It is Well

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;

I will sing praise to my God while I have

my being. . .Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Praise the Lord!”

    Psalm 104:33, 35 (NKJV)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very

present help in trouble. Therefore, we

will not fear, even though the earth be

removed, and though the mountains

be carried into the midst of the sea;

though its waters roar and be troubled,

though the mountains shake with its

swelling.  Selah.”

     Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJV)

We were made to sing praises to God—and not only when we’re feeling good, because God is always worthy of praise.  It’s like the exhortation to rejoice always (1 Thess. 5:16) regardless of our circumstances because we rejoice in the Lord.  One good example of this is the story behind “It is Well with My Soul,” a wonderful hymn written by Horatio Spafford in 1873.

Mr. Spafford was a successful lawyer and businessman until most of what he owned was destroyed in the great Chicago fire. His 4-year old son had died of scarlet fever the year before. Desiring a rest for his family, he planned a European trip and sent them ahead on a ship, planning to follow them in a few days. But their ship was struck by another vessel in the ocean and it sank. His remaining children (4 daughters) perished and his wife sent him a telegram with the words “Saved alone. . .”  Mr. Spafford supposedly wrote this hymn as he approached the part of the ocean where the ship carrying his daughters had sunk.

“When peace like a river attendeth my way,

when sorrows like sea billows roll,

whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

it is well, it is well with my soul.”

Only a child of God who trusts in Jesus as Savior and Lord can have peace in the midst of such tragedy. 

We may not experience heart-breaking losses to the extent that Mr. Spafford did, but every believer will experience grief, everyday worries, and all sorts of trials and trouble in this life. Yet Jesus says we should not let our hearts be troubled (John 14:27) because He is the anchor in every storm, our firm foundation when all around us is quaking.  Yes, we grieve but not as the world does. Christ has promised to prepare a place for us and take us to Him (John 14:2). We should take comfort in knowing that the difficulties we go through here are only temporary and we are eternally safe with our Lord. 

Because of these wonderful truths, we can have assurance and peace, no matter what difficulties we go through.  Are you in a storm now? Or has the gloom of the everyday grind settled upon you?  Let not your heart be troubled; praise God because it is well in your soul.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHe_qmo3gX4

Thursday Devotional - Chasing after the Wind of Envy

God expects us to work and to work hard at what He has asked us to do to accomplish His purposes. He may have some of you climb the corporate ladder to be a witness for Him amongst of group of people others can’t reach. He may have some of you acquire a large home in order to house missionaries, host Bible studies, or host other gatherings where His light is spread in and through your family.

However, we need to make sure it’s according to God’s plans and purposes and not for our own reputation or for our own desire to have and be bigger and better than others.

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6 and 13-16 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

⁵ Fools fold their hands
    and ruin themselves.
⁶ Better one handful with tranquillity
    than two handfuls with toil
    and chasing after the wind.

¹³ Better a poor but wise youth than an old but foolish king who no longer knows how to heed a warning. ¹⁴ The youth may have come from prison to the kingship, or he may have been born in poverty within his kingdom. ¹⁵ I saw that all who lived and walked under the sun followed the youth, the king’s successor. ¹⁶ There was no end to all the people who were before them. But those who came later were not pleased with the successor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Solomon saw that our drive to work for more usually stems from envy and not a desire to please God and accomplish His purposes. As verse 6 says, it’s best to be content with less, than to work tirelessly for things that don’t last.

What are you and I striving to accomplish or gain (whether in our career, relationships, wealth, education or athletics)? Why? What’s the real motive? Let’s make sure it’s not out of envy, but according to God’s will and for His purposes.

Alice

Instructions for our roles in life

Colossians 3:18-21

Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.

One of the things that I appreciate about the Bible is it really does spell out for us many of the instructions for how we are to live. 

Wives – We are to submit to our husbands.  This does not mean that we are to let anyone walk all over us.  This means that we should have a passion to serve our husbands.  This passion comes from giving back to them love that we have also received from them. 

Husbands – In order for a wife to want to submit to you, you are to love her.  When you show her the love that she needs, she will want to submit to you.

Children – As children, we are to obey our parents.  This tends to get easier, the more mature we become.  Again, this is not meant to be a way for someone to walk all over you, no matter your age.  It is to be out of respect for them.  In doing so, it is pleasing to the Lord.

Fathers – this is not one we often focus in on yet is very important.  Fathers are not to embitter your children.  What does this mean?  Don’t make your children bitter or resentful.  One way that I’ve seen this happen that has left a negative impact on some people that I know is that fathers have expected perfection from their children.  While it is great to want your kids to do great, sometimes it is taken a bit too far in making them always feel like they are a disappointment if they aren’t perfect.

How are you doing a living up to the instructions we have each been given in our roles that God has placed us in?  Maybe the only role you fit into here is that of a child and you are no longer living at home.  So how does this speak to you?  Maybe it’s time to simply check in on your parents.  It’s not always about doing something wrong, but also about respecting and honoring them.