Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube video and lyrics from Harvey Yao singing more modern version of the old hymn … Trust and Obey … poignantly singing of how we must trust and obey our God … yes, even when it’s tough to do so.
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Highlight Verse[s]: Luke 1:12-13 [NLT] … 12 Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. 13 But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John.
… God’s timing is always perfect!!
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Highlight Passage [context]: Luke 1:5-17 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… God answers Zechariah’s prayer for a son with the foretelling of John the Baptist’s birth to his wife.
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Reference Passage [NLT] : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… Trusting God when the trust doesn’t seem logical or fair can be really tough… but TRUST WE MUST!
Reference Passage [NLT] : … 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.
… One of the toughest truths to understand, believe, and live at times.
Reference Passage [NLT] : … Ephesians 3:19-20 [NLT] … 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. … 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 encourages Christians to trust God, who is fully able to provide us with WAY MORE that we ask, or most certainly deserve.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, James Banks, used a NT biblical example to illustrate how trusting God’s timing can be challenging for us. The ODB author wrote: Sometimes God takes His time in answering our prayers, and that isn’t always easy for us to understand.
That was the situation for Zechariah, a priest whom the angel Gabriel appeared to one day near an altar in the temple in Jerusalem. Gabriel told him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John” (Luke 1:13). But Zechariah had probably asked God for a child years before, and he struggled with Gabriel’s message because Elizabeth was now well beyond the expected age for childbirth. Still, God answered his prayer.
Perhaps, as in the photo, you have, at some time, felt called by God to take a leap of faith; but it was fearful, … or maybe even it wasn’t logical. That’s what John the Baptist’s father-to-be was confronted with when God sent the Angel Gabriel to him with the promise that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son [see the highlight passage].
Sometimes we pray for something at a time of need; but God’s timing is not what we would think is logical or right. And there is a delay … or even a denial … of what we would like to see occur, even if our prayer would seem to honor God. … UGH!! … God’s timing can be a tough pill to swallow sometimes, can’t it?
But as the song so strongly exhorts us … our only choice in such times is to “trust and obey.” So, perhaps some reader here is going thru such a challenge to his or her faith. But, all we can do … dear one … is to trust our God and wait on His timing and His good will.
My Prayer Today: Abba Father, … King Jesus, … Precious Spirit … I’m praying for some relief to my pain, Lord; but I know You have good for me in spite of the pain. … 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.
4 comments:
It made sense for God to wait until after normal child bearing years to grant his wish for a baby son. That just solidifies the power God has to do ANYTHING in the mind of his followers!
I was recently in the presence of an Angel, and it is a very disturbing, yet strangely comforting feeling. I was not privy to his name, nor allowed to look at him, but his hand upon my shoulder(from behind) was so warm and that warmth radiated through my entire body. I was in a hospital bed in ICU, and was either dead or very close to it, and the next thing I new I was at the head of the bed looking down at myself with the Angel behind me giving me the choice of either heeding the call Jesus had made to me several times through my sorry life, or it could all end right there.
I promised to heed his call this time, hence joining Bible College, and working towards a Biblical Counseling degree to minister to the homeless and other needy people of this world while sharing the ups and downs of my crazy life, hopefully in order to show them that it is possible to regain a foothold and live a "normal" life again.
I must tell you, I find myself so engrossed in my studies I end up reading far longer than I am supposed to each day. Even though I am familiar with the contents of most of the Bible, the smallest of details and things left out at church and Sunday school go a long way in fleshing out the entire story, and I find it very enjoyable!
Anyway, this is the reason my sister Barbara recommended I follow you. I hope you don't mind, but I may I'M you a question now and then. I'll keep it to a minimum!
Ken P.
Brother Ken ... Is Barbara Parker Norris your sister? ... And thank you for commenting on my blog. ... I’m humbled that your sister would recommend that my blog could be helpful to you.
I find your ICU testimony quite remarkable. And please feel free to comment on any of m;y journal entries here. I’m just here spending quality time each morning trying to mine the mind of God thru His word, as Job did (Chapter 28) when he was seeking answers to the WHYs of life. Please feel free to email me any time @ billb13@bellsouth.net . Bill
Yes, Barbara is my sister, as well as Patti Calvert. They all think the world oof you, and I find your blog educational and inspirational. I'm a little worried at my age getting through the school will be too much, but every time I start studying I spend twice as much time as I am supposed to. I am really intrigued by the tings I am reading that was never taught in church or Sunday School. I'm praying God helps my memory retain the information, I sure can't remember what I had for dinner last night or what I got up from the table for half the time, LOL,
Thank you for offering to help!
Have a blessed day, Bill
Well, Ken ... I'm certainly uplifted by your willingness to seek a more abiding relationship with our Lord by at least reading and meditating on my blog. And from experience I know that God pours His grace of enlightenment and empowerment into those who seek that abiding relationship. And I'm sure He'll be with you in your academic studies as well ... especially since you're pursuing them for His glory. ... I hope you can see how much I delve into the mind of God by mining for Hs jewels of truth found in His word. And if you ever have any questions from using my journaling, please feel free to ask them ... either by comments on the blog or via email or messaging on Facebook. ... Bill
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