Category Archives: Hope
Your Focus
Luke 1: 46 “Mary: My soul lifts up the Lord! 47 My spirit celebrates God, my Liberator! 48 For though I’m God’s humble servant, God has noticed me. Now and forever, I will be considered blessed by all generations” [Voice].
The closing thought from yesterday’s devotion was that Mary’s response to what will scare most of us was to praise God. Mary is teaching us that when you do not know what to do and the situation looks hopeless, look up – lift up your eyes. God, your salvation is here. Sometimes people are unable to relate with the characters in the Bible. So I will share a true story with you today so you will know that it is possible to rejoice even in uncertain situations.
Chill Pill
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” [NIV, with emphasis]
I have had to travel by air a number of times and in this short period I have seen some turbulence, but nothing like what I experienced on one particular flight – and, I have not seen a storm like it till this very day. The pilots described what we faced as a “lightning mine”. We could literally see the lightning miss the wing of the aircraft by inches. And sometimes the plane would be in free fall for about twenty seconds. It was a terrible experience.
Jesus Is Near
Ps.145:18 “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. 19 …He also will hear their cry and save them” [NKJV, with emphasis]
We are going to look at three practical ways to respond as Jesus did. There are three practical ways to respond in peace and totally banish the fear of unexpected crisis from our lives. The first practical thing you and I must do is to refocus on God’s closeness. Get your mind off the crisis and onto Christ. Matt.8:23 “Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples.” Jesus was in the same boat with His disciples. Jesus was near. God is near. The presence of Jesus does not mean the storms will not happen.
Truth Nuggets
Prov. 1:5-6 “I want those already wise to become wiser and become leaders by exploring the depths of meaning in these nuggets of truth.” [LB]
1 Cor.10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind…” [NIV]. Failure is not fatal but rather it is common to mankind. Just get up, dust your body and keep on moving. Fact: failure is not the worst thing that can happen to you. So do not blow it out of proportion. I am not saying that what you are experiencing is easy but the Bible says it is common to man. So begin to see it as God sees it and relax; do not specialize your case.
