Devotional Christian » FAITH

Storm Clouds

Patricia Day — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:13:17 +0000

Today, the day began with a storm; actually a thunder and lightning storm! In March! In Ontario!

The weather this winter has been very different to what we normally receive. There have been few snow storms – I can count them on one hand – and so a thunderstorm this morning really came as no surprise.

I am content with this because I don’t “do” snow sports. There are many though who depend on the snow and ice to make a living and I sympathize with their losses.

Life can be unpredictable too! We can have good days when everything is in perfect harmony, then there are days when we seem to be sitting underneath our own storm clouds. We get hit from all directions with trouble of one kind or another, and we can’t seem to catch our breath because of the intensity of life.

When times like this occur, it is a huge help to open your bible – or a bible – and search for words of comfort. There are many to be found, but you do have to open the book and turn the pages in order to find them!

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Seeking peace through prayer to God, can fill us with a calm and solace beyond our meagre understanding. He will honor our diligent and sincere prayer, and will meet us where we have greatest need of Him.

Psalm 119:135 Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. (NKJV)

Prayer: Abba – we come to You for some peace and quiet. There are too many storms in life and we need the reassurance of Your presence. Please take control and guide us according to what You want for our lives. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Patricia Day

Innisfil, ON

http://pattersmatters.wordpress.com

Shelter from the Storms

Patricia Day — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:20:38 +0000

Life can deliver some pretty horrendous ‘storms’. Storms of nature can often be survived, by taking shelter inside or under sturdy structures that will not succumb to the powerful forces of nature.

Psalm 55:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. (NKJV)

The storms and troubles that beset us as humans can be many, and we might flounder and seek guidance from wrong sources. When we are overwhelmed by the ‘stuff’ of our lives and we feel we have nowhere to run to, or anyone to turn to, let us remember that God can and does offer us complete spiritual and emotional safety and protection. To receive this we need to welcome Him into our lives and trust Him. We need to cover ourselves with His armour each and every day, giving thanks for all that we have – family, friends, homes and work.

I am lax at times, in doing this – but as my day struggles to begin I quickly realize that I have allowed myself to become distracted with a myriad of routines that quickly devour the peace of each day, if I allow them to.

I then quietly settle my thinking and focus on donning the helmet of salvation; the breastplate of righteousness and the belt of truth. I ‘place’ the shoes of the gospel of peace on my feet and pick up the shield of faith and the sword of the spirit, take a deep breath and THEN begin my day again; this time with right thinking and with God’s purpose. (Ephesians 6:10-20)

Prayer: Father God, in our efforts to be good and faithful, we sometimes get caught in the deluge of lifes’ storms. Help us to seek and find the right shelter; discern best help as well as, the safest place to be that we might be protected from all that is not of You. In Jesus Name. Amen

Patricia Day

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

No related posts.

Wholesome and Clean

Patricia Day — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:42:02 +0000

Ezekiel 37:23b – I will wash away their sin and make them clean, and I will protect them from everything that makes them unclean. They will be my people, and I will be their God. (CEV)

There is a major house renovation going on close to where we live. Actually, it has been in progress for weeks and weeks – new roof, insulation, siding, windows, doors, sunroom and storage addition – a complete overhaul! I don’t know, because I have not seen inside, but I have to assume that there is a great deal of updating, repair and cleaning being addressed inside the home too: and I assume this due to the time it is taking to complete the work.

I recall when my husband and I, were looking for a home in this park, that we viewed one particular unit that was in a beautiful location, the price was amazing (it would have left a great deal of ‘spare’ cash for renovations) but the condition inside was nothing short of ‘disgusting’: how anyone could have lived in the home in the condition it was in, was beyond our comprehension.

We had agreed that we were willing to move into a house of our choice and do work while living there, but the filth and the updates needed in that particular house, were way too bad for us to even consider moving in and living there in – there was far too much to do to make it habitable.

When some people are challenged to give their lives to God and invite Jesus into their hearts, they recognize the truth that they have sinned before God. As a result, they want to clean up their lives before they issue an invitation to Jesus. They don’t yet understand that God comes into our lives to clean us up, precisely because we can’t do it for ourselves.

