|
December 15, 2012
***Join us for Day 7 of The Festival of Lights (see link below).
Day 40
Hand-written testimony
_____________________________________
Dear Praying Friend,
The events of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut yesterday have affected us all deeply. As a parent I couldn't help but weep for those parents who have to walk through their worst nightmare. May the ache in our heart lead us to deeper, fervent prayer for these families who are enduring inexplicable grief, pain, and loss.
As we meditate on Psalm 102:18-22 today, the psalmist asks for a record of the Lord's act of deliverance to be recorded so that all people, both now and forever, would declare His praises. Because of his faithfulness, and the obedience of many others who throughout history recorded, preserved, and translated, the treasured words of the Bible, we have the wondrous testimony of the gospel message in its entirety available to us today. May we be faithful to continue to daily feast on these words and not take for granted the amazing gift we've been given in written form. Today may we cling to these words of promise, hope, healing, and comfort as we pray for those who desperately need the peace and presence of God more than ever.
"But these are written that you may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that by believing you may have life in His name."
(John 20:31)
Dear Heavenly Father, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." I cannot begin to express my gratitude for Your words, so faithfully recorded in Your Holy Bible, that, today, I might experience all the hope, joy, peace, comfort and love that comes from You. We praise You for the examples that You have written down for our warning and also for our encouragement. Thank You for every word, no matter how difficult some of it may be to digest -all of it is for our nourishment. I have grown to love You more deeply because of Your Word - for it is in Your Word that You have revealed Yourself to me and shown me how faithful and trustworthy You are. Those words in black and white have been imprinted on my heart through the opportunities (and difficulties) You have provided to apply what I have learned. You know exactly what I need each day and You put that portion on my plate. Lord, 'whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.' Thank You that Your word does not return void, but will accomplish what You desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it. Help us to be faithful about sharing this message and not waste a single moment that we could spend in Your Word. May our lives be a constant testimony of Your grace and mercy to a world in desperate need of saving. Lord, we are grateful in moments like these, which are incomprehensible, where we can find comfort and hope in Your Word. We trust Your ways are higher than ours. We believe that those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. We know that You will surround us with songs of deliverance. May Your Words, spoken through Your people, bring comfort and peace to those whose hearts are broken. May Your presence fill the void they are feeling today. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Steadfast in prayer,
Traci Alexander
Trumpet and Torch Ministries
Psalm 27
_____________________________________________________
Prayer Scripture References: Psalm 73:25-26; 126:5; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 55:9, 11; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. |
