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Original 1/10/2023 Post | |||||||
Dale 1/10/2023 10:22:38 AM |
Our pastor assigned a verse to different sections of the congregation for the New Year and the section I was in was assigned Isaiah 43:1-2. He said we needed to use this verse and lean on the words of the verse throughout the year. The verse is: “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” Isaiah 43:1-2 NKJV In the context of this verse, this is a promise from God to Israel and its people, but I also believe these can be words spoken and promised to each one of us as well. When we pass through waters, rivers, and walk through the fire God will always be with us. When we struggle with sickness, discomfort, and difficult situations we need to trust in him and not be afraid, because of his promises of him being with us. The sickness will not overtake us. He will heal you. It may take time, often longer than we want as I often struggle with accepting, but it will happen. Do not give up because He is with you and will help carry you through this. When you get feelings of despair and depression call out to Jesus and pray that he comforts you and He will. Dale | ||||||
Responses (Newest First) | |||||||
Dale 10/14/2023 8:02:04 AM |
One of my favorite verses when I've been dealing with things in my life over the years has been 2 Corinthians 12:9: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Here is a devotional I would like to share related to this scripture: A Thorn in the Flesh SCRIPTURE READING — 2 CORINTHIANS 12:1-10 He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9 The apostle Paul was dedicated to God. But Paul had a “thorn in the flesh”—possibly a disease that bothered him quite a lot. He called it “a messenger of Satan, to torment” him. We don’t know what it was, but somehow it made Paul weaker than he wanted to be. Thorns prick, scratch, and wound. However, the point of Paul’s example is that because of his thorn in the flesh, God was able to work through him more powerfully. Although Paul pleaded three times with the Lord to take his thorn away, the Lord responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul notes that he was given his thorn “in order to keep . . . from becoming conceited.” This means Paul knew that if he did not have this thorn, he could have become proud. So Paul is teaching us that his thorn in the flesh was actually a good thing. It was a sign of God’s grace to keep him from becoming a proud leader in the church. And we can surely thank God for that. This does not mean we should ask God to give us a thorn in the flesh. We can trust that God knows what is best for us. But if God does allow us to have a particular kind of suffering, we can also trust that he can use it to do good. As Paul writes in another place, “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28). Prayer: Lord and God, work in us and through us, that your power and goodness in our lives may be clear to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen. — Jang Ho Park Jang Ho Park is a pastor in Tacoma, Washington. https://todaydevotional.com/devotions/a-thorn-in-the-flesh To me this story about Paul is very relatable with our condition. We all need to be reminded from time to time to rely and depend on God and not on our own self. We just need to remember to rely on God more because his Grace is sufficient, and we should remind ourselves of that fact daily. Dear Lord, I pray for healing for everyone suffering with a thorn in the flesh. And remind all of us that you are sufficient for us. In Jesus' name. Amen. | ||||||
Dale 6/7/2023 9:19:06 AM |
Here is part 2 of my summary of Max Lucado's Unshakeable Hope: Make it your aim to become so acquainted with God's promises that you can write yourself a prescription. Fearful? how about a bottle of Judges 6:12 "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior." Feeling out of control? how about a dose of Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are the called according to his purpose." Dark clouds on the horizon? John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but he of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Nothing lifts the weary soul like the promises of God. Because His word is unbreakable our hope is unshakable. You are never without hope, because you are never without prayer. Like watching a recorded game already knowing your team won, you don't have to be anxious because you already know the outcome. When a believing person prays great things happen. James 5:16 "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:31 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Luke 18:1 Sickness cannot take your hope, because it cannot take your Jesus. Stand on the promises of Christ the King. | ||||||
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