Pastor and author Robert Morgan says he has experienced God’s faithfulness in his life and ministry, aided by daily prayer and Scripture reading.
In a recent podcast of “Amplify: Conversations about Life and Faith,” Morgan talked to host Maggie Evans about seeing God’s faithfulness even in what Evans described as “the craziness in today’s world.”
During the podcast, produced by TAB Media, Morgan described God’s unfailing dependability, adding, “I think that’s something we have to come to understand over time as we read the Bible, as we grow in Christ and as we experience life. Then we come to realize increasingly that He is faithful.”
‘World is not a happy place right now’
Morgan agreed with Evans that the world is experiencing chaos, noting some of the current issues.
“Everywhere we turn there are failed states, there are governments that are collapsing; we have a pandemic and who knows what the next variant will be,” he said. “We have economic uncertainty and tremendous national indebtedness, not just in America but in many nations of the world.”
Morgan also detailed political and philosophical troubles, comparing them to the French Revolution and the atheism that took over Europe, as well as chaos in individual lives, like addiction and health issues.
“This world is not a very happy place right now, but when you open the pages of the Bible you find a different world,” Morgan said. “It’s not a make-believe or pretend world. It isn’t a world that is trying to get an escape for us from the realities of this world.”
‘There is a God in Heaven’
Morgan highlighted a verse in the book of Daniel, which he said reveals an important truth:
“There is a God in Heaven. That’s the message of Daniel 2:28,” Morgan asserted. “Daniel was facing uncertainties in his life as well. He had been kidnapped and taken away from his family; he was in mortal danger in Babylon; he was about to be killed with all the wise men; but his message was, ‘There is a God in Heaven.’”
The author of more than 30 books went on to say that when believers fix their eyes on the Lord, they can be assured He has eternity in His hands.
“He recognizes this world is a mess,” Morgan acknowledged. “It’s a mess because of our own evil, but God has given us promises for every contingency and that’s the great message here. The promises are greater than the problems. The promises outlast the problems.”
Daily time in the Word makes a difference
Evans responded by asking Morgan how he experienced and believed in God’s unshakable truth.
Morgan noted mentors pointed him to daily Bible reading and prayer. “For 50 years that has been my habit.”
In emphasizing the importance of those daily disciplines, Morgan said it was crucial for his family, and very important for him to take notes in his Bible every time he found a promise from God. Then when times got difficult, he prayed that promise.
“I have never had difficulty finding a Bible verse that seems like it was placed in the Bible for me at that moment,” Morgan said. “That has been a lifesaver, and I think anybody can do that — but it helps if it’s undergirded by a daily habit of prayer and Bible study.”
Plan your day ‘in God’s presence’
Morgan outlined a way to begin.
“Any habit, you sometimes start small, and you get that steadiness going,” he said. “So, if you just start with five minutes a day or let’s say six minutes: ‘I’m going to read my Bible for two minutes and then I’m going to pray for two minutes and then I’m going to plan my day while I’m in God’s presence for two minutes.’”
Morgan emphasized that this kind of daily habit is not meant to be legalistic, and doing it will not make someone more spiritual.
“When we talk about a quiet time, we’re looking at the opportunity to shut out the world and all that is distressing us long enough to meet with the Lord and get a fresh word from Him, and give Him our burdens and get our attitude adjusted for the day,” Morgan explained. “And then with that refreshment, we go out into the world. It’s a relationship more than a ritual.”
Morgan said he learned this important lesson from mentors, adding that he also saw it in action with Ruth Bell Graham, Billy Graham’s wife, whom he met through a friend at college. Morgan saw Graham write notes in her Bible and said she had memorized great portions of Scripture that way.
Trusting in God’s faithfulness
One of the most powerful times in Morgan’s life was his wife Katrina’s battle with, and subsequent death from, Multiple Sclerosis. This helped shape his trust in God’s faithfulness, Morgan said.
“She was a great prayer warrior and that’s really what got us through that,” he explained. “She trusted in God’s faithfulness to the end of her life. She never had a doubt about it and that helped me, and the Lord [took] me through that time with the power of His word.”
Morgan, who has written books focusing on hymns of the faith, said music also plays an important role in trusting God.
“The classic hymns are miniature Bible studies set to music for the edification of the heart and for the glory of God,” Morgan said, “and when we meditate by letting these circulate through our minds, let the Bible circulate through our minds, then it bears us up. As we get to know our hymnbooks and we get to know our Bibles, these are therapeutic resources for us that are indispensable as we face the crises and difficulties of life.”
To learn more about Robert Morgan visit https://www.robertjmorgan.com.
To listen to the entire interview on Amplify: Conversations about Life and Faith visit www.thealabamabaptist.org/podcast.