Isaiah 64:6a – But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. (NKJV)

The good news is that God loves us just as we are. So when we become willing to accept God into our lives, thankfully, He does not shun our dirty lives like we rejected that dirty home. He welcomes us and cleanses us. He does not leave us as we are, with our disparaging thoughts, our criticism of others, our idolatry of all things material, and all our major and minor sinful ways. This process is called “sanctification”.

Isaiah 1:16 – Wash yourselves clean! I am disgusted with your filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong. (CEV)

Just as the house we viewed had much to clean up before being habitable, so God needs to clean up our lives, thoughts, and actions, so that we become a true reflection of His Son, Jesus, in our hearts, minds, and spirits.

James 4:8 – Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Clean up your lives, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you people who can’t make up your mind. (CEV)

Prayer: Abba, make us aware of all that is in our lives, our thoughts, and our deeds, that is unworthy of Your presence within us. Wash us clean, and renew our spirits and hearts so that we are wholesome, presentable, and welcoming to all who look at us and the ways that we live. We want to be acceptable to You and winsome to them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

The Twelve Days of Christmas

Patricia Day — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:31:58 +0000

Did you know this?

From 1558 to 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

- The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

- Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.

- Three French hens stood for Faith, Hope and Love.

- The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

- The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.

- The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

- Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Prophesy Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership and Mercy.

- The eight maids a-milking were the eight Beatitudes.

- Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control.

- The ten Lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

- The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Disciples.

- The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.

MERRY (Twelve Days of) CHRISTMAS!

And so, let us remember, that it is not OK to say “Happy Holiday” – when did that all come about?

As CHRISTmas approaches, let us remember that it is a Christian celebration of Christ’s birth! In order to give Him the praise and the glory – let us remember to say loudly and clearly to those we meet; to those we send greeting cards to; to them all let us say: HAPPY CHRISTMAS one and all!

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

Live One Day at a Time

Patricia Day — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:31:16 +0000

This can be harder to do than we think. I have friends, who are facing the loss of a loved one. Cancer has ravaged his body for a long time, but he has always rallied round and returned to ‘face another day’: now, with the addition of an infection, he has been rendered unable to continue the fight – his wife faces the eventuality of life without him, sooner rather than later.

The only comfort to be obtained from this reality, is that they are both very strong in their faith and in their love of God through Jesus Christ – how else do you endure the emotional roller-coaster that long-term illness brings; knowing that your body and its’ immune defenses have reached their limit, and can no longer fight the invading cells within.

Non-believers often scoff at our belief in an unseen God, and I admit it can seem rather unrealistic – but I know – without any shadow of doubt, that this unseen God has ‘pulled me through’ some pretty difficult situations in the past and has healed where medical staff have given up hope. I cannot explain how it works – all I know is that it does! He provides for us in ways we do not understand – what we have to do is trust in His works in our lives, and continue to have faith that all that He provides is for our betterment – after all, without this belief in a good God – what’s the point of living?.

Psalm 23 – says it all

The Lord is my Shepherd (relationship)
I shall not want (supply)
He makes me to lie down in green pastures (rest)
He leads me beside the still waters (refreshment)
He restores my soul (healing)
For His names’ sake ((purpose)
Yea, though I walk through the valley – of the shadow of death (testing)
I will fear no evil (protection)
For You are with me (faithfulness)
Your rod and Your staff comfort me (discipline)
You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies (hope)
You anoint my head with oil (consecration)
My cup runs over (abundance)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (blessing)
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (security)

In times of trial or testing, all we can do is “hang in there” and “hang on” to God, because if we do not have faith that He is ready, willing and able to help us – what else is there – surely all that is left is utter despair – and that is not a good or nice place to be!

