DEVOTION – DAY 481

Psalm 94:18-19 “The Lord Supports Me”

Psalm 94:18-19 “When I said, “My foot is slipping,” your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

These verses have provided comfort and assurance to generations of people up till today. It is a reminder that we do not need to be fearful or anxious because God is loving, faithful and personal. He is always beside us, and he knows exactly what we face and what we are going through. God is always our support when we are in need. This assurance helps us to feel secure, even joyful. This is because we know that in the end, whatever the outcome would be, it would be for the best where God is concerned.

Edward Winter Clark was born in 1830 in USA. When he was 14 years old, he opened his heart to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He graduated in 1857 and married a year later. In 1859, he was ordained as a preacher. He encountered tragedy when his only child died in 1863. He sought comfort through his work for the Lord. He and his wife, Mary, answered the call to be missionaries. They were sent to North East India. They were assigned to reach the hill tribes of the Naga Hills, tribes that were known for their headhunting and cruel cultural practices. They had to trek through the densely forested hills with its wild animals to reach Sibsagar in 1871. A Baptist Mission had been set up there previously. It must have been challenging and fearful for Edward and Mary, so far from home, facing hostile tribespeople. But they were comforted in knowing that they were not doing all this alone. The Lord was with them. The Lord would help them. Within a year, they managed to convert 15 tribal people to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. They baptized them in 1872. 

The Lord was with them every step of the way. By 1878, they were able to establish the first school in Nagaland, in a place called Molung. The Lord enabled them to be proficient in the local language. In doing so, and with the Lord’s help, they produced the first book in the local language written and printed locally – a book on Christian teachings. They followed that with the first bi-lingual dictionary translating the local language. By 1905, Edward was baptizing 190 local people that year. The people abandoned their tribal practices of headhunting and they spread their new-found faith to others. Today, the entire state of Nagaland is overwhelmingly Christian, with 95% claiming to be Baptist. This could be traced to the instrumental work and faith of Edward and Mary Clark and others, who depended upon the Lord for strength, perseverance and enablement to do what many had thought was impossible. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for being our support, strength and shield. Please help us to depend upon you always to do great things for you and for your glory. We pray in the holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. How have you trusted and depended upon the Lord through challenges and difficulties? 
  2. How had the Lord helped you overcome your fears and anxieties as you face tough times?
  3. Why is it good to put your faith and trust in God to pull you through tough times? Discuss.
  4. How can you thank God for His unwavering support and love to you?