Category: Blessing

Living Hope

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Life is filled with difficulties and challenges. We can get lost in sorrow and worry. However, God has provided a “living hope” for those who have trusted in Jesus Christ for salvation. Some of that hope is our eternal future. 1 Peter 1:4 talks about the beauty of our eternal reward. Verse 5 comes back to telling us about the here and now. It says, “By God’s power are being guarded through faith.” Ephesians 6 tells us to pick up the shield of faith. This verse talks about God’s power guarding us through faith.

No matter what we are facing, God is working. His power is protecting us for a wonderful future that will last for all eternity. Praise the Lord!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the living hope for a wonderful eternal future. Please help us to cling to the protection You have provided as we walk the challenges of life.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

All Sufficient

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I like the word sufficient. It sounds so grand. I chuckled when I looked it up in the dictionary. I saw adequate and enough in the definition. Those are such ordinary words. While I sometimes prefer a more exciting concept, I have learned that we do most of our living in the ordinary. Words like adequate and enough are good. They provide what is needed.

God gives grace so we have enough to abound in good works. God is amazing!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us enough to live an abundance of good works. Your provision is a blessing. Please help us to watch for what You want to give instead of seeking what You do not desire.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Weak Groanings

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 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called he also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.

Last week I talked about how I must believe that God will give wisdom. I know that can be a weakness for me. I am thankful for this passage in Romans that tells me the Holy Spirit intercedes for me when I don’t know what to pray. He gives support to help in my greatest time of need.

I know there are times that my faith can be weak. God has provided help for those of us who have trusted in Jesus Christ. God gives what I need.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Spirit to help me when I don’t know how to pray. I cling to that promise. May Your name be praised for this marvelous gift.

I praise this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Fear and Shame

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The last three weeks I have had to fight fear over a “lump” that I found. This felt similar to what I had 2 ½ years ago. I had visions of surgery and potentially other treatment. As I made diagnostic appointments (and waited about 1 ½ weeks to go to the appointments), I chose this verse. There is worry involved in medical issues. I had to pray my way through allowing God whatever He chose.

Praise the Lord, he allowed me to only have 2 cysts and a non-malignant spot. No surgery or medical treatment needed. I am grateful for God’s kindness in allowing this news.

I have prayed many times in recent years that I am willing and able to endure whatever God asks of me. I was wrestling with that prayer before finding out the prognosis. I appreciate these verses. Seeking God helps deliver us from our fears. I know that I can feel shame as I wrestle with my fears – verse 5 reminds us that we can be radiant and unashamed as we look to God.

The simple reminder is to seek God and I can be delivered. The difficult reality is that I need to keep working hard to give my fears and worries to God and leave them there. I am glad God is patient and kind in providing for my weakness.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for closing this chapter in health issues. Please help me to continue to give all of my fears to You. Please help me to encourage others to do the same.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.

Complete

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This life is incomplete. We face challenges and often don’t feel like we get to where we want to go (wherever that is). Sometimes in our pursuit for identity, we put God in second place (or later). Family, friends, job, and other pursuits are good. We gain much enjoyment from them. However, those things are not done well if God is not in first place. I believe we will receive more blessing from those things as we submit to God’s plan to bring us to completion.

Dear Heavenly Father, we ache with the desire to be complete. Please help us to be patient as we wait for Your timing in bringing the good work to completion. Please help us to submit to Your plan and put You first.

I pray this in Jesus’ name.

God is so good.