| Clay In The Master's Hand |
 "Giving God Your Burdens"
It does not matter what you are facing in your life today because God is ready to do what? He is ready to enable and empower you to carry those burdens without feeling the weight of them. Does that mean I won't think about them? No. But it does mean that you will be able to live victoriously in the midst of it regardless of the intensity or challenge that they may bring to your life. The amazing thing is that you can even think about those burdens and even talk about them without grimacing over the weight that some of these can have on us.
Therefore, my dear friends, we need to understand emphatically God's love for us first and foremost; and secondly, how that He cares for us despite any of our troubles no matter what they amount to. This you will find is consistent to what He faithfully promises in His Word. This is exactly what He will do concerning you and me. He is a God that cannot lie. Jesus is true to His nature and can never fail us. There is nothing that He cannot handle regarding us and our individual circumstances. Therefore, with these things said, let me ask you a straight question. Is stress wearing you out? If so, you have a lot of company. In this devotional I would like to help you learn to tame the tension in your life and replace it with the calm confidence of trusting God.
* Many of our readers are not aware that the (Read More) tab below is a link to a PDF file from our website that allows you to receive the entire devotional. We have included this link for those that may want to read the more detailed and in depth version. As always I pray these devotionals bless you as you grow in God's Word. Tell a friend and have them sign up for these inspiring weekly devotionals.
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 "Opportunity Knocks"
James 1:2-4 (NLT)
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It is easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God wants to make us mature and complete, not to keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth. Thank God for promising to be with us in our rough times. Ask him to help you solve your problems or to give you the strength to endure them. Then be patient. God will not leave you alone with your problems; he will stay close and help you grow through them.
We all like opportunities in life that allow us to excel, whether it is in our families or careers. But what about the times when life throws those unexpected curves? It is during these moments that we find out what we are made of. I am reminded of a phrase as a child; sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of. I think sometimes I am more of the spice, I have a tendency to be a little feisty at times. I have found myself many times wondering how in the world did I get here. Today, I understand more than ever that my problems really are a time for maturing and growing up in Him. I have learned that by allowing God to speak to my heart in the midst of these challenges, I cannot fail. I will survive the storms that come my way and hopefully encourage others along the way too. My life can and will make a difference on this journey that I am walking. Therefore, there may be a curve coming my way, but I will face it and I will have the victory in the end. |
My Prayer For Today...
Lord, what peace I have in You that holds me calmly in Your hands. I shall fear, Nothing! For it is You that sustains me through all my journeys in this life. My heart rejoices over the love You have lavished on my behalf. I truly am grateful for all that You have given me that is called good in this world. You have established my path in righteousness, and my days shall know nothing but gladness of heart.
Today, I have recognized that nothing is sure without Your blessings upon it. Therefore, my dear Lord, I bow my head in reverence to You and acknowledge that You have all of me. My dreams, my desires, my possessions, and my most precious treasures on this earth. They are all Yours! Just as I am Yours too!
Jesus, I thank You for forgiving me of my trespasses. It's with joy of heart that I can raise my head with thankfulness that You alone are able to lift me above my burdens of life. You have promised to all that would cast their cares on You, that they would enjoy the lightness of heart that breaks forth in singing and much gladness. I leap therefore with celebrated enthusiasm for the grand purposes You have declared over me. Why wouldn't I praise You my Lord? It is You that has always defended me from my would be assailants. I rest comfortably within the breast of Your protection and none shall touch me because I am loved by You!
Thank You! My blessed King! |
How is it that the early church was so infectious that they rocked their world compared to todays church?
Answer I believe we have allowed ourselves to forget three aspects of our origin. (1). Our open style of worship that was free to be expressive and spontaneous; (2). Our openness to share our resources with each other without hesitation; (3). Our open enthusiasm to evangelize by reaching out to others in our cities everywhere. This was not just for the leaders to do, but the entire church!
I have been reading a book by Charles Trombley that clearly defines this answer fully. In his own words, "They stirred nations. They withstood authorities. They converted pagans and made hell tremble. Taking the Scriptures as they found them, their war cry was: 'If God said it, He will do it!' Who were they? We call them the primitive Christians.
Times have changed! We have grown so sophisticated! We have made wonderful headway in technology, transportation and communication, but has that made us superior to our early Christian brothers and sisters? On the contrary! Sedentary life styles and excessive prosperity leave little else for us to do but occasionally yawn a bored "what's new?" In our reliance on modern gadgetry we have dangerously drifted from an effective application of the Scriptures. More often than not we excuse our failures: "Maybe the Lord used to do such things, but not any more."
Prompted by the desire to get at the root of this difference between the early church and todays church. We arrive at a startling conclusion: They knew who they were! They knew what they could do and why. They understood who, indeed, they were in Christ Jesus."
I believe this is the universal point for all of us reading this today who believe in Christ Jesus: We need to realize more than ever who we are and what we are about as Christians. We have been given authority to rule and reign in freedom and with power. Yet, sadly, we have been overwhelmed by distractions of this world that have diluted our presence in this world. I pray that we will have a great awakening and become the salt of the earth that makes this world thirsty for what we have on the inside of us. Amen!
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