#circumstances – herbcotton.org

God Speaks – Hear The Word of God

The Wisdom of the Proverbs:

Proverbs 24:10 (NLT)

If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.

The Encouragement of the Psalms:

Psalm 78:1 (KJV) Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

The Hope of the Old Testament:

Jeremiah 6:16 (NLT)

This is what the LORD says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’

Jeremiah 6:19 (NLT)

Listen, all the earth! I will bring disaster on my people. It is the fruit of their own schemes, because they refuse to listen to me. They have rejected my word.

The Gospel Message:

Colossians 2:8-10 (NLT)

Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.

For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.

So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Observation:

How are you handling the circumstances and conditions in your environment? How are you dealing with the pressure of living in a fallen world? Do you have the strength to make it in these times of chaos and strife?

If you depend upon your strength or the strength of the world to get you through these troubling times, you will find it is too small. Where do you discover the power you need? Where can you find peace in the midst of the chaos that is happening all around the world?

Why not listen to the one who made the world and every living being? Today’s reading from the One Year Bible Reading Plan is where I started my day. Then the Lord spoke these words of comfort to my heart.

Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT)

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

John 14:27 (NLT)

“I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Prayer:

Father, we are so thankful that even in the most chaotic of times we can find in You the strength that we need and the peace that the world cannot give us or take away from us.

Father, I pray that we, the people of God, will learn to live in prayer and receive the gift that will enable us to live in peace.

Father, we are so grateful that there is nothing that is beyond the reach of prayer when we trust in God, who can do anything but fail.

Matthew 7:7-8 (NLT)

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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Do You Believe That God Is In Control Of The Lives Of His Children?

Text:

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.

Observation:

To help me grasp the meaning of our focal verse, I looked at it through the lenses of the following passage.

Romans 8:26-30 (NLT)

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

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.

29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.

O, how wonderful and comforting is this passage for everyone who identifies themselves as members of the family God.

The sovereign God, who is our Maker is also our caretaker, and He is the keeper of our souls.

God has a purpose for our life, and He is the only one able to make such a promise and keep it. Nothing that happens to us in our life will be able to keep us from fulfilling our God ordained purpose.

Romans 8:37-39 (NLT)

37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be your name. Father, we bring before You today our deep concern for some of your children who are facing difficult circumstances in their walk with You. Father, we pray that they will receive comfort in knowing that You care and that You are in control. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

—

1 Samuel 3:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And the LORD came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

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What Kind of Day Will You Have?

Text:

Psalm 37:23 (NLT)

23 The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Observation:

What determine the kind of day you will have? Is it determined by people, places, or things?

Who directs your steps? Who controls your life?

The child of God, who is walking in the wisdom of God, can be encouraged by this good word that our steps are ordered by our Christ, and not our circumstances.

Our Christ is so much greater, and powerful than our circumstances. So, lift up your head today, and rejoice in the Lord.

Allow the Son of God, who lives in you, to shine brightly in you, and through you for the glory of God, and the blessing of others.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)

14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be Your name. Father, we are so grateful for the amazing presence, peace, and power of God who lives in the lives of Your children.

Father, I pray that we who are Your people will allow the light of Jesus to shine in us, and through us today. O, how this dark world needs light. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

—

Ephesians 6:10-11 (ESV)
¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

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How to Live In A Fallen World

Text:

1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

Observation:

Are your circumstances, and the cares that you have weighing you down, and causing you to have anxiety in your mind and soul?

Do you have trials and temptations in your life that are wearing you down? Are the trouble within you, and the circumstances surrounding you robbing you of your peace and security?

Are there things, and people that are robbing you of your peace and joy? There is song that is ringing in my heart, and it provides the answer to all of our cares and circumstances.

“There is a place of full release,

near to the heart of God,

a place where all is joy and peace,

near to the heart of God”,

Author: Cleland Boyd McAfee, Near to the Heart of God

The place that I go, and the person who I turn to when troubles vex my mind and soul is to my God; the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

When doubts, discouragement, disappointment, and the devil knocks on my door, I go to God. I open my Bible, and begin to pray. Do you realize that you have in your hands TNT (The New Testament), and that TNT is dynamite?

When troubles come knocking at the door of your heart, use dynamite to knock the devil, and his devices out of your life.

You don’t have to live under the circumstances in the world. You can rise up, look up, speak up to God, and watch the Lord as He fight the battle against all of your foes and cares.

Don’t forfeit your peace or your joy. Cast all your cares on the one who is able to help you, strengthen you, and keep you.

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, help us to remember to always take all of our cares to You in prayer. Why try to fight the battle in our strength when we can hold in our hands TNT to destroy the enemy of our minds, body, and soul. Jesus used prayer and the Word, and so should we. 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.

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Are You Asking the Right Questions?

Text:

Job 37:2-7 (HCSB)

2 Just listen to His thunderous voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.

3 He lets it loose beneath the entire sky; His lightning to the ends of the earth.

4 Then there comes a roaring sound; God thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His ?rumbling? voice is heard.

5 God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things that we cannot comprehend.

6 For He says to the snow, “Fall to the earth,” and the torrential rains, His mighty torrential rains,

7 serve as His sign to all mankind, so that all men may know His work.

Observation:

What is the question you hear most often?

How big are my problems?

How big is my God?

Why not change the way we look at our circumstances and our challenges, and the questions we ask?

