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Life had taken a few turns. Unexpected losses had quietly stacked up until she felt that her God must be on vacation somewhere else. Others seemed to be receiving blessing from God but she felt short changed these days.
She began to feel that she had moved from under God’s wing to under God’s thumb… and quite subtly her view of God began to change. She hardly noticed it was happening. And her Bible sat more often on the shelf.
Then she heard a verse from the Bible on a random snatch of a radio program while she was driving. God wanted her attention and the verse hit home in her heart.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (I John 3:1).
The word “lavished” caught her imagination. Suddenly she realized that she had begun to doubt God’s love and his goodness toward her. A God that lavishes his love on his children is not a God who wants to pin you under his thumb! He is a God that can be counted on to lovingly take us through this journey of life. A God that lavishes us with his love is a God that can be trusted to guide us on our way and to nudge us back on track when we wander.
If your life has some unexpected bumps these day, don’t doubt God’s love and care for you. He will lovingly bring his principles of living to your attention so you can correct your course when necessary. His love will lead you to the very best for your life if you trust him through the fog. Knowing he lavishes you with his love will keep your heart soft and your heart attitude looking for his goodness. Doubting the goodness of God toward you can harden your heart and move you in a direction that will tempt you to live life according to your own wisdom…wisdom that will always be less than God’s wisdom for you.
Dear Heavenly Father, You know how easy it is for me to doubt You when I can’t see the path ahead of me clearly. Forgive me for letting my heart doubt You. Forgive me for my impatient nature. Thank you for reminding me that Your love for me is so great and that I am Your child. Show me the attitudes or actions that I have slipped into that don’t please you. I choose today to trust Your goodness toward me. Give me assurance in my heart that You are at work in my circumstances. By faith I will trust You to guide me in what to do. Thank you Father. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Questions: Describe some ways that God lavishes His love on you.
About the Author Gail Rodgers
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“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18
When asked what he considered the most valuable skill in employees, the financier John D. Rockefeller replied, “The ability to get along with people!”
One of the most important skills we can develop as we walk with Christ is knowing how to love troublemakers. If you learn how to interact with difficult people, then you’ll be able to pour your energy into areas of ministry rather than constantly putting out fires of conflict.
Here are four methods Jesus modeled when he encounter difficult people:
1. Realize you can’t please everybody. Even God can’t do that! Refuse to play games (Matthew 22:18).
2. Learn to say no to unrealistic expectations. Confront them by “telling the truth in love.”
3. NEVER retaliate (Matthew 5:38-39). It only lowers you to their level.
4. Pray for them (Matthew 5:44). It will help both of you. Let God speak to them.
Question: Which of the four points above do you find most difficult, and why?
About this Author: Rick Warren
Are you consumed with worry? Let us pray for you.
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Whenever we find ourselves eaten up with worry, fear, anxiety, or devoured by the pressures of the day, God tells us to take note. Being consumed is a red flag and God gives us directions for just such times.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith” (1 Peter 5:7).
There is an enemy of our souls and his goal is to devour us. God tells us to be alert. Take note when you are being consumed by something. Scripture tells us the enemy of our soul comes to kill, steal and destroy and we are to be watchful. Being consumed by fear, worry, gossip, a particular temptation or the pressures of the day will, at best, steal from you and rob you of peace in your soul and joy in the moment. At worst it can destroy health and relationships and your fellowship with the God who wants to help you.
So what do you do when you realize something is just eating you up? You resist as the scripture says. How do you resist? You begin to see worry as a call to prayer, inviting God into your circumstance to direct you and give you wisdom. You resist worry through prayer. (Phil. 4:6) You resist fear through Scripture, knowing God has said that He has not given us the spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). You stand firm in your faith knowing that the consuming downward spiral you find yourself in is not your Heavenly Father’s plan for you.
God cares about you. Remember: Your worry is a call to prayer. List the things that tend to devour you. Release them from your heart and mind by giving them to God in prayer.
Ask God to take the things on your heart and to give you His peace in return. Be prepared to ask for His strength to resist your worries each time they threaten to overwhelm you. Exchange your worries, in prayer, for God’s peace.
Father in Heaven, thank you for showing me that worry is really a call to prayer. Help me to be alert and to run to You when I am being eaten up with worry or fear. Thank you that I can throw my cares into Your lap and stand firm in Your promises. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Questions: As mentioned in the devotional, what do you do when you realize something is just eating you up? How do you resist fear & worry?
About the Author Gail Rodgers
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“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. “ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Have you ever noticed how often thanksgiving and prayer are mentioned together in the Bible? In the same breath that Paul encourages us to “pray continually,” and also says we should “give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17) Author Paul E. Miller, in his book A Praying Life (pg. 89-90), collected over a dozen verses where the apostle Paul explicitly connects thanksgiving and prayer. Here is a sample:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippeans 4:6
“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.” 1 Thessalonians 1:2
“I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.” 2 Timothy 1:3
“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers” Philemon 4
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Colossians 4:2
Prayer itself sometimes will be a struggle, as Paul admits when he explains how Epaphras has been struggling in prayer for their friends in Colossi. (Colossians 4:12) However, by always praying with thanksgiving, we can remain encouraged by remembering what God has done and what He promises He will continue to do. By matching prayer of thanksgiving with prayer of intercession, we will not be weighed down by the prayer needs of others (or ourselves) but instead will balance these needs with the assurance of how God has already provided and will continue to provide for us. In this way, we can, as Paul also encourages, “be joyful always”. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
Even when we are praying for help in the midst of deep distress and struggle, give thanks to the God who has sustained and will sustain us always!
