July 21, 2021 … Real-deal Christianity …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 202 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Zach Williams singing  … How Great Thou Art … powerfully singing of how real-deal Christians seek to have others see more and more of Jesus in the way we live and less and less like our old-sinful selves. 

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Highlight Passage:   Matthew 5:12  [NIV] …  

2 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven … 

… In the “Beattitudes” (v 3-10) God shows what will lead to a “happy” life and to our reward, as born-again Christians in heaven.        

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Highlight Passage [Context] : …  Matthew 5:3-12 [NIV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Jesus defines what real Christianity is all about to the people who were following Him, … in other words how to live a joy-filled life, blessed by God.         

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Reference Passage… Luke 9:23 [NLT] …  

23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.  

… Jesus lays out the reality that only when one is willing to deny our basic nature and choose to follow Him can we really be His disciple.  

Reference Passage: … John 13:34-35 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus challenges His followers to live the “love-life” that will be on display to witness God’s love to others, showing off to others what a “real-deal” Christian looks like.  

Reference Passage: … 2Corinthians 5:17 [NLT] …  

17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!   

… Paul helps fellow Christians realize that when they are surrendered to Christ, (as He proclaimed in Luke 9:23), will we see the newness that the Holy Spirit brings in the life of the “real-deal” Christian. 

Reference Passage: … Galatians 5:22-23 [NLT] …  

22  But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.  There is no law against these things.   

… Here’s what is produced by God’s Spirit dwelling in a “real-deal” Christian … the “fruit of the Spirit.”      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, David H Roper, AT THIS LINK …  … writes about applying for a job where the company presented him with a list of legalistic rules they expected all employees to follow.  And in reading thru the rules, the ODB author wondered why there weren’t expectations like the ones Jesus has laid out for “real-deal” disciples of His to follow.       

And that’s what Zach Williams sings about in the linked song, … how we disciples of Christ are seeking, thru our choices, to be a little (no, … REALLY A LOT) more like Jesus, and a LOT LESS like our sinful selves.  We all have a nature that, … when we’re truly born-again, … Jesus gives us His Spirit’s strength to be able to deny ourselves (see Luke 9:23) and become more like Jesus (see Gal 5:22-23).  And when we’re seeking and surrendered to following Jesus, we demonstrate for others why a “real-deal” Christian looks more and more like Jesus and less and less like the sinner we were all born to be (see John 13:34-35 and 2Cor 5:17).   

How about it, fellow follower of Jesus, … is that our goal today … to become more like Jesus?  I pray it is!!   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling me out of myself today to be more like You.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to seek and to show-off our “real-deal” Christian self to others.   … 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.

July 20, 2021 … Recognizing God’s Power …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 201 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Alan Jackson singing  … How Great Thou Art … strongly singing of God’s power on display in His creation all around us. 

God's Power on display ... 

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Highlight Passage:   John 38:24  [NIV] …  

24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth? 

… God shows Job (and to us) just how big and in control the Lord is in our lives.        

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Job 38:24-31 [NIV] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God shows Job just how big He is to control anything and everything in creation.         

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 62:11  [NLT] …  

3  God has spoken plainly, and I have heard it many times: Power, O God, belongs to You;  

… King David recognizes the omnipotent extent of God’s power and control.            

Reference Passage: … Romans 1:20 [NLT] …  

20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.   

… Paul recognizes and shares with others that we have no excuse for not knowing God because we see Him in creation.  

Reference Passage: … Ephesians 3:20 [NLT] …  

20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.   

… Paul shows that so often we don’t recognize God’s power to work thru us, which is far greater than we could ever imagine. 

Reference Passage: … Colossians 1:15-16 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …  

… Paul shows us all that Jesus was God in the flesh and had all the power that our Triune God displays in Creation.  So, when we follow Jesus, we follow the All-Powerful God who created everything in the universe for His glory and by His design.      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Daniel Ryan Day, AT THIS LINK  … relates a story of a his six-year-old son, who, when seeing the awesome lightning display <b>(see photo)</b> in a summer storm, declared - with youthful awe - … “Wow! God is so big!”     

Really, it doesn’t take any age-induced sophistication or higher intelligence to see the bigness of God as we look around in creation.  That’s what God related to Job when Job was seeking WHY answers to his dilemma and loss (see the highlight passage).  And it’s what the Apostle Paul repetitively exclaimed to fellow Christians (see Pauline Scriptures above), trying to help his fellow believers realize just how much power they (we) have within, … now that we’ve surrendered to follow Christ, … Who was and is God Almighty in the flesh.  

