Devotional Song: ... Go to this link … Please take the time to take in a video of the group 4Him singing… Where There Is Faith, … declaring the reality and power of faith in Christ; … the mental health brought on only by hope in the Savior
Highlight Passage Psalm 37: 3-4, 39-40 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… David teaches about the essence of mental health in this life from his own experience …
============
Highlight Context - Psalm 37 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… David, later in life, exhorting others to live as he had learned to life - trusting in The Lord …
============
Reference Passage #1 Deuteronomy 31: 6 [NKJV] …
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.
… Moses encouraging Joshua (and us) to have courage when things get tough, knowing that God will never forsake us …
Reference Passage #2 Proverbs 3: 5-6 [NKJV] …
5 Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. 6 In ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your ways.
… Solomon teaching his own son [and us] where to place his [our] trust …
Reference Passage #3 Lamentations 3: 22-23 [NKJV] …
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
… Jeremiah declares our hope in a God whose mercies never end or fail us …
Reference Passage #4 Isaiah 26: 3 [NKJV] …
22 You (LORD) will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Y)U, because He trusts in YOU.
… God, through Isaiah teaches where our peace lies … i.e., when we keep our focus on the Lord …
Reference Passage #5 Isaiah 41: 10 [NKJV] …
10 ‘ … Fear not, for I am with you; … be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, .. yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
… God, speaking through Isaiah to His chosen people, Israel, … declaring the reality of God’s protective hand for those who retain faith and live in obedience to The LORD
My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by David McCasland, begins his entry today with the following observation: “There is much said today about improving our health by developing habits of optimism, whether facing a difficult medical diagnosis or a pile of dirty laundry. … Barbara Fredrickson, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of North Carolina, says we should try activities that build joy, gratitude, love, and other positive feelings. We know, however, that more is required than a general wish for good feelings. We need a strong conviction that there is a source of joy, peace, and love upon which we can depend.”
Yes, CHOOSING to do things, especially activities or behaviors, which we know are led by God’s will, following His modeled ways, declared from His word, will promote mental stability, peace, and hope into our lives. However, if you’ve taken in the chosen song today [linked above] and have meditated on today’s ODB highlight passage from David’s experience [from Psalm 37] on how those of faith can live with hope, peace, and faith, … a Christian has to come to the conclusion that our mental health and stability will ONLY come when we have a deep and abiding relationship - an intimate relationship of faith - in the LORD.
That’s why I’m here, beloved, … EVERY DAY… delving into God’s truth, … growing in my faith that God is always there and will never forsake me (see Deuteronomy 31: 6). God is my rock, to Which I affix the anchor of my faith. He is the only One Who gives me strength when I am weak; and He is my hope forever. I pray that He is or is become that for you; … that you seek to develop the hope which ALWAYS lifts you up in times of trial.
My Prayer for Today … O Lord, … Thank You for being here EVERY DAY, to give the the hope to go on tomorrow. … 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, 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment