A New Day

By: Pastor Johnie Akers     

Psalm 50:10, “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.” Shortly after Dallas Theological Seminary was founded in 1924, it almost came to the point of bankruptcy. All the creditors were going to foreclose at noon on a particular day. That morning the staff and other supporters met in the president’s office with Dr. Chafer for prayer that God would provide. In that prayer meeting was a man by the name of Harry Ironside. When it was his turn to pray, he prayed in his characteristic manner: “Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are Thine. Please sell some of them and send us the money.” While they were praying, a tall Texan with boots on and an open collar stepped up to the business office and said, “I’ve just sold two carloads of cattle in Ft. Worth. I’ve been trying to make a business deal and it fell through, and I feel compelled to give the money to the seminary. I don’t know if you need it or not, but here’s the check!” A little secretary took the check and, knowing how critical things were financially, went to the door of the prayer meeting and timidly tapped. When she finally got a response, Dr. Chafer took the check out of her hand. It was exactly the amount of the debt! When he looked at the name, he recognized the cattleman in Ft. Worth, and turning to Dr. Ironside said, “Harry, God sold the cattle!” What great needs are you facing today? No matter how great the challenges in your life, God has the resources at His disposal to meet each of your needs. I once heard a preacher say, that God owns the cattle of a thousand hills and the hills the cattle are on. I say, “Amen,” to that. You see, difficult circumstances force us into a position where by faith, we are constrained to access the infinite resources available to us from our heavenly Father. In the end, as Dr. Chafer and Dr. Ironside discovered, when God works in that fashion, there is no doubt where the answer comes from; and thus, God is fully glorified as He works on behalf of His children with each new day.