And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isaiah 58:11 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.58.11.KJV

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. Matthew 7:24‭-‬25 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.7.24-25.KJV

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.3.5-6.KJV

Learning to trust God in Every Circumstance. Day 1 of 5 day devotional.

Great Expectations……  A Time to Build

Most of us have expectations. By the time we leave childhood behind, we are planning our futures, looking forward to the next stage in life that will, hopefully, secure us the lifestyle we dream of. We want good exam results, a place at uni or college, maybe fit in some travel too. We’d like to get our first car. We’re aiming for good degrees and a fulfilling career. We’d love to meet our soulmate, marry, buy a home, raise a family. Nice holidays and leisure pursuits would be a bonus too. 

Then again, we might have different aspirations. Perhaps a role that changes the world and improves the lot of humankind. Or discovering or inventing something that will have far reaching benefits for everyone. Whatever our ambitions, most of us have at least some idea of what our futures might hold.

All well and good.  But there are no guarantees we’ll get our hearts’ desires, despite our best efforts. This present Post-Christian world is an increasingly unstable place to be. We cannot be sure that when we go shopping or traveling, we’ll be safe, that our jobs are secure, our pensions reliable or our money safe in the bank. New diseases raise their heads. Terror stalks the earth. Standards slide and shift. Doctors’ prescriptions for anxiety, which has been described as fear spread thin, reach new levels.

But in the midst of all this, there is a safe place to be, a rock on which to stand secure, the rock Jesus Christ, who came into the world to live as a man and redeem us by his death. When we decide to follow him, we know that we are safe—not  in the sense that nothing bad will ever happen to us, but secure in the knowledge that in every storm, every joy or sorrow, good times and bad, he is with us and will never leave us. His love endures for ever and will never change. And he has a perfect plan for each one, a blueprint especially designed for us. 

Sometimes the desires we have are part of God’s guidance in our lives. Frederick Buechner said ‘Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world’s deep need.’  With God in our lives, we have a firm foundation on which to build.

Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord , and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:7 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.3.7.KJV

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. Isaiah 9:6‭-‬7 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.9.6-7.KJV

Day 30 of 30 day devotional.

Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” because only in Him can men have God’s good-will and peace on earth. Thank God, through that beloved Son the great peace of God may come to every heart and to every nation under heaven, but it can come in no other way. None of us can ever have good-will toward God if we won’t listen to His Son. The only way to peace and salvation and power, and to all that God has in the way of benedictions and blessings for us individually and for the whole world, is in the Son of Man.

When the phrase “the Passion of our Lord” is used it means the transfiguration of peace and power and patience.

Reflection Questions: In what ways do I try to make peace with God without going through His Son? Is my peace passionate or lethargic?

That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 1 Corinthians 12:25‭-‬27 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/1co.12.25-27.KJV

But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Hebrews 10:12‭-‬14 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/heb.10.12-14.KJV

Day 29 of 30 day devotional.

When God begins His work in us He does not make a mighty difference in our external lives, but He shifts the center of our confidence. Instead of relying on ourselves and other people, we rely on God, and are kept in perfect peace. We all know the difference it makes if we have someone who believes in us and in whom we believe. There is no possibility of being crushed. The Great Life is not that we believe for something, but that when we are up against things in circumstances or in our own disposition, we stake our all on Jesus Christ’s honor.

May the God of peace sanctify us wholly so that we are no longer sickly souls retarding His purposes, but perfected through suffering.

Reflection Questions: How does my position in Christ keep me from being crushed by conflict? How does God’s peace allow me to be perfected through suffering?