Tag: #floods

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

In Times Like These We Need A Lifter

Text:

Psalm 91:1-6 (ESV)

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

2  I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

3  For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

4  He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

5  You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

6  nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Observation:

Where do you turn when you need more help than man can give you? Consider the conditions described in the previous Psalm.

Psalm 90:3-6 (ESV)

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.

5  You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning:

6  in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.

What a blessing it is to turn from the darkness of reading Psalm 90, to the sunlight of Psalm 91.  We number our years, but it is much wiser to number our days because life is lived one day at a time.

There is a safe haven; there is one we can turn to for deliverance from the brevity of our days, and the darkness our nights. We can turn to God.

Psalm 91:2 (HCSB)

2  I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Is the Lord your refuge? You need to know the Lord before the day of trouble comes upon you. Notice that the Psalmist knew the Lord, and was accustomed to being in His presence.

Psalm 91:1 (HCSB)

1  The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.

Why not make it a practice to draw near to God, and live in His presence all of the days of your life. What He did for the Psalmist, He will do for you.

Psalm 91:9-11 (HCSB)

9  Because you have made the LORD—my refuge, the Most High—your dwelling place,

10  no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent.

11  For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you in all your ways.

Prayer:

Father, O how we love that we have the privilege of living daily in Your presence.

Father, we delight to be able live in the security of the everlasting arms of our God. Father, teach us to number our days, to live wisely, and to walk humbling with our God. 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