Devotional Song: Go to this link – Please take a few minutes to see a video of Laura Story singing the powerful song she wrote … Blessings, which proclaims the truth that blessings often come hidden in the frustrations and inconveniences of life.
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Highlight Passage #1 – NKJV: Ephesians 5: 20 [NKJV] … [Really? Thanks! Always!!] …
20 … giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, …
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Highlight Context - NKJV: Ephesians, Chapter 5, Verses 15-21 … GO TO THIS LINK …
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Reference Passage #1: John 16: 33 … [NKJV] … [We’re not promised an end to life’s frustrations in Christ.] …
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Reference Passage #2: Romans 8: 28 … [NKJV] … [Really? ALL things!!] …
28 And we know that ALL things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Reference Passage #3: James 1: 2-4 … [NKJV] … [Staying the course will reshape us in Christ’s image.] …
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Reference Passage #4: 1st Thessalonians: 5: 16-18 … [NKJV] … [Staying the course will reshape us in Christ’s image.] …
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
My Journal for Today: My Our Daily Bread opened with these words this morning: "Interruptions are nothing new. Rarely does a day go by as planned. Life is filled with inconveniences. Our plans are constantly thwarted by forces beyond our control. The list is long and ever-changing: Sickness. Conflict. Traffic jams. Detours. Forgetfulness. Appliance malfunctions. Rudeness. Laziness. Impatience. Incompetence.” …
Can you identify? … I sure can.
But all too often because of our very human reaction to inconvenience, we have trouble seeing the other side of the frustrations, the trials, and the inconveniences of life. We hit a detour; and many may react with some very colorful frustration language, … rather than stopping to thank God, without knowing where the detour might lead, knowing and believing the truth of the passages I’ve dredged up from my memory verses and quoted above.
But oh how challenging it is to realize and live the truth of these passages when life (Satan and the world) throw so many detours which produce delays, interruptions, and plan-thwarting frustrations. Yes, it would be a lot easier on us if God’s plans and processes of making us over into His image were not so filled with the inconveniences of life. … But they are; and it is these detours and frustrations which we find it so difficult to see what Laura Story sings about in her song, Blessings [linked above].
So, please take in her song with; and pray today to have God give you the strength to say THANKS when we run into a detour or inconvenience. Most certainly He’s on the other side of the inconvenience.
My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me to see any inconveniences today as Your mercy to remake me in Your image; and thank You ahead of time for any detour You lead me through, knowing that they are for my good and Your glory. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread [TGIF], distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read the Our Daily Bread blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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