Devotional Song: ... Go to this link … Please take the time to take in a video of Sara Groves singing one of her best songs… It’s Going To Be Alriight; … declaring the reality of the hope and power we Christians have in God’s sustaining, sanctifyng grace.
Highlight Passage 2nd Corinthians 4: 8 [NKJV] …
8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; …
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Highlight Context - 2nd Corinthians 4: 7-12 and 6: 3-10[NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
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Reference Passage #1 - Luke 8: 23-25 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
... Only Jesus is the survival power we need/desire in life …
Reference Passage #2 - John 16: 12-15 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
... Jesus promises the coming indwelling of the Holy Spirit to give us the power we need to handle the trials/storms of life.
Reference Passage #3 - John 16: 33 [NKJV] …
33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
… Jesus promises our trials in life; but also that He has overcome them all.
Reference Passage #4 - Romans 8: 28 [NKJV] …
28 All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are the called according to His purposes.
… True … but do we really believe it and live it when the storms of life come our way?
Reference Passage #5 - 2nd Corinthians 12: 9 [NKJV] …
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
… True … but do we really believe it and live it when the storms of life come our way?
My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread devotional entry, authored by Joe Stowell, told a personal story to illustrate his teaching today. He wrote about having one of those plastic, inflatable punching bags as a kid; and no matter how hard he hit the bag, it would bounce back up because of the lead weight in the bottom of the bag.
And, really, all sailors know that this is the same “ballast” principle, which, by putting lead along the keel of any boat, provides balance and stability. Therefore, in a strong wind or storm the vessel will tend to stay upright [see attached photo of the disciples out in the storm in Luke 8: 23-25]. Yes, as in that Luke 8 storm, Jesus’ disciples may have had some physical protection from ballast in the boat; but, like those Disciples ultimately learned, we Christians know that only King Jesus, Who is in charge of ALL things, can calm any storm or provide us with the strength to defeat our fears and to weather the storms. And it is the promise and reality of God’s Holy Spirit, residing in our hearts, … Who is the only One Who can give us the survival power we need to weather the storms of life. [see 2nd Cor. 12: 9]
King Jesus declared that we’re always going to have storms in life (i.e., trials/tribulations - see John 16: 33); but He asserted clearly that HE had overcome the world. And He was teaching His frightened Disciples, as the Lord was about to go to the cross, … that we’ll always have trials; but our faith in The Christ, Who has overcome the world (and our trials!), will energize the Holy Spirit to give us the enabling, empowering grace we need to deal with any and all trials (see Romans 8: 28, copied above, as well as 1st Cor. 10: 13 - look that one up!).
My friend, any of us may have gone thru a storm of trial; or maybe you’re in the midst of one right now. If so, you likely know that we grow closest to our Lord, as well as grow more spiritually, from those storms than we do when the seas of life are calm and serene. So, I pray that we all know, believe in, and live the truths of Romans 8: 28 and 2nd Cor. 12: 9.
My Prayer for Today … O Lord, … You, and only You, are the power I need to weather my storms. … 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.
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