Notes of Faith November 6, 2024
He Is Near
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart.
Psalm 34:18
Pastor Azat Azatyan was captured by Russians while ministering in Ukraine. He was beaten and had electrical cables attached to his body. His tormenters asked him whom he served. He shouted: “A Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” His torturers left him for dead, but Azatyan was able to drink some rainwater and survived. “After torture with electric shock,” he said, “all you want to do is drink. I asked the Lord for water. He gave rain…. I felt God’s presence at that moment.”1
Ps 34:15-18
15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry.
16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers,
To cut off the memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry, and the Lord hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Isn’t it amazing to feel God’s presence in awful moments? When you feel lonely, when you are hurting, when the roof falls in. Remind yourself right now that the Lord is near you. Even when you want to run away from Him, there’s nowhere to run. If we go up to heaven, He is there. If we go to the cemetery, He is there. If we ride the winds across the seas, He is with us (see Psalm 139:1-10).
Remember today what the psalmist said: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4).
I see God’s presence and His blessing in my life. I am where I need to be.
Pastor Azat Azatyan
1 René Zeeman, “Pastor Azatyan Proclaims God’s Presence in Ukraine,” Christian Network Europe, December 16, 2023.
The world is going through dangerous spiritual days. Those that love the Lord and serve Him are being attacked with greater intensity than ever before. Satan’s days are numbered and he knows it. His desire is to take from God that which He loves…His highest of creation, the only thing created in His image…you and me. Satan does not care about mankind and wants to destroy as much as he is able. But God is in control and not one of those that belong to Him will be destroyed. We may experience suffering and even death, and yet that will only bring us into the blessed eternal life that we are waiting for…to be with our God, Savior, and Redeemer. Pray for all that God brings to your mind in the world, those that you know and those that you do not, for them to repent of their sin, come to Jesus in faith, and be saved!
Pastor Dale