Thursday Devotional - Prayer Struggles

On Sunday night I took my Dad to the ER with chest pain. They ran lots of tests, confirmed he hadn’t had a heart attack (at least not yet) and kept him overnight to run more tests and do a heart catheterization. It was quite scary.

My Mom and one sister were out of the country and it was the middle of the night for them so I didn’t call them right away. I did let my other sister (in CT) know so she could be praying with us. I was struggling in prayer, though. I didn’t want to pray for God’s will but for what I wanted. I knew God was in control and I could trust Him. I knew He was listening. However, I also knew that His plans are different than mine and His ways are higher. What I think is best and what He knows is best can be very different. I did know God would give us what He knew we needed, when we needed it. 

As the next day progressed, the surgeon found blocked arteries during the heart catheterization and put in two stents. So, we stayed another night in the hospital. God provided peace through it all, especially to my Dad. He wasn’t even scared for the procedure (but I was a little anxious)! We are thankful to God he is recovering well and hasn’t had any complications!

Romans 11:33-36 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.  Romans 11:33-36   

I don’t deserve anything from God. As this passage says, He doesn’t owe me anything. However, He is always faithful to listen to my prayers, offer peace in difficult circumstances, and give wisdom when I ask.

What are you struggling in prayer about? Even if we don’t get the answer we are wanting, God will always provide wisdom, strength and comfort when we genuinely seek it. He has all wisdom and knowledge beyond our comprehension!!!

Alice

The Guiding Light

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”  Matthew 5:14-16

Earlier this week, I was emotionally ‘lost.’ I received some distressing news regarding an incident at my daughter’s school, and it left me at a loss for words.  There was a wide range of emotions that I felt unsure which was the correct one.  Ultimately, it got to a point where I just had to fall on my knees and pray to God.  “Why was this happening,” I asked.  How could I see Him amidst all that was going on?  There were lots of questions, and yet, I had no answers.  Ultimately, I just started walking forward trusting in Him, and with each step, I felt God was with me.  With each word I spoke and direction I went, His spirit dwelled in me, and where there was once doubt, a renewed confidence replaced it such that those nearest to me felt the same things.  It was as if He guided me forward, and through His light, it showed His light to those around me.

When we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord of our life, He provides us with guidance to walk where others will see Him through us. In today’s verses, Jesus speaks of those who follow Him as the light.  Some might jump to a conclusion asking, “How can I be the light when Jesus is the light of the world?”  They are of course referring to John 8:12a, and would only have gotten half of the story referring to Jesus being the pathway to eternal life.  However, once we were given the gift of grace through Him, we too were given a ‘light.’  This is not only referred to by Jesus here but also in the beginning of Acts saying, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (1:8) The importance of this is very simple.  We are given direct power through the Holy Spirit to not only connect to Christ but also be His representative in the world.  Thus if we trust in Him, our steps are guided by Jesus Christ himself, and those who know Him will see it through our actions, words, and deeds.  This is the light Jesus speaks of, and we should feel empowered filled with the confidence knowing He is with us every step of the way.

God gives us authority to act on His behalf. This does not mean we substitute ourselves for Him (i.e. being His equal, judging others, taking out vengeance, etc.), but instead, we are to be living examples of Him.  The Apostle Paul said, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (Ephesians 5:8) Thus, let us take this light given to us and let it shine for all those near and dear to us to see.  What is God prompting you to act on?  How can you trust God more to walk by faith?  My prayer is that we trust God to be our guiding light for others to follow that same light.  Amenl

Tues Devi: Operating from strength

Hello,

I started reading through Joshua this week, where I was reminded that we as followers of God are operating from a position of strength, and not weakness. Now, when Joshua took over leadership from Moses he was not new to being a leader of Israel – in fact, he was one of the two who tried to get Israel to go to the promised land earlier…but the rest were fearful and didn’t do it – and that generation passed away while they remained in the wilderness. But as Joshua takes over, his first mission from God is not small. It is to go and take the promised land, which was filled with enemies of Israel and people that wanted to protect their lands.

The people of Israel had a new leader, and were facing new challenges- Joshua is faced with a motivational challenge. Where does he go? He reminds them to operate from a position of strength because of who their God is. Look at the 2 times in chapter 1 that he specifically does this:

Joshua 1:7 ”Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go.” (NASB)

Joshua 1:18 ”Anyone who rebels against your command and does not obey your words in all that you command him, shall be put to death; only be strong and courageous.” (NASB)

I hope you have a blessed day, as you operate from your position of strength in God.

Will Hill

Solid Rock

Psalm 40:1-2

I waited patiently for the Lord;
    he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.

Lately, I’ve been dealing with some emotions that I’m not used to feeling.  I’ve been stressed not knowing what to do about a few areas of life.  Things would get said, or not said, and I would take it all personally.  I was certainly in a slimy pit, crying out to God. 

While I don’t have all the answers on what to do with the areas that I have been trying to figure out, after spending some time in prayer, I felt as though I still had a firm place to stand.  That place is on Christ the solid rock. 

Are you struggling with some things in life that make you feel like you are in a slimy pit?  Maybe it’s home life, or work, or balancing them or something totally different.  No matter what you are facing, the Lord is there for each of us. 

My prayer for each of you today is that you will feel the Lord being that solid rock on which you can stand.