The question is … do we believe that our God is powerful enough to control the universe He created?   Because if we do, that power resides in us to do His work in-and-thru our lives.  

So, I pray we surrender to our Almighty God and use that lightning-creating power within us today.     

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being the grace-giving power in my life to serve You today.   

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to believe in and surrender to serve You, Lord, today, … utilizing Your power which resides in us.    … 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.

July 19, 2021 … No Matter What?! …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 200 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Clay Crosse, Bob Carlisle, and Bebe Winans singing  … I Will Follow Christ … strongly singing of the commitment and surrender to follow the Lord … NO MATTER WHAT! 

Daniel followed God's ways ... 

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Highlight Passage:   Daniel 6:13  [NLT] …  

13 Then they [the king’s officials] told the king, “That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is ignoring you and your law. He still prays to his God three times a day.”  </i> 

… Daniel’s refusal to follow an unGodly law was revealed to the Persian king, which led to Daniel be sentenced to die in the lion’s den.       

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Daniel 6:10-23 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Daniel would not submit to a law which called him to dishonor God; and the result was the lion’s den (see photo).         

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Reference Passage: … Proverbs 3:3  [NLT] …  

3  NEVER let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder.  Write them deep within your heart.   

… God, thru Solomon, charges His chosen to be steadfast in living to honor God.         

Reference Passage: … Luke 9:23 [NLT] … 

23 Then He said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. …”   

… Jesus commands that we Christians deny our own way and follow His way … NO MATTER WHAT!! 

Reference Passage: … Romans 12:1-2 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… We Christians are charged by God, thru Paul, to become living sacrifices and to avoid following the world’s ways as we follow the Lord’s ways.

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

… Paul again exhorts Christians to be surrendered - as a prisoner of the Lord - fo following the Lord, which can be a VERY COSTLY choice.    

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Winn Collier, AT THIS LINK … relates a story of a young German in WW2 who learned of the murdering/unGodly ways of the 3rd Reich and refused to submit to being drafted into the German army because of his faith in Christ.  And predictably the young man was martyred, showing that our faith can sometimes lead to the ultimate cost for following the Lord, … Who gave His all for us.   

And then the ODB author uses the story [in the highlight passage] of Daniel following God’s ways and refusing to follow the unGodly Persian laws, which had been drafted to trap Daniel.  And we know the cost of Daniel following God rather than the Persian king, … leading Daniel into the lion’s den (see photo). 

Our challenge from this ODB entry today is simple.  Are we willing, as we hear in today’s linked song, to follow God’s ways no matter what it might cost us to do so?   I know, .. in the future,  …  we’re going to face increasing worldly (and Satanic) calls to follow the unGodly ways of the world, … tempting us to turn away from following Christ’s call to follow Him (see Luke 9;23). 

How, under these unGodly pressures, will we respond?   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for calling ME and giving me Your empowering grace to be loyal to Your calling on my life.  

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to hold onto and follow Your call, Lord, … to follow You … no matter what!   … 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.

July 18, 2021 … Restoration In Christ …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 199 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Hugh Jackman singing  … From Now On from the Movie The Greatest Showman … powerfully singing about how anyone can be restored and forgiven if they come back to follow God’s way of truth in life. 

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Highlight Passage:   Hosea 14:7  [NLT] …  

9 Let those who are wise understand these things.  Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them.   But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.   

… God, thru His Prophet, charges His people to return to righteousness and God’s way of living.      

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Hosea 14 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  God, thru Hosea, charges Israel to return to the Lord and be restored in their confession and repentance.         

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 51:1-2  [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… King David, after his sin with Bathsheba, humbly - in confession and repentance - prays in song of His desperate desire for life restoring healing and purification.      

Reference Passage: … Joel 2:25-26 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God promises to restore what has been lost from the lives of repentant believers due to their (our) disobedience and sin.   

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:33 [NLT] …  33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need. 

… Jesus teaches the price of God providing our needs, being surrender to seek His will and His ways.  

Reference Passage: … Acts 3:19-21 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …  

… Peter preaches truth to fellow Christians of God’s restoring grace if they (we) are wiling to repent and surrender our lives to following King Jesus.      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Monica La Rose, AT THIS LINK   … refers to the stirring song in the movie, The Greatest Showman … entitled From Now On … [linked above], … where the main character sings of confessing and repenting of his past selfishness with a pledge to return to the people he had wronged to make it right.  

