Devotional Song: Go to this link - Please take the time to meditate on this poignant and personal song written and sung by Sara Groves, singing It’s Going To Be Alright, … reminding us that God may be leading us through tough times in our lives; but it’s going to be all right because it is God Who is leading us.
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Highlight Passage: Luke 22: 31-32 … [Sometimes God sets us up for His will.] … [NLT]
17 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. 32But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers.”
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Highlight Passage: Luke, Chapter 22, Verses 31-39 … GO TO THIS LINK … [NLT] …
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Reference Passage #1: Job, Chapter 1 … Go to this link … [God allows Satan access to Job’s life to challenge his faith.] … [NLT]
Reference Passage #2: 2nd Corinthians, Chapter 12, Verses 1-10… Go to this link … [Again God allows Satan to enter into Paul’s life, bring pain for a reason.] … [NLT]
Reference Passage #3: Romans 8: 28 … [God setting us up for victory.] … [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.
My Journal for Today: Ever been in a place where you’re thinking, “What’s up, God?!” Maybe it was a rough time in your life where there was a lot of pain and it felt like it was all wrong … maybe even cosmically unfair; and you were feeling like asking God, “Why me, Lord?!”
Sure we’ve all been there; but we’re certainly not without biblical company, are we? In today’s highlight passage from Luke 22, Peter wondered what was going on when God allowed him to go through the rooster-crowing incident where Peter ended up denying Jesus three times, even though Peter had claimed he’d never do something like that. And from Job, Chapter 1, there was the classic divine set-up where God allowed Job to go through a whole series of horrible stuff devised by Satan. And finally, one of the ones I identify with the most was God allowing Satan to give Paul some painful “thorn,” where God taught Paul a lesson in humility [see the link to 2nd Cor. 12 above].
In each instance, the scenario is a “divine set-up,” where God allows Satan to enter the life of one of God’s chosen to help season or strengthen the life of that one. All of these men were God’s chosen; and God brought them through a divine set-up to prepare them for their life ahead and for God’s glory in the process. But in all of these, God is in control and as God’s truth declares in Romans 8: 28, all of God’s set-ups in life are for the good of those He has chosen to be His … and for His glory.
So, if we’re going through some painful or frightful episode in our lives, I will pray that we reason – in faith – the reality of God being in the set-up business in our lives, even if He’s letting Satan have a season of challenge in our lives.
It’s all for God anyway!
My Prayer for Today … Lord, help me to see – in faith – that all of where You lead me is 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 blog entitled Today God Is First [TGIF], authored by Os Hillman. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you’ll find a link to read Hillman’s TGIF blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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