Prayer: We do not understand how Your Way works – all we know is that it does, and we are thankful for that. Grant us, Father, the wisdom to hear You and trust in You and all that You provide; only then will we be equipped to take the next right step and take one day at a time. Amen!

more at:

http://pepeprays.wordpress.com

http://pattersmatters.wordpress.com

Building A House On A Strong Foundation

Hariette Petersen — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:58:44 +0000

We are building a house. We decided not to do the traditional wood, brick and mortar. We’re using steel. We have steel beams, steel studs, steel roof and steel siding. We are putting together a home that has already been through the fire and poured out to become stronger for it. Our foundation is made of concrete poured on top of hundreds of steel rods which reinforce the stability and strength of the concrete. Without a firm foundation, the steel girders and posts would not stand alone. A few Oklahoma wind gusts would level our house. Instead it is secured with thousands of steel bolts driven deep into the concrete. Likewise, Christians are secured to Christ as the foundation of His church. The church is strengthened by the indwelling power of God. We merely stand bolted to Him.

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22

God uses us to build His kingdom. We are His church. We are a portion of the beams, the walls, the siding. Jesus is our foundation, just as our house’s foundation is cement poured into a foundation of more steel rods. I think sometimes, me? I am the church for whom Jesus gave His life? I am the walls, the siding, the beams, the roof? Yes, and just as the materials used to build our house were put through the fire and tempered to make the strongest steel, the Lord gives us His power through His Spirit to withstand the trials of life…not that we can boast faith, wisdom or strength, no. Our endurance is because of the power the Lord gives us as we persevere and look to Him in faith.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,” 1 Corinthians 3:16

When storms come, we are secured in our faith. When death pays its visit, we are secured by the blood of the Lamb and assured of eternal life with God where it cannot be taken away. Because the Spirit of God makes His dwelling place within us, He strengthens us greater than any steel beam could ever be strengthened.

Do you ever feel worthless in the kingdom of God? Ever wonder whether what you do or don’t do matters in the scheme of things? It matters. You matter. Jesus gave His life to ensure it matters. You are a part of His church. Open the windows of your life and let others see Jesus in you–the spirit who lives within you. Let people see the fruit the Spirit gives you. Peace, love, joy, kindness, gentleness, self-control and hope. When storms buffet and threaten your faith and commitment, remember your foundation is secure in Christ. No one and nothing is stronger than He.

© Hariette Petersen, SelahV Today, 2011

Cry Out to God

Dionna Sanchez — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:03:22 +0000

There are days that I just feel like crying. My soul hungers for answers and I groan before God. These are the times where I don’t understand His ways – even if I still trust in His heart.

May my cry come before you, Lord; give me understanding according to your word. Psalm 119:169

Sometimes it’s enough for me to simply cry to the Lord. To vent to Him. To have Him there to listen. It’s reassuring for me to unleash my heart on His shoulders; knowing that He carries all my concerns with such great care.

I seek understanding…often. I seek relief from my doubts, fears, and concerns. But it’s almost more important to me to be heard. I need to know that I matter. That my thoughts, heart, and voice…matter. I need to know and feel like God sees me.

Yes, sometimes that’s more important to me.

He DOES see me. He DOES hear me and I DO matter to him. He provides me a way for my cry to come before Him and to rest at His feet.

Some days my heart just wants to pour out. It doesn’t want advice or direction – although it might the next day or the day after that. It simply wants to spill. It wants to unleash all that lies within it – the emotion, the feeling, and the questions.

I’m so thankful that my cry can come before the Lord in those moments and on those days. I’m so thankful that He never gets tired of me and that I’m not a burden.

May my cry come before you, Lord. Today – and always.

~ Dionna Sanchez (http://beautyinthestorm.blogspot.com)

Faith to Stand Firm

Dee Dee Wike — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:39:06 +0000

Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you. (2 Chronicles 20:15, 17, NIV)

Daily Bible reading is a discipline that today’s Christian cannot afford to neglect. Without the sword of God’s Spirit, our spiritual armor is incomplete and leaves us vulnerable to the attack of our enemy, Satan, and the forces of evil that war against us (Ephesians 6: 12-18).

