The Gathering Place Where Family Matters

We are very concerned for our beloved United States of America. I know many believers are earnestly praying for our nation as we go to the polls and vote today.  Isn’t it wonderful to know that our sovereign Lord is fully in control. Doesn’t this wonderful truth daily bless our lives in very personal and practical ways! I wanted to write a personal note of appreciation to you. Thank you for allowing me to come to each day with Dr. Mike’s Daily Prescriptions. I have a verse for us and a perhaps a smile as we think of “microwave Cheryl!”

“You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8).

Cheryl was one of the most impatient people you would ever meet in your lifetime. Her friends teased her and nicknamed her “Microwave Cheryl” because of her impatient, want-it-now way of living. She often expressed to those nearest to her that she hated waiting for appointments. She hated waiting for medical test results. She even hated waiting at the red light at the intersections. She simply hated to be always waiting.

Then it happened. She was worshipping with her church family when her pastor read James 5. His focus was on the verse that you read in this post today. The pastor explained that the word “patient” means to be long-tempered, to be of a long spirit, not to lose heart. All this is possible when we keep the Lord, His purpose, His plan and eternity in perspective. Cheryl was greatly convicted. Change didn’t come automatically nor did it come quickly. But it did come.

For today: How is it with you, friends? Would you make a good pediatrician because you have “little patients”? I know the proper spelling, friends. It was supposed to be at least a little humorous!

Today I take us back to a Daily Prescription that I wrote over ten years ago. A lot has taken place in my life since then. But I can tell you, friends, I absolutely still believe what I wrote.

“Thou hast put gladness in my heart… I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for Thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:7-8).

David certainly had a lot to be unhappy about in his life. King Saul and his soldiers were making life miserable for David. Though David knew that he himself had been anointed by Samuel to be the King someday, between the anointing and that “someday” was a whole lot of misery! In many of the writings of David, he expresses that misery and cries out to the Lord for help. Here he gives the wonderful report that God Himself put gladness in his heart. The Lord was an encouragement to him. That enabled him to lie down and sleep in peace and safety.

This reminds me of a dear couple. I will change their names. Hank sat behind the steering wheel of his car in the doctor’s parking lot. Beside him sat his wife of forty-seven years. She was weeping softly at the report of Hank’s oncologist. His cancer had returned, and it was very serious. Years before this, Hank and Margie, his wife, had placed their trust in the Lord Jesus. Together they had grown spiritually and learned to love the Lord Jesus with all their hearts. Through the tears that day, God did a wonderful thing. He brought Scripture verses to their minds and specifically some very precious promises from the Word of God. Dear friends would walk through this with them, and family that loved them would be nearby. Hank remembered how God had put gladness in David’s heart, and he asked the Lord to do that very same thing for them.

For today: Sometimes gladness in the heart comes even though there are tears in the eyes!

“If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters” (1 Peter 4:14-15).

Believers who are genuinely walking with the Lord and living for Him have never fit in with the world’s crowd.

Chris surely discovered this when he was transferred to the company’s third district warehouse. He quickly discovered that the “in crowd” of employees were not only unsaved but also openly hostile toward Chris and the way he lived. Chris, a loving, dedicated Christian, was pleasant in his personality, exceptional in his work ethic, friendly in his demeanor, and Godly in his lifestyle, but was he ever hated for it! Getting ready for work that day, Chris kissed his wife, thanked her for her prayers for him, and quoted to himself the verses that you read.

How does this apply to you today?: Are you finding yourself in a similar environment? Remember, we are the ones who are blessed. By the way, we probably will need to remind ourselves of these verses often today.

“The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge” (Psalm 46:6-7).

She went to her pastor and sat down across from him at his desk. “Pastor, I know that as a Christian I ought not to be afraid. But I am afraid. Honestly, I am terrified. Never in my lifetime have the two major political parties been so very far apart, so absolutely opposite. I am fearful of the outcome of this election,” she said.

After giving her much time to simply express all her fears, her pastor lovingly reminded her that after the election is over, the Lord Jesus is still our Savior, His Word is still true and will accomplish everything He wants it to accomplish, the Lord is still building His church, He is still on the throne, and He wins!

That day she left the pastor’s office still very concerned about the election but also determined to keep eternity in view and to trust in the Lord even deeper.

This is just what I need today. How about you? I am so glad that I know the Lord as my Savior. I cannot imagine living without that assurance. Do you know Him?

How great is our God!

He is sovereign.
He is praiseworthy.
He is holy.

Think of what the Bible says! “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigns over the heathen: God sits upon the throne of His holiness” (Psalm 47:7-8).

Many of you read these Daily Prescriptions very frequently, if not every day. For the believer, this is an exciting, stunning, shocking and amazing time to be alive. In my seventy-three-year lifetime, tremendous changes continue to take place in our beloved country. Never have I ever witnessed such open defiance of the true and living God and His Word.

However, I am not discouraged. I know that the LORD is still the King of the earth. I know that He reigns over the nations, even if it does not appear to be so. I know that He is still on His throne ruling and reigning. Therefore, I will pray and praise Him today. I will live for Him in confidence that He is God. How about you?

May I ask you this question? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal and saving way? If so, rest assured; our God is in control. If you are not sure, would you take a moment and go to www.michaelpeck.org and click the banner Heaven.