Tag: #adversity

What Gives You the Most Satisifaction?

Text:

Psalm 119:107 (ESV)

107  I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word!

Observation: 

I considered taking a break from writing for publication today. But, the Lord had a better plan.

I love my life, and I view it as a gift from God. I love the Lord because He loved me first.

I am so thankful that the Lord led me to this verse early this morning. It was a very timely, and uplifting message for me; it met a need in my life; it was life giving, inspiring, and gave me just what I needed in this season of my life.

These words will stay with me for a long time, “Give me life, O LORD, according to your word”. There is power in the Word.

As I reflect upon these words, I was reminded of the importance of relationships. I value relationships above riches. There is nothing more precious to me.

However, I am also reminded daily of the difficulty of having close, and meaningful relationships. The psalmist reflected this in his words, “I am severely afflicted”.

What I have found to be true in my life is that the Lord, and His Word gives me life, it gives me power to live, and overcome any afflictions I will face in life and death.

Today, and everyday, I am grateful to God for the life He has given me. I am so blessed by the presence, plan, provisions, protection, peace, and power of God, which are the gifts that I receive daily from the Lord. God gives daily bread to His people.

I will be eternally grateful for the gift of faith that is the key that gives me access to my creator, my redeemer, and my best friend. I am so blessed to be able to talk to God, and to talk to you; my family and friends, about the one who is the source of life, and who gives His children the resources to live the abundant life.

This is my story, and I love to share it with others. I am so grateful for having God in my life; for the faith that enables me to be in a relationship with Him, and to please Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

6  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)

6  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Prayer:

Father, I exalt Your name, and give You praise, honor, and glory. Father, I am so thankful for the blessing of life, and the provisions that You give to enjoy life now, and forever. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

Do You Realize the Sufficiency of God’s Grace?

Text:

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (ESV)

8  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

9  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Observation:

Yesterday in the course of helping a friend with an adversity in her family I was blessed with an amazing testimony of how God works in speaking to His people.

In the midst of working on her issues she went and got a devotional book that she had read earlier that morning.  The devotional book was, “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young. O, what a timely word from the Lord.

“Expect to encounter adversity in your life, remembering that you live in a deeply fallen world. Stop trying to find a way that circumvents difficulties. The main problem with an easy life is that it masks your need for Me.”

I looked down at the bottom of the page, and one of the scripture references was a Psalm I wrote about yesterday. We saw God connect a lot of dots, and He works everyday.

Psalm 91:1 (ESV)

1  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.

All of us who live in this fallen world will encounter adversity at some time in our earthly journey. Your adversity may be similar to some of the things that Paul experienced or that may be different. However, we all have a list of adversities that we could cite. Here is Paul’s list.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (ESV)

10  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

How was Paul able to boast and speak with joy and gladness about his weaknesses, and the adversities that he faced in his life? The answer is the sufficiency of the grace of God in his life.

2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)

7  But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

Don’t ever lose sight of this truth, “The surpassing power belongs to God and not to us”. Then, you will be able to know, and experience what Paul was able to say.

Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

13  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Prayer:

Father, we give You the honor, glory, and praise that You alone deserve. Father, we are so grateful that the amazing grace of God is sufficient for all of the needs of Your beloved children.

Father, in these days of adversity we ask that You would draw us closer to You through the office work of the Holy Spirit. Father, in times like these help us to lean hard on Thee. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

What To Do When In A Difficult Season?

 

Text:

Psalm 30:8-12 (ESV)

8  To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

9  “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?

10  Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!”

11  You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

12  that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Observation:

There are times in our lives when we need to descend in the current season so that we may be exalted in another season.

In times like this we can look to the example of David in our focal passage for today. What did David do?

We find the answer in Psalm 30:8.

Psalm 30:8 (ESV)

8  To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy:

David humbled himself before the Lord, and he cried our to the Lord for mercy. In times like David faced, and times that you are facing, it is mercy that suits our case.

The encouragement that I draw from this Psalm is that troubles don’t  last forever. I take delight when I read this verse.

Psalm 30:5 (ESV)

5  For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

When the season of deliverance comes in our life; when joy comes in the morning, it is the time to show our gratitude to God. It is time to move from the pity party to the praise party.

Psalm 30:11-12 (ESV)

11  You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

12  that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Prayer:

Father, I delight to associate myself with your servant David in crying out to your for mercy.

Father, I acknowledge that you are the potter, and I am the clay. Father, I surrender my will to You; Father, I willing submit to your hands forming me into the person that you want me to be.

Father, I delight to sing your praises before a watching world, and give you the glory for anything that is praiseworthy in my life. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry

What is the Condition of Your Heart?

 

Text:

Psalm 90:1-4 (ESV)

1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.

2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3  You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”

4  For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

Observation:

As I sat down to write this morning I prayed this prayer, “What is Your will regarding a text and topic for today?”

I looked to the bible on my desk, and it was opened to Psalm 90. This was a paper version of one of my study bibles, and the commentary made a reference to Numbers 13 and 14. I read those chapters, and wondered if this is what Moses had on his heart as he wrote this Psalm.

Notice the condition of the heart, and what was coming out of the mouths of God’s children.

Numbers 14:1-4 (ESV)

1  Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night.

2  And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!

3  Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?”

4  And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt.”

O, how soon we forget the blessings of God when we go through a season of adversity.

The prayer Moses prayed in Psalm 90 is a prayer we need to pray for our family and friends in these days of trials and testing.

Psalm 90:12-15 (ESV)

12  So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

13  Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!

14  Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15  Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, help us to never forget that You are a good, good Father, and that You know us, and that You love us.

Father, help us to find that happy balance between adversity and blessings. Father, help us to learn to forsake complaining, and embrace gratitude; giving praise and thanksgiving to our forever and faithful Father in heaven. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) 
11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Read the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Hear the Daily Devotional by Herb Cotton; click here:

https://soundcloud.com/praying-for-you-ministry