A recent Bible reading in the twentieth chapter of second Chronicles was much more than a lesson in Old Testament theology; it was an epiphany of sorts. In verses five through thirteen, Jehoshaphat pours out his fervent prayer to the LORD for victory against the invading armies, seeking God’s help against his powerful foes. Don’t we all have vast armies that stand ready to destroy us and steal our joy and victory? For some, it is unrelenting job stress or family strife. For others, it is the threat of financial ruin or the fear that our children will grow up without God’s spiritual and moral compass to guide them through the maze of adolescence into the abundant life that God promises for those who follow him.

God’s answer to Jehoshaphat can be God’s answer for us today: “The battle is not yours, but God’s…You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you.” As Christians, we face opposition every day because of the forces of evil that are at work in our world. We arm ourselves with the promises of Scripture and in our own strength argue God’s points and principles with others rather than put them into practice in our own lives. We may be armed and ready to fight, but do we have the faith to stand firm, take our position in prayer, and trust God to fight our battles for us?

Rather than fret and fight, let us worship and call on the name of the One who is able to deliver us. “As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated” (2 Chronicles 20:22). God inhabits the praises of his people, and our worship of him is a powerful weapon against our enemy. Let prayer be your first line of defense, not your final act of desperation, and “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

My Daughter is Born

Matthew Fry — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 05:00:45 +0000

“2 and He put the child among them.”

Matthew 18:2

My wife and I came home yesterday from the hospital with our baby girl. When you walk into my daughter’s nursery the first thing you see is part of Matthew 18:2 on the wall. My wife and I struggled for 15 months to get pregnant and He finally put a child amongst us.

We chose this verse to go on her wall because if you read the rest of the section (CLICK HERE for scripture) you see that Jesus is talking to the disciples about what it means to have faith. That the faith that we are to have is to be like a child. That we accept that things we can’t understand because our Father tells us to. The times where we have no control is okay because our Father is with us. That no matter how bad of a day we have, just being able to run to our Daddy makes everything better.

So when you find yourself in a hard circumstance….alone…or out of control…run to hold the hand of your Daddy and let Him take care of it.

Bible Verses About Faith

Hariette Petersen — Mon, 23 May 2011 02:03:36 +0000

Below are several Bible verses about faith. Feel free to add your favorite in the comment box.

FAITH DEFINED:

^“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1-2

“By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Hebrews 11:3

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

WHEN YOUR FAITH IS TESTED:

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me.” Psalm 138:7

“Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

“Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.” James 1:3

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” Psalm 138:8

“In the day when I called, You answered me; and You strengthened me with strength in my inner self.” Psalm 138:3

“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God.” Psalm 147:5

FAITH PROMISES

“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth.” Psalm 145:18

“The Lord is good to those who wait hopefully and expectantly for Him, to those who seek Him.” Lamentations 3:25

“The Lord upholds all those (of His own) who are falling and raises up all those who are bowed down.” Psalm 145:14

“Faithful is He that calleth you, Who will also do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

ACTIONS OF FAITH

“Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.” Habbakuk 2:4

“The Lord is my portion, says my living being; therefore will I hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.” Lamentations 3:24

“When Jesus heard [it], He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Matthew 8:10

“But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” Matthew 8:26

“Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” Matthew 9:2

“But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.” Matthew 9:22

“Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” Matthew 9:29

“And immediately Jesus stretched out [His] hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:31

“Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great [is] your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” Matthew 15:28

“But Jesus, being aware of [it], said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Matthew 16:8

“So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

“So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.” Matthew 21:21

“When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” Mark 2:5

“And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” Mark 5:34

“Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.” Mark 10:52

“When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” Luke 7:9

“Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” Luke 7:50

RESULTS OF FAITH:

“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.” Hebrews 11:7

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:8-10

“And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because sheconsidered him faithful who had made the promise.And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.” Hebrews 11:11-12

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:13-16

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.” Hebrews 11:17-19

“By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

“By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” Hebrews 11:23

“By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.” Hebrews 11:24-28

“By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.” Hebrews 11:29

“By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.” Hebrews 11:30

Why Must We Suffer

Hariette Petersen — Fri, 20 May 2011 16:49:00 +0000

Suffering is something we all want to avoid. None of us invite pain. We tend to seek comfort and pleasure; it’s the way we are. We rebel against discomfort. We have innate defenses against that which hurts us or can bring harm. We buy things to eliminate pain. We invent things, we construct things, we work for things, we purchase things to bring us more comfort, more ease, more time to spend at ease. So when we face a season of suffering, our first reaction is to fix the situation–not accept it. We question why? Quite often, if we sit awhile and consider our discomfort–we can see our suffering is far, far less in comparison to another’s.

