Always In Control

Day 3 and final day of Tony Evans Devotional

No one can stand in God’s way. No one. Not even you. Not even me. Not even that enemy, compulsion or circumstance that is seeking to take you down. Nothing can thwart God’s plan because, as the Scripture says, “He does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3).

Now, you can be on the good side of God’s sovereignty, or you can be on the bad side of God’s sovereignty. That doesn’t change His sovereignty. It just changes your personal experience of it. It’s like when a parent tells a teenager, “We can make this easy, or we can make it hard—that’s up to you.” Meaning, the teenager’s choices will have an impact on how the parents go about teaching the lesson they are trying to convey. And while your actions never determine God’s providence, your actions do influence how that providence comes to light in your life.

God’s plans may be made manifest with your cooperation, or they may be made manifest in spite of your rebellion. Regardless, His pathways and plans will come about. God knows that whichever direction you go on the path He’s placed before you, He will get you to His intended destination. Now, due to your own choices, that may mean delays and treacherous treks—or even, like Moses, the loss of realizing the experience of the dream (Deuteronomy 34:4). But He will keep pointing you in the direction He desires until His sovereign rule is achieved.

Today’s Devotional Verse

Not unto us, O Lord , not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them. Psalms 115:1‭-‬8 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/psa.115.1-8.KJV

Today’s Devotional Verse

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Luke 12:22‭-‬26 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.12.22-26.KJV

Always In Control

Day 2 of 3 days Devotional by Tony Evans

God is in control. Wisdom recognizes this reality and relinquishes the reins of self-preservation while grasping tightly to the yoke of His hope. Wrapping yourself in the truth of God’s providential provision will help you to deal with life on good days and bad days. It is in knowing that God is in control that you get rid of the concepts of mistakes, luck, chance or fate. It means you recognize that things are not random even if they look random. It means that the pathway you are on is leading somewhere with a purpose. It means you have hope.

The sovereignty of God is so spectacular that He reigns even over the infinitesimal details while simultaneously keeping the stars, moon and sun hanging in their places. If we could ever get this next verse in the depth of our psyche so much so that it gives birth to our beliefs, our lives would rid themselves of anxiety and grief. Psalm 115:3 tells us, “But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” Essentially, God is in charge—He does whatever He wants to do.

God is so comprehensively, completely sovereign that He holds no checks and balances to keep Him slowed down. He has no bureaucracy and hoops to jump through in order to carry out His decisions. He sustains and develops that which He brings into existence.

Encouragement

We are all in need of encouragement. We are all facing different battles. We are all just wanting to find comfort and peace while we go through it and words of encouragement to keep us going. The journey is a long up hill battle sometimes with thrones and rocks in the way. Unsuspected surprises you don’t see coming. I am here to listen if you need a ear. I am here to just sit quitely if you want a companion but don’t have anything to say. I am here to pray for you. I am here to encourage you. I am simply here if needed.

I would like to start with a song. Music has a way of connecting people together. https://youtu.be/UhrxwsA9gQM

Here are some quotes: Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the Courage To Continue that counts. Winston Churchill.

Never Bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye. Helen Keller

Believe you can and your half way there. Theodore Roosevelt.

It is your attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome. William James

Another song: https://youtu.be/DUhJP0p9RiE

Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I’m possible! Audrey Hepburn

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. C.S. Lewis

One of my favortie songs: https://youtu.be/9vtd9tKgzdc

Now some quotes from some kids stories. We all need to remember what it was like to be a kid and the feeling of being a kid. Here are some quotes you may or may not recall.

Sometimes you never know the Value of a moment, until it becomes a memory. Dr. Seuss

You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smater than you think. Winnie the Pooh

A hug is always the right size. Winnie the Pooh. Sending a hug your way. We could all use a hug.

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. Winnie the Pooh. Sharing a song from the Tigger Movie. https://youtu.be/6CX0pTeq9PY

I am a Christian and I strongly believe in diving into the Bible to find answers to life’s trials and tribulations.This is what the scriptures have to say:

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 KJV

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lordthy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:9 KJV

But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:32 KJV

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 KJV

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 KJV

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27 KJV

A final song to end with. https://youtu.be/b8VoUYtx0kw

I hope that through this blog you have found some encouragement. Either from the quotes to the kids quotes to scripture or through the music. I just wanted to send encouragement to you in the different ways so that at least one of them will speak to you and help you. A simple reminder that you are not alone through life’s journey come what may. God bless you and your loved ones.

Today’s Devotional Verse

And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? Mark 4:35‭-‬41 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/mrk.4.35-41.KJV