Questions: What are you thankful for today? What would you like to ask God for, in a spirit of thanksgiving?
About this Author: Darren Hewer
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“Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment” (Matthew 9:22).
What a jolt of reality I had at a breast cancer support meeting tonight. First a lady with short hair walked in, followed by a bald lady, and then a lady with the tiniest bit of hair. One young woman had her first chemotherapy treatment that day and soon made an exit to vomit.
As the women talked and asked questions about the side effects of chemotherapy, such as sores in their mouths, and problems with digestions, diarrhea and constipation, I felt myself getting sick. My head throbbed, and my knees wobbled like Jell-O. Before long, I sobbed, and someone passed me a box of tissues.
I noticed a table with Valentine’s Day decorations and all kinds of refreshments in the hallway. How could anyone possibly eat Valentine’s Day cookies and have a soft drink during this type of meeting? Why did I eat dinner earlier? I felt sick to my stomach. Stop the merry-go-round. I want to get off.
I wish I weren’t going through this. I wish I could hide under a blanket, wake up, and have this behind me. I wish I were free of cancer or had healing power, but God alone has that power. His healing may be physical, or he may simply help me peacefully accept my circumstances. I’m convinced he knows which is better for me.
We all face similar struggles. We may think we’re hanging on with only a shred of faith. It helps to remember that Gideon, David, Samson, the prophets and many others were not born with an unshakable faith. Their faith grew day by day. Hebrews 11 says their weakness was turned to strength and they became powerful in battle. It’s okay to admit we are scared, sick, weak, or powerless. God will meet us where we are.
Father, please tell me, “Daughter, your faith has made you whole.” I also ask for emotional healing from the trauma of cancer. May I join the ranks of those who turned from weakness to strength through faith in You. Amen.
Reprinted from Yvonne Ortega’s book, Hope for the Journey Through Cancer.
Used by permission of Fleming H. Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, copyright 2007. All rights to this material are reserved. Materials are not to be distributed to other web locations for retrieval, published in other media, or mirrored at other sites without written permission from Baker Publishing Group.
Questions: What “cancer” are you struggling with today? How can our weak faith be strengthened at a time when one is hurting so deeply?
About the author Yvonne Ortega
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Have you ever tried to watch a football from ground level? It is difficult to tell what is going on, how many yards there are to go, where the ball is, etc. The view is distorted, which is why coaches are sent to watch from the top and then communicate what is going on with those on the ground, so the sideline coaches can make better decisions.
The same is true for day to day life. Unless you take the time to go a little higher, to sit and watch from a distance, it is difficult to determine which way you are going.
Some days leave us feeling like a mouse in a maze, wondering if we are making one bad decision after another because we cannot see far enough to know where we are heading. After slamming our heads into the wall a few times, we deduct that there must be a better way.
I often wonder if God isn’t looking down on us in this way – watching what we are doing and trying to warn of obstacles that lay ahead, hoping to keep us focused, and trying to communicate with us so that we can make better decisions. During periods of uncertainty and transitions in our lives, it is difficult to know what to pray for, or even how to pray. Sometimes, life doesn’t make much sense from down here.
At the very least, we can pray for a better view – a higher place – and enough distance to see our options more clearly. One of my favorite scriptures for times such as this is Psalm 61:2 which says, “From the ends of the earth I call to you. . . Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2) Even Jesus had to find ways to reach higher for understanding.
Dear God, Sometimes we wish we could sit beside you, to see what you see and know what you know. But at other times, we recognize that you are the only one who can be trusted with our future. Lead us to a place where we can see your will more clearly. Take us to a place where we are no longer distracted by what we see in front of us and we can focus on the bigger picture. Forgive us when we struggle. Deep down, our only desire is to please you, from wherever you are watching. In Jesus Name, Amen
Question: Have you been listening for God’s warnings lately?
About this Author: Janet Morris Grimes
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“Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name” (Genesis 2:19, NKJV).
God commanded Adam (and all mankind by extension) to have dominion over the earth, to tend and keep it. We see God respect the authority that He gave Adam when Adam named all the animals. God did not challenge or undermine Adam by questioning the names he chose, it simply says that “whatever Adam called them, that was their name.” We see this principal again in the New Testament where Jesus tells His disciples “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Jesus said that all authority had been given to Him and that in His name we have the authority and dominion on the earth. The question is often asked “why does God allow so much suffering?” Is it possible that the condition on the earth is connected to how well we have taken our responsibility to use our God given authority to tend and keep it?
What if we were to take responsibility for binding evil and loosing God’s blessings in our homes, neighborhoods, cities and nations through prayer? Do you think we could make a difference? It is said that “evil prevails when good men do nothing.” God has given us the tools and the authority, let’s “keep the earth” in the way that pleases Him, blesses us, and causes good to prevail.
