the Lord may make your bitter waters sweet, as He leads you by His Spirit on your journey into the fullness of all your inheritance in Him, in Jesus' name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you, my friend!
Friends, thank you so much for all your prayers and support for our successful Golf Tournament and Silent Auction Fundraiserlast Saturday! We were blessed to hear from Max Lucado and Jim Barker gives us some words of encouragement and have a great time together on a beautiful day! God bless you and every way He ministers through you to fulfill your gifting and calling in Christ!
My friend, Thank you for joining with me on this daily journey of prayer, seeking to grow in intimacy with God and the character of Christ. Thank you to all those who join with me in support and prayer of this ministry of helping people experience and encounter the Living God through intimate prayer and transformational ministry of healing and freedom in Christ -- "healing from the inside out" of "spirit and soul and body." God bless you!
For Speaking Engagements, Spiritual Retreats, Seminars, and Conferences, please contact me at: tommyhays@messiah-ministries.org God bless you!
Tommy Hays | Messiah Ministries
Healing from the Inside Out
Pastoral Director | Rapha God Ministries
4 Dominion Drive, Building 1
San Antonio, Texas 78257
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