Tuesday 28 May 2013

In the Day of Trouble


In the Day of Trouble

Today's Scripture:
In the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock.
Psalm 27:5, NIV.

Today's Word:
People ask all the time, “Where is God in tragedy?” When we encounter difficulty and tragedy, we have to trust that God is right there offering His shelter of peace to our troubled hearts. He has a plan to lift you up out of despair and set you in a place of stability. He has a plan to restore, renew and revive your soul.

Scripture tells us that it is the thief—the enemy—who kills, steals and destroys. God’s plan is to bring you life. (See John 10:10). We have to remember, the enemy uses circumstances to get our eyes off of Jesus. He tries to steal our peace and keep us focused on this earthly realm. But when we lift up our eyes to Jesus, when we hold fast to our profession of faith, that’s how we stay in victory.

Friend, when the day of trouble comes, know that God is with you and for you. He’s not the one who is against you. Keep your eyes on Him. Trust that He has a plan. Trust that He will make your crooked places straight and your rough places smooth. Lift your eyes to Jesus because He is the Author and Finisher of your faith—a very present help in the day of trouble.

Prayer for Today:

Father, thank You for being my shelter when the storms of life rage. When I don’t have the answers, I trust that You do. I put my hope in You and receive Your peace and strength. Thank You for leading me in the path of victory all the days of my life in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

***
“You know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 GNT)
The Bible says that God is a caring Father.
He’s compassionate, loving, gracious, and he cares about you.
It’s important to note that when Jesus spoke the word “father,” he used the Aramaic word “abba.” “Abba” is one of the first words that every Middle Eastern child learns, because it means “daddy” — papa, dada, abba. It is the ultimate term of endearment, of closeness, of family. It is an intimate phrase that says there is no barrier between a little baby and a father.
What do we know about our heavenly Father, about our “Abba”? Let me tell you three things today:
First, God is never too busy for you. When you pray, God does not say, “Not now. I’ll see you later.” God never turns away. He’s with you every single day. 
Second, God loves to meet your needs because he’s a close Father. The Bible says, “You know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”(Matthew 7:11 GNT) I hate to admit it, but I am sometimes selfish and self-centered, thinking only of my needs. Yet, as a parent, I love to give to my kids. I love to meet their needs. How much more does God — our perfect Father— want to meet your needs?
Third, God is sympathetic to your hurts. He’s never too busy, he loves to meet your needs, and he’s sympathetic to your hurts. When you come to God with your pain, he doesn’t say, “Oh, come on! Get over it! Put a smile on your face. That’s an easy little thing. Get a Band-Aid!” If you’ve had a tough week, God understands.
The Bible says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NIV). Some of you feel crushed in spirit. What do you do? Turn to God. He is sympathetic to your hurt. He loves to meet your needs. He is never too busy for you. He wants to help you out! He’s your heavenly Father.
Talk It Over        
  • God is never too busy for you. How often are you too busy to bring your hurts and concerns to your caring Father?
     
  • How do you think God cares about the details of your life — the seemingly small and inconsequential things that get you down and rob your joy?

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