So your birthday is Feb 10 - if you do the math - we celebrate it on the 41st day of every year. So for forty days and forty nights you patiently wait...
There are many great stories in the bible on the "forty days and forty nights" theme. Let me glean through them to find a special birthday wish for you.
(1) Noah and the flood
(Genesis 7:4) Seven days from now I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights, and I will wipe from the face of the earth every living creature I have made.
In Sunday School the story of Noah would be told with cute pictures of the Noah's ark, the animals entering the ark two-by-two, and finally the rainbow - the sign of a new covenant God made with Noah - to promise him and generations to come that God would not punish mankind with such horrific natural disaster. So next time you see a rainbow Joan, remember God's promise. He will not leave you or forsake you. He will send constant reminders of His love for you.
(2) Moses meeting with God
(Exodus 24:18) Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
(Deuteronomy 9:9) When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the Lord had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water.
I often wonder what it must have been like for Moses to spend forty days and forty nights with God, so completely free of distractions - up on a mountain, covered by cloud, and no food or drink. I must have heard and read the ten commandments dozens of times. It would still be a challenge to recall it word for word. To really appreciate God's holiness and His character, we have to de-clutter our lives, to spend time alone with God. He will speak to us clearly. In Moses' case, He wrote His law in tablet of stone. In our case, He writes it on our hearts (and especially yours on your birthday Joan!):(Deuteronomy 9:9) When I went up on the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that the Lord had made with you, I stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights; I ate no bread and drank no water.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Jeremiah 31:31-33)
(3) Elijah fleeing from Jezebel
(1 Kings 19:8) So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
The prophet Elijah just came through experiencing a miraculous victory on Mount Carmel (1 King 18:16-45) and here he was found running for his life from the wicked Queen Jezebel! To his credit, at least he knew who to run to when he was in trouble, even if it took him forty days and forty nights to get there. There he met God - and according to the scripture: the Lord was not in the wind... the Lord was not in the earthquake... the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper (vv. 11-12). Elijah heard God in a gentle whisper. When you are under stress, and there will be plenty of that in the future: working out relationships with Francis and (children!), your two sets of parents (!!), professionally with patients and colleagues... listen to the inner gentle whisper, the indwelling Spirit of God. It's a promise!
(4) Jesus tested in the wilderness
(Matthew 4:2) After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.
I once heard a sermon on this. Jesus is God and how dare the devil tempt Him! Jesus didn't try to prove that He can take on the devil. He wanted to demonstrate to us how we too can stand against the devil's scheme. And here is the promise: you can be strong in the Lord (Jesus!) and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
So when you find yourself in situation that makes no sense - remind yourself that there is a spiritual realm which co-exists with this physical realm and you need spiritual weapon to stand against it. Jesus will help you!
So happy 27th birthday Joan! 2013 is a very special year: your wedding with Francis (what a fine choice and in 2 weeks!) and your becoming a family doctor in July. You will be a very fine doctor. You will be loved by (almost!) everyone and you will help many along the way. But you will have challenges. Remember these promises on your birthday - the day after the forty days and forty nights:
1. the rainbow of promise of God's abiding (Noah)
2. the Word of God that is stored on your heart (Moses)
3. the Spirit of God which comes in a gentle whisper (Elijah)
4. the full armour of God: truth, righteousness, peace, faith, salvation, and His Spirit (Jesus)
When in doubt, pray!
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