August 16, 2023 … The Squeaky Wheel …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2023 - Day 229 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in this song with lyrics from an anonymous worship group singing … O Weary Soul … Keep On … Poignantly singing of how God honors those who persistently seek to know and follow Him as Lord..   …  

"The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease ... "

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Highlight Passage: … Luke 18:1 [NLT] … 

<i>. 1 One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. </i>

… Jesus uses a parable about a persistent widow to teach His disciples about persistent prayer.                                                             

<b><u>Highlight Passage (Context)</u>: … Luke 18:1-8 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK …  </b>

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+18%3A1-8&version=NLT

… Jesus, in Parable, teaches Jos disciples (and us) about the power of persistence in prayer.     

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Reference Passage: … Isaiah 55:6 [NLT] …  

6  Seek the LORD while you can find Him.  Call on Him NOW while He is near.  

… God, thru the Prophet Isaiah, commands God’s people (that’s us too!) to use the time God has given us to persistently seek to follow Him.  …

Reference Passage: …Matthew 11:28 [NLT] …  

28  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  

… Jesus invites any/all who are burdened to persistently seek to let Jesus help.   

Reference Passage: … 2Thessalonians 1:4 [NLT] …  

4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.. 

…Paul lauds the Thessalonians, who persistently and faithfully followed Christ in spite of hardship and suffering  … 

Reference Passage: …James 1:3-4 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… James teaches fellow Christians about persistence and endurance in the faith, especially encountering trials and difficulties in life which test our faith.       

Reference Passage: … Revelation 21:4 [NLT] …  

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 

…The LORD’s promise, thru John’ s Revelation, of the reward for persistent faith in Christ.                                                                                                                                                          

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Patricia Rayon… AT THIS LINK …   … used the story of Ann Lowe Cone, who, in 1917. became the first African-American to be admitted to one of New York City’s most prestigious clothing design schools thru her persistence in showing the school her design talents..  After her graduation, Ann Lowe Cone ultimately even designed the wedding dress for the First Lady of the United States, Jacqueline Kennedy.  

And the ODB story today, reminded me of the old adage … "The squeaky wheel gets the grease (see photo).”  And if my readers have taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, perhaps you - like me - are a bit - if not a lot - convicted that we could co more to be more persistent in seeking to know and follow our Lord than we have in our past.             

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling me to persistently seek to know and follow You, Lord.

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to be more persistent in seeking to follow and serve You, Lord    … AMEN 

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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.