So, go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life God has given you under the sun. The wife God gave you is your reward for all your earthly toil. Whatever you do, do well. – Ecclesiastes 9: 7-10a (NLT)
As I was traveling along the Seawall Road, Georgetown, from the Pegasus Hotel to the intersection at Vlissengen Road, I observed a multitude of persons dancing to the pulsating music that belted out of the ‘boom boxes.’ In the midst of what can be described as a precursor of the Mashramani celebrations, there was total abandonment of the COVID-19 precautionary measures.
Fellow Guyanese, the curfew has been lifted but the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic is still ever-present. The spike in COVID-related deaths in Guyana after the Christmas season is a lesson to learn.
The Holy Bible is replete with celebratory events, inclusive of national events such as The Feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23:23-25). In Guyana, Mashramani is an annual festival that celebrates our nation becoming a Republic in 1970. The word Mashamani is derived from an Amerindian language and means “celebration after cooperative/hard work”.
Celebration of birthdays, the birth of newborn babies, wedding anniversaries, graduations, promotions, and national events have their foundation in God. However, our conduct in celebratory acts must glorify God and not the devil. Jesus declares in John.10:10 that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy but I (Jesus) come to give life and life more abundantly. Beloved of God, choose life. Let’s celebrate responsibly.
PRAYER
Jesus, Son of Jehovah God, we take authority over every blood-thirsty demon that is intent on destroying our people. We bind demonic principalities and powers and cast them into outer darkness. We release the fire of the Holy Spirit to destroy every satanic altar established to promote the destruction of our citizenry in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and decree life over the peoples of our nation. You, oh Lord, have given us, your saints, the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and all the powers of the enemy, ( Luke 10:19). So we thank You for this, in Jesus name, amen.
Read: Leviticus 23
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 25:1-7; Mark 6:30-56; Exodus 31; Exodus 32; Exodus 33:1-6