“The heavens, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth He has given to the children of men” (Psalm 115:16, NKJV).
“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19, NKJV).
Questions: What is our responsibility in taking care of the earth?
About the Author Emmie Stanley
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“Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.” (Genesis 2:19, NKJV)
God commanded Adam (and all mankind by extension) to have dominion over the earth, to tend and keep it. We see God respect the authority that He gave Adam when Adam named all the animals. God did not challenge or undermine Adam by questioning the names he chose, it simply says that “whatever Adam called them, that was their name.” We see this principal again in the New Testament where Jesus tells His disciples “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Jesus said that all authority had been given to Him and that in His name we have the authority and dominion on the earth. The question is often asked “why does God allow so much suffering?” Is it possible that the condition on the earth is connected to how well we have taken our responsibility to use our God given authority to tend and keep it?
What if we were to take responsibility for binding evil and loosing God’s blessings in our homes, neighborhoods, cities, and nations through prayer? Do you think we could make a difference? It is said that “evil prevails when good men do nothing.” God has given us the tools and the authority, let’s “keep the earth” in the way that pleases Him, blesses us, and causes good to prevail.
“The heavens, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.” (Psalm 115:16, NKJV)
“And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you lose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19, NKJV)
Question: What difference does it make when we pray?
About this Author: Emmie Stanley
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“And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose” (Matthew 9:23-25).
Get out of here so I can work! Oh, how we hate distractions and noise, both things that pull our concentration away from the task at hand. In our passage today, the ruler had sought out Jesus and told him his daughter had died, but he believed Jesus could bring her back to life. “Jesus, come into my house and do the impossible,” he asked. But the crowds would not believe. It wasn’t until they were turned out that Jesus chose to perform this miracle. Why? We can only speculate, but I see an analogy here.
There are times I call on Jesus. I want him to come fix my life, or my thoughts, or revive a new spirit within me. I open my heart and ask Him to come in and heal me. Perhaps my spiritual house is full of other distractions – hurt, anger, frustration, pain. The nagging is still in the back of my mind – things can’t change, this is the way it is, why hope? Maybe it is coming from well meaning friends, or the TV, or my own desperation. Maybe these negative thoughts come from a more evil force that trembles at the name of Jesus?
All I know is before I can see Jesus in my life reviving me, I need to clear that ruckus away. I must give Him control over the situation so I can concentrate on His healing power alone. He stands patiently, knocking on the door of my heart. I am here. Waiting. The beauty of it is I can also see Him helping to clear all the garbage away. His Truth is the broom to sweep away all that doesn’t honor Him.
Can’t you just see Jesus at the ruler’s house calming him, saying it is okay, showing the hecklers the door? Even when we have barely enough strength to call on Him, He will come and do what is necessary to prepare us for His change in our lives. If you need a miracle, if you need revival, ask Jesus to help you clear away the obstacles that are preventing you from receiving it. It may take time, but His timing is perfect
Question: What have you swept under the rug that you need to get out of your “house”? What do you need Jesus’ help to clear away so you can receive His healing in your life?
About the Author Julie Cosgrove
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Originally written by Charles H. Spurgeon, published in “Mornings & Evenings,” entry for April 27th, AM.
Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2008.
“God, even our own God.” Psalm 67:6
It is strange how little use we make of the spiritual blessings which God gives us, but it is stranger still how little use we make of God Himself. Though He is “our own God,” we rarely take our problems to Him, and ask little of Him. Seldom do we seek counsel at the hands of the Lord. In fact, we often we go about our daily lives without seeking His guidance!
In our troubles we constantly strive to bear our burdens ourselves, instead of casting them upon the Lord so that He will sustain us. We can take our problems to God, for the Lord seems to say, “I am yours, come and make use of me as you need; you may come freely to use my resources, and to Me, the welcome offerer.”
It is our own fault if we don’t make use of the riches of our God. Since you have such a friend, and He invites you, draw from Him daily. Never crave spiritual nourishment when you have such a great God to go to; never fear or faint while you have God to help you. Go to your treasure and take whatever you need – there is all that you can want. Learn the divine skill of making God all things to you. He can supply you with all, or, better still, He can simply “be” to you instead of all.
Let me urge you, then, to make use of your God. Make use of Him in prayer. Go to Him often, because He is your God. Who would disdain to use so great a privilege? Fly to Him, tell Him all your wants. Use Him constantly by faith at all times. If some dark thoughts are clouding your mind, use thy God as a “sun”. If someone is causing you harm, find in God a “shield”. For He is a sun and shield to His people. If you have lost your way in the mazes of life, use Him as a “guide” for He will direct your steps. Whatever you are, and wherever you are, remember God is just what you want, and just where you want, and that He can do all you want.
Questions: Do you sometimes find it difficult to pray? What prevents you from having a more active prayer life?
About this Author: Charles Spurgeon
Soul Cravings: Seeking
Is it possible that God has been actively seeking you, possibly even for a lifetime?
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Do you crave destiny? (Part 2)
Destiny? Is this really me? Was I really born for great things?
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