The God who speaks so loudly in nature is the same God that speaks in His Word; the Bible.

The God who made the world and every living being is the same God who is able to speak into our hearts.

The Bible says that God can speak, and the stormy sea listens to, and obeys His voice.

Mark 4:39 (HCSB)

39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

There is great comfort available in the midst of our chaos and circumstances. We can have a peace that surpasses understanding if we will begin to listen to the voice of God.

Mark 4:40 (HCSB)

40 Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so grateful for the faith that You give Your children; the faith that enabled us to believe in Jesus, and to abide in Him.

Father, increase our faith, and give us the courage to look to You in the midst of our chaos and circumstances.

Father, I pray that You will never have to say to us, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith? In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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How to Get Through Your Circumstances

Text:

Philippians 4:10-13 (HCSB)

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity ?to show it?.

11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

12 I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret ?of being content?—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.

13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Observation:

Have you noticed how Paul was able to get through a troubled filled life and not lose his joy?

He gives us three of the reasons in today’s focal passage. The first thing were the people who loved him and cared about him. In verse ten he talks about the care and the concern for him that the recipients of his letter had for him.

The other two things that got him through was something that was present within him. It’s that ability to rejoice in the Lord always. Our circumstances may change, but our God never changes.

Therefore, Paul could say these two things. First, he said I can accept all things.

Philippians 4:11 (HCSB)

11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Contentment comes from the Christ who lives in us, and not from the circumstances that comes from the outside.

Finally, Paul was able to say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”.

Philippians 4:13 (HCSB)

13 I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.

The God who lives in you is greater than any circumstances you will every face in your life. There is no one who has more care and concern for you, and who is more able to help you.

Luke 1:37 (HCSB)

37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I am so glad that I can rest in the blessed assurance that You are Master over all things.

Father, I am so thankful that I can say what David, a man after Your own heart said; a man who was flawed just like me.

Psalm 23:1 (HCSB)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

Father, I pray a prayer of deliverance for all who are facing difficult circumstances in their life. Holy Spirit of God, I ask that You open their eyes so that they may see Jesus, and find joy in Him. In His precious name I pray, Amen.

—

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Are Things Robbing You of Your Joy?

Text:

Philippians 3:1 (HCSB)

1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a protection for you.

Philippians 3:7-9 (HCSB)

7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.

8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ

9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith.

Observation:

Things can rob us of our joy. Earlier in the letter Paul said that circumstances, and people can also be joy stealers.

However, the antidote for these joy stealers is to not depend upon circumstances, people, and things as our source for joy. While you cannot rely upon things to give you joy, you can rely upon the Lord to give you joy. That is the message of our focal passage for today.

This is a message that is worth repeating, and Paul did just that later on in his letter.

Philippians 4:4 (HCSB)

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, I praise and thank You for the joy that You give to Your people. Father, I am so grateful that this is a joy that circumstances, people, and things cannot steal from us. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Who Is Your Source of Hope and Help?

Text:

Philippians 1:12-13 (HCSB)

12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel,

13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in ?the cause of? Christ.

Observation:

Today’s passage reminds me of the mountain of circumstances that we face in our lives on a daily basis. The thing about circumstances is that for the most part we don’t have control over them. Yet, they are the things we worry and fret about most of the time.

The Apostle Paul when he wrote this letter was in prison as a result of doing what God had called him to do.

However, Paul did not allow his circumstances to get him down. He continued to do what God had called him to do. Then he said this amazing thing, “What has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel”.

This morning I read this scripture before getting out of bed, and it spoke into my heart about how to deal with circumstances, which are out of our control.

Isaiah 41:10 (HCSB)

10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.

Where do you turn when you face circumstances that are beyond your ability to control? Do you resort to fear, or do you rely upon your faith in God who can do anything but fail?

Psalm 46:10-11 (KJV)

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Prayer:

Father God, I exalt Your name above every name own earth, and in heaven. Father, thank You for being a God who is present with Your people, and for the promise that You will never leave us or forsake us.

Father, I want to be where Jesus is, and I praise and thank You that I know that my redeemer lives, and that He lives in me.

Father, I am encouraged and embolden to know that in whatever circumstances I have to face that You are present, and that You will provide me with hope and help to overcome the hard times and hard places of living in a fallen world. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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Why I Value Contentment Over Control

Text:

Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV)

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

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

Observation:

I have found that we can find contentment in the midst of trying and difficulty circumstances. I can’t control what happens around me, but I can choose how I react to things that happen to me, and around me.

I’m grateful for every day that the Lord gives me, and I choose to rejoice, and be glad in it. I can live with contentment because of this promise.

John 10:10 (ESV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

I have found in my experience of living that the key to contentment is to live one day at a time. How do you eat an elephant? The answer, one bite at a time.

While you are waiting on prayers that you prayed previously, why not ask the Lord to give you what you need today. Meanwhile, give Him thanks for what He has already done for you.

Psalm 23:1 (HCSB)

1 The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

Prayer:

Father God, I exalt Your name above every name on earth and in heaven. Father, I am so grateful for everything You have done for me from the day of my birth until this present moment.

Father, I acknowledge that I am not my own, I have been bought with a price. Jesus paid it all for me so I willingly give myself to Him, and You for sending Him to be my Savior and the Lord of my life.

Father, I willing surrender my life to You, and I wait patiently upon You to supply all of my needs, and to supply them one day at a time. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

—

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