God allows ‘irritants’ to enter our lives so that we might grow, develop perseverance, and mature in our faith. He could prevent them, shield us from harm, and heal every disease. But God is more focused on the eternal than the here and now. Our difficulties are evidence that God is refining us. He loves us too much to leave us as we are.
Tag Archives: devotions
Help Wanted
Truth is, we were not created to fight life’s battles on our own. It is not biblical to assume that we need to face our struggles on our own. Self-sufficiency robs others of the opportunity to pray, minister, and show Christ’s love. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness or incompetence. Was Joshua any less of a warrior when he needed Moses’ help? Was Moses any less of a leader because he needed Aaron and Hur? No. Likewise, we should never think any less of ourselves for asking others to help in our time of need.
Don’t Run Away
It is tempting, when we are hurting, to want to retreat from the world around us and lick our wounds. Sadly, those who are closest to us have the greatest ability to hurt us. In your desert—your place of pain—resist the urge to run away. Run to God instead. Give Him your hurt, your pain, your disappointment.
God is Faithful
God is trying to impress upon us that His love far outlasts His wrath. His mercy is so much greater than our sin. This gives me great confidence and assurance that God honors my faith, pouring His blessings not just on me but also on my children and their children.
Oh Happiness, where are you?
In Psalm 144, David begins with an attitude of gratitude for all God has done. David understood happiness. He understood that family, growth, work, and prosperity created happy people, but also recognized that the source of these gifts and special favor are from the Lord.
Take It To The Lord in Prayer
“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.” Philippians 4:6 Throughout life, we will encounter situations that stretch our faith. Hudson Taylor experienced one …
Finish Well
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 King Uzziah messed up. He started out strong, doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD (2 Kings 15:3) 2 Chronicles 26:15 tells us that “his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, …
Firstfruits
God has given us a marvelous gift called ‘time.’ The wonderful thing about this gift is that we can give it back to Him as a firstfruit. By spending the best parts of our day—mostly those first moments before we hit the floor running—in quiet communion with Him, we open the door to receiving God’s wisdom and guidance in our day’s work.
God is on our Side
That’s the bottom line, isn’t it? If we know Jesus as our Savior, we can rest assured the LORD is on our side. He is fighting our battles. The odds may be stacked against us, humanly speaking, yet we are victors because, from heaven’s viewpoint, the scales lean in God’s favor. It’s not until we fully grasp this truth that we can stop striving and allow God to be God.
A Tale of Two Kingdoms
when I seek God’s kingdom above my own, His Spirit fills me with peace. Focusing on what pleases God frees me to thrive within the sphere of His calling upon my life.