And then the ODB uses that song reference to illustrate the theme and message of the book of Hosea in the Bible, summarized by Chapter 14, which is linked above.  In that chapter, God charges His chosen people to confess of their past sin and return to a loving and restoring God, Who has made His covenant to restore His chosen ones to a home in heaven.  

A home in heaven with Jesus if we are willing to pursue a repentant life, following King Jesus. Pretty good deal, wouldn’t you say?  And fellow Christian, I - for one - plan to take God up on His offer.  How about you? 

And PS:  Don’t miss seeing/hearing the linked song … it’ll touch your heart and motivate you, … maybe even convict you … to come back (if necessary) to be closer to Christ than ever before. 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for Your promise to restore me now that I’ve surrendered to follow You, Lord.     

My Prayer Today:: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to live a surrendered and repentant life, seeking God’s restoring grace for our lives and praising Him for it.   … 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.

July 17, 2021 … One God Over ALL …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 198 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...  Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Steven Curtis Chapman singing  … One True God … powerfully singing about how we serve and trust ONE and only ONE God, … Who is God over all. 

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Highlight Passage:   Acts 10:34-35  [NLT] …  

34 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that <b>God shows no favoritism.</b> 35 In every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right.   

… God, thru Peter, declares that God shows NO favoritism under His sovereign rule.     

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Acts 10:22-48 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  Paul confesses and repents of his sin of favoritism against Gentiles as He recognizes that His God is their God too.         

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Reference Passage: … Deuteronomy 6:4-5 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God, thru Moses, declares for ALL of God’s people that HE, and HE ALOLNE, is our one true God and we must worship Him with ALL our hearts, ALL our souls, and ALL our strength. 

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

… We must trust in the ONE AND ONLY God with ALL our hearts.      

Reference Passage: …Romans 2:10-11 [NLT] … 

10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for ALL who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 

… God’s word, thru Paul, shows us that our God shows no favoritism to anyone.  

Reference Passage: … James 2:1-13 [NLT] …USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus’ brother gives a strong warning against favoritism or prejudice.      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Arthur Jackson, AT THIS LINK  … relates a story of a partitioner confessing to his Pastor that he had not voted for the Pastor in the congregation vote because of the Pastor’s race, … asking for forgiveness and receiving it lovingly from the Pastor. 

And that was, in essence, the story of the Apostle Peter as he came before the Council of Elders in the church in Jerusalem, confessing of the sin of prejudice and partiality against Gentiles [see highlight passage], … recognizing all the truths from the Scriptures above … that we serve - and must truth - ONE GOD, … Who is the sovereign God over all … Jew and Gentile, male and family, Jew and Greek.  And I pray today that as depicted in the photo above that we trust COMPLETELY in our LORD and Savior … the ONE-AND-ONLY true God. 

Can one just imagine what it would be like many more in this world believed and lived the truths expressed in the Scriptures above.  It would answer the prayer of 2Chronicles 7:14, wouldn’t it?  …  (Look that passage up if you don’t know it!)

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for being the  ONE-AND-ONLY God for ALL of us.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to praise and trust You, LORD, as our ONE-AND-ONLY God today and tomorrow. … 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.

July 16, 2021 … Seeking God’s Light …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 197 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ... </b> Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from Matthew West singing  … Into the Light … powerfully singing about how we can seek and follow God’s light out of dark storms and into God’s saving light.  

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Highlight Passage   Psalm 43:3  [NLT] …  

3  Send out Your light and Your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You live.   

… The psalmist seeks God’s light to come out of his darkness     

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Psalm 43 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

…  The Psalmist feels lost in the turmoil of persecution and seeks his God to give him the light to come out of his darkness.        

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Reference Passage: … Psalm 119:105 [NLT] … 

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

… King David sings about God’s word being a light for his (and our) path in life.   

Reference Passage: … Isaiah 9:2 [NLT] … 

The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.  For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. 

… Isaiah [700+ years before Christ comes] prophesies that One will come (i.e., The Messiah) to lead His faithful followers out of their darkness … into God’s light.  

Reference Passage: … John 3:18-21 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus shows Nicodemus (and any seeker of God’s truth) how we must follow God’s truth and His call to righteousness to come out of the darkness and into God’s light.    

