All glory to God.
Lockdown – We are all in the same boat, exposed to serious restrictions, rules and regulations, influencing our everyday lives.
Our tenants notified us in December 2019 that they will be moving out at the end of March 2020. When the National Lockdown in South Africa was announced to commence on 26 March, our tenants were forced to move out before that date. Since then our house have been standing empty.
Moving from Lockdown Alert Level 5 to 4 at the end of April, I could finally arrange with a professional cleaning company to clean the property, which I did on Monday, 11th of May. The lady enquired as to how we will find new tenants during lockdown. My answer was simply: “For there is nothing that God cannot do.” (Luke 1:37, GNT)
This is His property, everything belongs to Him, we are mere stewards.
On Friday, 15 May 2020, our house was cleaned properly, with the needed permits & safety precautions in place, as required by Lockdown Alert Level 4. On Wednesday afternoon, 20 March 2020, potential tenant viewed the property & were really excited as the 4 bedroomed house was perfect for their family, including 4 children. The only drawback was that they had to notify their current landlord and would therefor only be able to move in by the end of June. Fortunately their current accommodation was in a security complex which meant that even if they moved out early, the house would be safely left behind.
Being scared of the current illegal occupation of properties standing empty, we agreed that they could move in immediately and only pay the utilities bill until the formal contract commenced on the 1st of July 2020. On Friday, 22 May, all the documents were signed and the keys to the property were handed over on Saturday, 23 May when they immediately hung some curtains in the house. At 15:48 we received a phone call from the tenants informing us of the arrival of a group wanting to illegally occupy the property, claiming that they had a permit from a mining company giving them right of access. This was a lie as this was a privately owned property.
By chance, some would say, (Toevallig – Toe val GOD se Lig), at exactly that time, the tenant’s sister who is a member of the South African Police, was visiting and recognised the people outside as a group of troublemakers who have been causing problems in the area for a while. She notified the police and in the meantime the men from the surrounding houses, local security firms, friends and neighbours gathered to provide moral support. The opposing group was also growing in numbers, the situation turning into a potentially volatile confrontation. The whole neighbourhood was a buzz of activity.
The solution – REACHING OUT TO GOD IN PRAYER.
I phoned a few friends and relatives to intercede for protection, peaceful negotiation and general calm in a volatile situation.
Matt. 18: 19-20: “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in My Name, there I am with them.”
Psalm. 50:15:”and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honour me.”
Zechariah 4:6:”Not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit.”
Exodus 14:13-14:”Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today…The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Psalm 46:10:” Be still, and know that I am God.”
Isaiah 30:15:”In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”
Romans 8:31:”If God is for us, who can be against us?”
2 Timothy 1:7:”For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
(All Scripture from NIV translation)
Our ALMIGHTY God is the God of Hosts (the company of angels in heaven). – Yahweh Shabuoth.
The Lord strong and mighty – El Gibbor.
He wages war on our behalf, we just need to pray, believe and trust ALL HIS PROMISES IN HIS WORD.
In reference to the incident, the Police required proof of ownership for the property, to determine that it was definitely not mine property. Accompanied by security staff, my husband had to fetch all the necessary documents of ownership and Identification. This satisfied the Police and everyone then dispersed peacefully.
This calm and peaceful resolution made us realise:
GOD IS ALMIGHTY; HE LIVES; HIS WORD IS THE ULTIMATE ANSWER BECAUSE HE IS THE LIVING WORD; NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD; GOD’S TIMING IS ALWAYS PERFECT; HE IS THE LIGHT, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE; HE WAS, IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE THE SAME GOD; WHAT HE DID FOR ISRAEL, HE STILL DOES FOR EVERYONE OF US EVERYDAY, HE WILL NEVER LEAVE, NOR FORSAKE US!
Ephesians 1: 17-20(NIV):” I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at the right hand in the heavenly realms,”
In the early hours of 24 May I worshipped God with the following words from two well-known songs:
Holy, Holy God Almighty, worthy is the Lamb who rules;
all Glory, Praise and Honour belongs to You, o Lord…
Great is Thy Faithfulness…
I LOVE YOU, ABBA FATHER, WITH MY WHOLE HEART, MIND AND SOUL, YOU ARE MY EVERYTHING!
AMEN.
Karen Maree