Daily Courage - April 25
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from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church
The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
Lung Singh
Singh and Bunmah had been married for eleven years when their deepest wish came true: they had a child. It was not a child of their own, it was adopted from an orphanage. They felt they were the happiest family in the world. Unfortunately their happiness lasted only nine months - then the child's real father suddenly showed up. It turned out that the man, a soldier, was not killed in battle as the orphanage had assumed. He was still alive and he wanted his child back, though, since his wife's death two years before, he had never concerned himself about it.
It was the beginning of the biggest crisis in Sing and Bunmah's life. "Why did the Lord allow this to happen?" they asked. "We prayed for a child so long and now this. Why?" They asked many questions but they received no answer. Until one day Singh and Bunmah were praying for their child again, "Lord, you know where she is now. You are with her. You love her and You will look after her better than we ever could. Bless her, dear Lord, and do not forget us either. We need You more than ever now. Amen."
Singh looked at his wife. He didn't say anything but softly sang, "We have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back." There was a brief silence, then Bunmah also joined in the song - uncertainly at first, but then with growing conviction. They missed their child. They suffered a great loss, but yet victory had returned.
Victory through acceptance - peace through submission. Again and again. Not just for Singh and Bunmah, but also for you.
Writer of the Month: Lung Singh from Laos. He did not write his own contributions, but Jan Pit has edited his experiences and remarks and printed them under his name in this devotional. His life story is recorded in the book No Turning Back by Jan Pit, Marshall Pickering, 1985. According to rumors Singh was killed by his brother because of his faith in Jesus Christ.
Copyright [C] 1995 Open Doors International. Used by permission.
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compiled by Jan Pit with a forward by Brother Andrew (paperback, revised 2000)
Compelling wisdom from the pen of actual believers living amidst persecution, you'll be connected to the suffering, courage, and depth of life that exists in the harshest places in the world. Each of these 365 thought-provoking devotions will deepen your understanding of Christian persecution and provoke you to pray for our brothers and sisters with a new found depth.
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