Tag: #burdens

How to Prosper When the Heart is Weary?

God Speaks:

Psalm 68:3-6 King James Version (KJV)

3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.

5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

King James Version (KJV)

Public Domain

God’s People Pray:

Father, I ask that You healed all who have broken hearts, sickness in their body; the Tent of that is the House of the Holy Spirit, the finances of your children, and any other trouble each person is facing today, and some for many days.

Father, we bring all of our cares and needs to You in prayer. In the name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author’s Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.
 

 

Are You Facing Problems Beyond Your Strength?

Text:

Matthew 19:26 (ESV)

26  But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Observation:

Do you ever get the feeling that life is just one problem after another? As long as we live in this fallen world we will have problems. The question then becomes how to deal with the challenges we face in living in this world.

As I focused on our text for today, I was reminded of a thought from a teaching I did many years ago on the topic of prayer.

“Our problems are God’s raw materials for a miracle”. God is bigger than any problem you will ever encounter.

Let’s look at the context in which Jesus spoke the words of our text, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”.

Matthew 19:24-25 (ESV)

24  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

25  When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

What problems are you facing in your life today that are posing as mission impossible?

Why not give those problems to God in prayer, and have faith in Him that He can turn your problems into solutions; your defeat into victory.

What A Friend We Have in Jesus – John Scriven

“What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I praise and thank You for being a God in whom we can trust with our whole heart, and that nothing is too difficult for You.

Father, help us to learn to lean hard of You, and not try to carry on our shoulders burdens that we are not able to bear. Father, You invite us to cast all of our cares upon You.

Father, give us the faith to release our problems to you, and receive the blessings that You want to give us from Your tender heart, and powerful hands. 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

Do You Want To Be A Change Agent?

 

Text:

Galatians 6:2 (KJV)

2  Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Observation:

If you are alive, you are changing. You are getting older every day that you are still breathing.

What kind of life are you living? Are you making the people, and things that you touch better or worse?

I have a burden on my heart for unity among the local expressions of the Body of Christ.

That burden has been encouraged by the following message that I received from a friend.

“If we did all the things we were capable of doing we would literally astonish ourselves”.

I have a burning desire to be astonished by the possibilities of what God could do in our communities if we, the people of God, came together in love with others in our community.

The reading of the following scriptures have set my heart aflame to see this happen in my community, and in your community.

Romans 12:10 (KJV)

10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Romans 12:12 (KJV)

12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Is there anyone hearing this message who is willing to join us in carrying this burden to the Lord in prayer, and doing what the Lord tells you to do? If you draw near to God, He will draw near to you, and speak to your cries for help.

Will you pray, and will you wait for His reply? Let us lift our voices to the Lord in prayer.

Prayer:

Father, we come humbly to You, and give You praise and thanksgiving for who You are, and for being a God who hears an answers the prayers of Your people.

Father, we cast our burdens and concerns at Your feet, and we delight to open the eyes of our hearts to see You, and our ears to hear from You. Father, speak to Your people is our plea. 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

 

How Huge Are Your Burdens?

 

Introduction:

Does God ever allow us to experience burdens that are too heavy for us to bear? If so, how do you handle them?

Text:

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 (ESV)

8  For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

9  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

10  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

11  You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Observation: 

The Apostle Paul had an experience of having an affliction that was beyond his ability to handle.

2 Corinthians 1:8 (ESV)

8  For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.

Paul did not give-up or worry about his affliction. Notice that Paul did not trust his feelings. Rather, he trusted in His God.

2 Corinthians 1:9-10 (ESV)

9  Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

10  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Additionally, Paul had friends who knew his God, and they prayed for him. God works for His children when we pray for one another.

2 Corinthians 1:11 (ESV)

11  You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Conclusion:

2 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)

10  He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Prayer:

Father, I am so grateful that in this dark and dangerous world that even though we are sometimes faced with burdens too large for us to bear; we have a God who loves and cares for His children.

Father, I pray that all who know You will not hesitate to cast our burdens upon You because there is no one who cares for us more than You. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)

7  Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

—

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

How Do You Keep Your Joy?

 

Text:

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (HCSB)

16  Rejoice always!

17  Pray constantly.

18  Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Observation:

In times like these how can you stay joyful all the time? Our pastor said in our prayer time yesterday that the word he had on his heart was the word burdens.

The truth is that we all have burdens; your burdens are different from my burdens, but they are just as real.

How do you rejoice always, and give thanks in everything as this passages says in verses sixteen and eighteen?

  • Pray constantly (verse 17).
  • This is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (Verse 18b).

When you hear people discount the value of prayer, don’t listen to them.  Turn Your eyes to the Word of God, and listen to what Jesus says about prayer.

Luke 18:1 (HCSB)

1  He then told them a parable on the need for them to pray always and not become discouraged:

When I have burdens I love to sing, and one of my favorites is this one.

“What a friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer! ”

Again, turn your eyes to the Word of God, and listen to what Jesus says about the burdens you feel in your life. Why not take them to the Lord in prayer?

Matthew 11:28-29 (HCSB)

28  “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

29  All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.

Prayer:

Father, I am so grateful for the privilege we have to spend time continually in Your presence.

Father, the awareness that we are never alone in our walk through this world should give us joy and peace for today, and a bright and shining hope for the future.

Father God, I pray this prayer for all of the readers and the hearers of the Word that You have poured into my heart today.

Romans 15:13 (HCSB)

13  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe ?in Him? so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

—

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 Know How to Be Free of Burdens and Anxiety?

Text:

Psalm 55:22-23 (ESV)

22  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

23  But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.

Observation:

There is nothing in life or in death that is more profound than the knowledge that God loves you. Who wouldn’t want to know the one who created them, and loves them with an everlasting love?

I woke up early this morning with today’s focal passage on my mind. Using the international symbol of surrender I lifted both of my hands toward the skies and said these words, “Father, I lift my hands up to you and in them I cast all of my burdens and anxieties up to you, and I ask You to take them out of my hands; Lord, I give them to You”.

O, what a blessing to know that I don’t have to carry that heavy load that I was not made to carry. If you feel poor, weak and weary in your mind, body, and soul; why not cast those burdens upon the Lord.

Notice what the Psalmist says about the unrighteous, and how they feel based on their prosperity.

Psalm 30:6 (ESV)

6  As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.”

Would you rather be rich in worldly goods or poor in spirit? Let me encourage you to ponder this teaching of Jesus.

Matthew 5:3 (ESV)

3  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Are you willing to exercise the gift of faith that is within you to be able to raise your hands and say to God, “I trust in you”. This is His promise to you, “I will never permit the righteous to be moved”.

I’m going to pray for each of you now, and my prayer will be that you will be able to sing this song.

“I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,

Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;

And I know that Thou art with me,

Wilt be with me to the end.”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I’m so glad that I am poor enough in spirit that I know I am not built to carry the burdens of living in a fallen world on my own shoulders.

Father, by an act of raising my hands in total surrender I offer my burdens up to You. Lord, I ask You to take them out of my hands, and handle them with Your hands.

Father, I trust in You, O Father, give me faith to trust You more. Father, I pray this prayer for my family, friends, neighbors, and last of all for myself. In the might 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