Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:19-22

An associate was an aide to the President prior to being a pastor. My colleague knew the thrill of getting his White House pass, granting access to the Oval Office itself. Jesus’ blood is our “pass” into the very presence of the Most High. When we arrive, we discover Jesus is the High Priest—in charge. My associate lost his White House pass when he resigned, and jokes he can’t even go near the door now. But because we are in Christ, and because His blood is the “pass,” and He is in charge, we never lose our access, and can always go there with confidence.

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

God shall supply every need. What a promise. And we had many needs in Cuba. For more than 30 years we had a shortage of almost everything - food, medicine, clothing, freedom.

But we also experienced the truth of God's promise. The Lord did supply, especially in moments when there was almost nothing left.

The non-Christians were deeply touched when they saw how Christians helped each other in moments of despair.

God supplied, sometimes in a miraculous way, but also often through fellow believers. That too is a miracle of grace and love.

As is written in Galatians 6:10, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

God can supply - are we willing to be a channel of His grace? To believers and unbelievers?

Antonio Garrido, from Cuba, shares about his life with the Lord. Despite the battle, his meditations witness to victory and faith. He writes under a pseudonym.

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." (Revelation 21:3-6)

Although we know we are "not of the world", we need many things from this world.

When you are deprived of these daily necessities because you are a Christian, life becomes difficult and hard.

This has often been the case with Christians in my country. Not only was it hard for us to find employment, but it almost became impossible to purchase certain articles, ranging from luxury goods like cars to necessities of life such as food and clothes.

When church services are forbidden as well, you feel discriminated against as a Christian and you have to beware of despondency and hopelessness. But the words spoken by Christ in Revelation 21:5 gave us hope. "I am making everything new!"

Is this only valid for eternity? No, God in His might is able to make all things new now. How does He do that? By changing the circumstances? Or by changing us, so that we experience that in all these things we are more than conquerors? In trouble, in loneliness and in prison. For nothing is able to separate us from the love of Christ. He holds us fast, He makes all things new. Every day - including today.

Antonio Garrido, from Cuba, shares about his life with the Lord. Despite the battle, his meditations witness to victory and faith. He writes under a pseudonym.

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church

Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground."

(Exodus 14:13-16)


The Israelites, with Moses at the front, were involved in a very delicate situation. In front of them was the Red Sea. To their sides the desert and behind them the Egyptian army to capture them. A very frightening scene. A street with a dead end.

God's people often find themselves in similar situations. Enemies all around us with a seemingly dead end awaiting. Wherever we look we see danger, anguish and despair. But God permits these situations to show us that there is never reason for despair. Certain spiritual lessons can only be learned in streets with a dead end, where the way to God is still open.

When things got really bad Moses obeyed the voice of God and struck the water with his rod. And the dead end street changed into a thoroughfare.

It always will... if we obey and trust our Lord.

Antonio Garrido, from Cuba, shares about his life with the Lord. Despite the battle, his meditations witness to victory and faith. He writes under a pseudonym.

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - (Romans 8:35-39)

Antonio Garrido

The Church in Cuba has gone through many times of persecution during the last three decades.

Sometimes the enemy of God's people confronted us face to face. Sometimes the battle was more subtle, when they disguised themselves and infiltrated our churches as wolves in sheep's clothing. But they failed. We knew their plans. They tried to discourage God's people through loss of jobs, loss of education and other privileges. They infiltrated the minds of our children with diabolical materialism. But in all these things they failed.

Despite these trials and tribulations the Church of God remained - alive, growing and full of power. If God is for us - who can be against us? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
2 Peter 1:3

Demons thrive in chaos, but God brings a steady, secure equilibrium to the lives of people in covenant with Him through Jesus Christ. Old sailing ships often carried lead to provide ballast. God provides the ballast for our lives—moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (verses 5-7). Without such “weight” the craft of your life can be capsized by contrary waves and winds. God’s promise is that as, by faith, you “add” these things to your life in Christian growth, you are strengthening the ballast that will hold you upright in a hurricane.

A song of praise to the Lord, to the God who is alive.
This God hears when His children call on him.
He seems far away sometimes, but he is never absent.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18)

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.
Proverbs 18:10

All people know titles for God—the “Great Spirit,” “Ground of All Being,” “the Man Upstairs”— but only those in covenant know His name. Each biblical name of God reflects some blessing, or favor available to those who known His name. “The Lord Is My Peace,” The Lord Is My Righteousness,” “The Lord Is My Healer,” “The Lord Is My Provider” all reveal what God is in interaction and engagement with people. All together, the names of God revealed in the Bible are the stones comprising the “strong tower.” No wonder His people are safe and secure when they run into it for sanctuary.

from Day by Day with the Persecuted Church

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing. (Job 1:21-22)

Job

Many sayings from Sister Basilea Slink are well known. One of these reads, "God's actions are always love, even if we do not understand Him."

Job could have written those words, or better still, this was Job's testimony.

He did not understand God. He was full of "whys" but he had no doubt that God had His best in mind.

Some people say that you must never ask "why" something has happened, but "what for?" That may sound a little pious, but on a more practical note, hear the words of a woman who herself had come through many things. "I do not ask ‘why?' or ‘what for', but I ask myself the question, ‘How am I going to get through all this?'"

Job did it because he clung to God who does not have a hand in our suffering, but has His hands around it.

Not only in Job's situation but also in yours.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous…

1 John 2:1

You have died and are standing before God. “Let me tell you about Bill,” Satan snarls. The accuser reads a long list of your sins. “Is this document of Bill’s violations of My Law right?” God the Father asks. “I’d like to say a word about Bill,” God the Son says. “He received Me as his Savior and Lord, repented of his sins, and every accusation Satan has brought against him is covered by My blood.” With that, the Father—the Judge—yanks the list of accusations from Satan’s hand, tears it up, and throws it away (Colossians 2:14). If you’re in Christ, you have an advocate whose testimony is final.