Saturday, December 26, 2020

Dec 26, 2020 … Out From the Cave

Berry Patch Devotions in 2020</u> - Day 361 </b>


Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...     Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Chris Rice singing … It Is Well …  poignantly singing, no matter the circumstances, our life is in God’s hands and all is well. 


God calls Elijah out from his cave of despair ... 


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Highlight Passage:   1Kings 19:13 [ESV] ... 

13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 

  Elijah listens and hears God’s call to purpose for God’s glory in a time of great despair.  

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  1Kings 19 [ESV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… God leads Elijah out from the cave of despair and onward to a life of purpose for God.  

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Reference Passage: … Joshua 1:9 [ESV] …  

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

  God encourages Joshua in a time of great turmoil to trust God.   


Reference Passage: … Psalm 27:14 [ESV] …  

14  Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!  

  God stands with King David with encouragement in a time of despair. 


Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:5-6 [ESV] … USE THIS LINK  

  Solomon encouraging his son to trust God … not matter what (!) … and not to try to do life on his own. 


Reference Passage: …John 16:33 [ESV] ... 

33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” 

  Jesus encouraging His disciples in a great moment of discouragement and doubt.  


Reference Passage: … 1Corinthians 15:58 [ESV] …  

58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 

  God encourages Joshua in a time of great turmoil to trust God.


My Devotional JournalToday's Our Daily Bread author, Mike Wittmer, AT THIS LINK tells of recognizing a well known war hero on a flight who was overheard to be in great despair, the ODB author wondering how that could be with all the encouragement the famous man got from others. 


And coming out from Christmas yesterday, which should be a time of great joy, many today can likely identify with the despair Elijah felt in the highlight passage, where he was called out by God from a cave of discouragement (see photo) to move forward in purpose, … following the Lord’s call.  Some today feel very alone and need the encouraging words of God’s truth as we meditate on the Scriptures above. 


Because, if any of my readers are feeling like you’re in a cave of despair today, our God is calling us to realize that anything we do today … and tomorrow … for our Lord is never in vain; but will ALWAYS be honored by God with His presence and empowering grace. 


So, as those words of God above call us, let’s all listen for God’s still small voice today and come out from our caves of despair into the light of service for God’s glory. 


My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh Abba Father, ... thank You, Lord, … for calling me out of my cave today into Your light for tomorrow. 

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... I pray that all reading here will join me, to seek the Light of the World as we are called to serve You, Lord, today and tomorrow. 


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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,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries.  If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.

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