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

We have conditioned ourselves to believe we should not suffer, be inconvenienced, or deal with pain. Yet, the Apostle Peter tells us to look beyond the temporary “grief in all kinds of trials”. They come to prove the ”genuineness” of our faith. Anyone can suffer and whine. It takes a person full of faith, and a hope beyond the temporary difficulties of life, to bring glory and honor to God. Such is our joy. Our endurance through the suffering, our steadfast faith in God amid the trials–these bring refinement which results in praise and honor and glory.

Does this mean we should keep our suffering to ourselves–stay silent when heartache, discouragements, and grief press upon us? I don’t think so. I think when we suffer we have a great opportunity to show the grace of God. We may hurt. We may mourn. But we show the greatest honor to God as we stand firm in our faith in the midst of our suffering. It’s not easy. It’s not easy to smile…to laugh, or sing. Our Lord knows that. He suffered the cross to bring glory to the Father. He suffered alone. He does not want us to suffer alone. He left His Spirit to comfort us. He gives us one another to help carry our load. Knowing this, may we each find our voice to sing praises to Him for the victory He has set before us.

PRAYER: LORD, gives us voices to raise in praise to You in times we find most unbearable. Keep us ever close to You as we go through trials meant to strengthen our faith, and bring light of Your goodness to a lost world. We can all praise You on the brighter days, LORD. Give us Your Light to shine on those days which seem darkest before the dawn.

If God Made It, then…

Hariette Petersen — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:03:45 +0000

why don’t I rejoice in the day? Why is my soul cast down? Why do I let adversity beat me? What reason do I have to rejoice when life treats me unfairly, when day after day circumstance doesn’t change? Why do I grumble, have pity parties, murmur, criticize and condemn those things which cause discomfort? After all…

“This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

It’s not always easy to look at a day of trouble and rejoice. It’s hard to watch a child suffer, a mother grieve, a widow cry, an elderly person lose all semblance of dignity. It’s difficult to sing a song of harmonious joy when the piano needs tuning, the house burns down, the struggle with sin is lost. However…

that is not the point in rejoicing and being glad. The point is not the circumstances which surround us. It’s not the heartache we are enduring. It’s not the sadness we feel, nor the grief we bear. It’s the fact that life is precious…that God is great…that no matter how bad things get, the LORD is still making days. He is still creating air to breathe, bees to pollinate, seeds to die and give birth to new life to feed us again and again.

So often we tend to look at the darkest part of every cloud. We fail to remember that God is in charge. He knows what He is doing. He cares more about us than we care about ourselves. He knows what it takes to bring us closer to Him, to depend upon Him, to find the perfect peace that passes all understanding. He knows our every thought and every motive. He knows the desires of our hearts–the true desires. He knows how much we can endure.

When we rejoice in a day the LORD makes, it doesn’t mean we are rejoicing and glad for the negative, troubling things we face. However, even James tells us to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4

God in His infinite wisdom is working all things together according to His purpose and glory. As we rejoice in the circumstance, the chains of temporal pain are loosed. The storms of unsettled thoughts are stilled. The agony of bitterness is forgiven. The irritation of being wronged dissolves. Then, my friends, then we will be glad in it. The abandonment we feel is replaced with the presence of God’s love and comfort. We begin to trust Him all the more…our faith grows…and God gets the glory for the day He has made. What a glorious thing to consider.

Will you give God His due praise and adoration today? Will you thank Him for the situation and trust His plan to use it for His unimaginable, incomprehensible, infinite, eternal purpose?