October 3, 2017 … Blessing From Crisis 

Berry Patch Devotions in 2017 - Day 276 

Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK …  Please take the time to take in a YouTube video of images from Laura Story singing her song … Blessings … poignantly singing of the difficult reality that many of God’s blessings come in the crises of life.

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Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 57:1 [NLT] … 1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in You I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until the disaster has passed. 
… In crisis David knew exactly to Whom he should go for protection/provision … to His God! 
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 57 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… David running for his life from King Saul prays for deliverance and protection
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We must trust the Lord for his direction/provision, even when life makes no sense.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Lamentations 3:22-23 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK ...
… Since God’s mercies are new every day, we can ALWAYS go to Him for them.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 28 And we know that IN ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. 
… God’s truth … no matter what transpires … it is for our good.

Reference Passage [NLT] : … Philippians 4:19 [NLT] … 19 And my God will meet ALL YOUR NEEDS according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. 
… Yes, but do we really believe it!

My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Tim Gustafson, uses a life example to teach on trusting God for His provision/protection. The ODB author wrote: Marc recalls a moment from his childhood when his father called the family together. Their car had broken down [see photo], and the family would run out of money by the end of the month. Marc’s dad paused and prayed. Then he asked the family to expect God’s answer. 
Today Marc recalls how God’s help arrived in surprising ways. A friend repaired their car; unexpected checks arrived; food showed up at the door. Praising God came easily. But the family’s gratitude had been forged in a crisis. 

When the challenges and circumstances of life don’t make any sense, that’s when it’s toughest to trust in God’s mercy and grace to provide for our needs and see us thru any crisis. And as Laura Story sings her song (linked above), we so often see God’s mercies being disguised in the greatest challenges of life.

Today, as we meditate on the Scriptures provided, we need to ask ourselves if we truly trust God to provide for us and protect us, … even when life becomes so difficult to fathom. Because our God is our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider; and He would never allow anything into the life of a born-again Christian which was not, IN SOME WAY, a blessing. Though to take? ... Certainly! … But truth?! … ABSOLUTELY!! 

My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Dear Lord, … When things go against my way, help me to seek You and to see You in the storm. … 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.