RSS

Tag Archives: 2 corinthians 1

Mountaintops

01 Aug

Mountaintops

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

What is the mountains that lies before you? What are you facing that may be life changing? It could be relationships, careers, financial, physical, or any number of things. It is a big thing no matter what, that can change the game of life. Mine currently falls into the career and financial arena. These types of struggles are full of emotion and fears, and they can either drive us away from God, or draw us to God. Satan wants to drag us down with those fears, and God wants to pull us in for comfort. He has allowed and can work any situation in your life for good, and will comfort you in all of it. 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

You hear the testimonies of people that go through great trials of life that the only thing that got them through it was their faith. These are consistently their stories. It is never one of self, but of the power of God and prayer. The worry that comes is part of the trial, for it is the hook that Satan casts. But the peace of God found during this times in prayer and His Word allows you pass by Satan’s bait if you focus on the things of God and not the problem. Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.

Most likely you have heard the phrase, “What is bigger? Your problem or your God?” In the middle of all the strain, all the climbing of the mountain that lies before us, God is reaching down the mountain to pull us up to Him. If we keep looking at the size of the mountain, we will never see the glory at it’s peak. At the top is not the peak of the problem, but the victory in reaching it’s peak and the glory of our relationship with God at the top. When you are facing these great things, in what seems to be the worst, or the peak, you are the closest to God.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on August 1, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Prayer for Aurora

21 Jul

Prayer for Aurora

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

I have really been struggling this morning on where to write. The thoughts in my head are dominated by the senseless tragedy in Aurora. As the days unfold we will learn many details of horror and heroism that unfolded that night. We will learn the media’s play on the killer’s life. There will be all sort of theories as to ‘why’. That is what everyone wants to know, yet it is not where our focus should be. There are evil people beyond our understanding near us every day, and they do not need glorified in their acts. The focus needs to be on comforting those affected as a result of their actions.

Many ask how could God allow this. I cannot begin to understand, but I can rest in the assurance of His Sovereignty, and the understanding of how evil can still be used to draw people to Him. Those that survived will realize the value of life, and many of them will change their lives for the better as a result with a humble thankful heart. The incredible story of the girl who had just survived another shooting months earlier, yet lost her life Thursday. There were some pics of people gathered in prayer that were gripping. Colossians 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. In times like these we can only seek God for prayers for the lost, for the injured, and for the emotionally hurting. We can show them the compassion that God has shown us.

Please take time over the coming days to earnestly pray for those affected. Pray for them to seek Godly counsel for help in their pain. Pray for them to feel God’s touch and comfort that they will find the peace of God in this. Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Pray for healing both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Pray for them to seek God in all of this and not to fall into the snares of the world’s comfort. Let this tragedy bring them closer to Jesus. Amen.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on July 21, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

Tags: , , , , ,

A dark place, but with a great Light

26 Jun

A dark place, but with a great Light

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

I had a good friend, a brother in Christ, leave me a message yesterday about someone close to him that died. His voice told of how he was hurting as expected, but his voice spoke of the peace and comfort God brings. He asked me of writing about it, and I have struggled of how to write about one of the toughest subjects – death. We will or have all dealt with it’s pain in our lifetime. The pain that it brings many times seems unbearable, but how is it that some seem to cope better? Without a doubt they will tell you it is always their faith. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. When we are going through these difficult times resting on God’s comfort, He is glorified. Those around us are drawn to Him through the toughest of tribulations, by those of us who are held in His arms of comfort.

The scripture above speaks of walking through that valley, and Matthew Henry put it so well. “It is a walk through it; they shall not be lost in this valley, but get safely to the mountain of spices on the other side of it. Because there is no evil in it to a child of God; death cannot separate us from the love of God, and therefore it can do us no real harm; it kills the body, but cannot touch the soul. Why should it be dreadful when there is nothing in it hurtful? Because the saints have God’s gracious presence with them in their dying moments; he is then at their right hand, and therefore why should they be moved?” There is great comfort in those words to the believer without attaching all the cliche’s to them.

There is immeasurable comfort in God’s Word. Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. The Spirit will seem to press us into God’s Word during these difficult times, and we will find comfort in the Scriptures. There is no comfort to those who do not know God, but they may be drawn to God by how a believer copes. God’s plans are beyond our understanding, and death is a part of that eternal plan. But as a child of God we can rest in His Sovereignty and the comfort of spending time with our loved ones for eternity in paradise.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on June 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

Tags: , , , , ,

Spinal Prayer

12 Jun

Spinal Prayer

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

My dad is having hip replacement surgery today which is a pretty big deal to him and all of us. Any surgery at any age always involves risks, but the older we get the higher the risks become. I ask for your prayers for the physicians hands to be guided by their abilities provided by God, and for them to rest on that understanding.

Although nervous, Dad will be at peace. He knows that whatever may come of this his eternal future is secure and that God has a plan in all of this. We all deal with trials and tribulations in life, and how we view them depends upon our faith. We can either see them as the “why me?”, or the “how God?”. God many times in His sovereignty will place our paths down the suffering road of life for His greater purposes. He grows our faith, strengthens our hope, and encourages those around us in our reflections of it. Romans 5:3-4  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. How God can I glorify you in the middle of this trial I must endure?

Pray is the spine of enduring these trials of life. When you have nowhere to lean, lean on God. Is it possible that He knows that this is the way to draw you closer to Him? Is is possible that He knows your faith is strong and you will encourage others in how you handle the same things they do but under the shield of faith? All things that we endure can draw glory to Him, and all these things have passed through the Gods hands. Remember the story of Job, and of how Satan was allowed to test him; but all the while God knew His great faith, and the powerful testimony and blessings that came as a result of it. Pray to be that vessel in all things to draw glory to Him.

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on June 12, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

Tags: , , , , ,