Reference Passage: … John 8:12 [NLT] … 

12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”  

… Jesus shows His followers that following Him will lead them (and us) out of the darkness and into His light.  

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 2:9 [NLT] … 

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.  

… Peter recognized that God’s calling oh His faithful people was to lead them [us] out of the darkness of sin, following Christ’s light, and onto God’s path of righteousness.    

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Lisa M Samra, AT THIS LINK   … relates the story of young John F Kennedy Jr getting disoriented in a small plane in foggy weather and not using his instruments properly to lead him safely to his destination and avoiding the crash which led to his death. 

It’s easy for us to get off the track in the storms and fogginess of life, isn’t it?  But if we Christians seek and follow the light of God’s word (see photo), we can, as Matthew West sings in the linked song, come out of the fogginess of our sin nature and the darkness and confusion of our world … onto God’s path of righteous which clearly comes from God’s truth. 

I pray we use God’s light today as our instrumentation and our “GPS” (I.e., God’s Positioning System) … to follow His light of truth out of our darkness. My friend(s), Christ is our Light … from His word; … let’s follow it today … and tomorrow too! 

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for shining Your light of truth on my path today.     

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to seek out God’s light from Your word, Lord, which leads us out of our darkness and the storms of life and onto Your clear path. … 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.

July 15, 2021 … Praying With Confidence …

Berry Patch Devotions in 2021 - Day 196 

Devotional Song: ... GO TO THIS LINK ...   Please take the time to take in song and lyrics from the group Sanctus Real singing  … Confidence … powerfully singing about how we can come to God with a faith like Daniel or David, … believing and knowing that our Heavenly Father will always  be there for us, … no matter what.  

Confidence in a Loving Father ... 

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Highlight Passage:   Luke 11:11  [NLT] …  

11 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?   

… Jesus shows His followers that we can pray to our God, knowing He hears and will give us what we need.      

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Highlight Passage [Context]: …  Luke 11:5-13 [NLT] …  USE THIS LINK … 

… Jesus teaches a parable on praying with confidence in our God.        

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

… When we come to God, we must come with trust and confidence in the God to Whom we pray.  

Reference Passage: … Matthew 6:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… Jesus teaches His followers on how to pray with confidence and faith … not like the hypocrites who pray for the recognition of others.  

Reference Passage: … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 

28 And we know that God causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  

… If we believe, as did Paul, in our God being an all-knowing, … benevolent … God,  then we have to believe that ALL THINGS work for our good and God’s glory. 

Reference Passage: … Philippians 4:6-7, … 19 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …  

… God, thru Paul, teaches Christians that we need not worry about anything, but rather bring t ANYTHING to God in prayer; and God, our Father, will supply us with what we need.  

Reference Passage: … 1Peter 5:7 [NLT] … 

7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.  

… Peter recognized, as would we, that we can ALWAYS take our concerns and worries to our loving, grace-giving God.   

      

My Devotional Journal: Today's Our Daily Bread author, Sheridan Voysey, AT THIS LINK  … relates a story of a couple trying to have a child, becoming pregnant, and praying for their long awaited child.  However, in experiencing the horror of a miscarriage, they naturally wondered about God’s promised mercy and grace in the face of their loss.  

And anytime we pray in faith for something like a new child or some long prayed for circumstance, it will likely jolt our faith if our prayers seem to be snubbed by a loving, merciful, grace-dispensing Heavenly Father.  And when things go against our desires in prayer, we might think “WHY LORD” or doubt the love/grace of our God.  

But if you’ve taken in the linked song and meditated on the Scriptures above, we must come to our God - in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES - praising and thanking the Lord for ALWAYS giving us what we need and what is best for us [see Romans 8:28 and Phil 4:19]; … yes, even if we don’t understand the outcome … as with the young couple in the ODB story above. And I pray that we take God’s prescription from Paul in Phil. 4:6-7 when we’re confronted with confusion or despair in our circumstances, … taking our doubts of fears to God; and as Peter declared, taking our concerns  to our God, … Who ALWAYS cares for us (see 1Pet 5:7).   

My THANKFULNESS: ... Oh, Abba Father, thank You, King Jesus, … for ALWAYS being there for me when I pray to You.    

My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, ... King Jesus, ... . I pray that all reading here will join me, … to confidently take our concerns in prayer to our Loving, Heavenly Father. … 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.