Tag: #hopeandhelp

Will My Troubles and Trials Ever Go Away?

Text:

Psalm 55:1-5 (ESV)

1 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!

2  Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan,

3  because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me.

4  My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

5  Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.

Observation:

In this Psalm David writes about the troubles and terror that he was facing in a season of his life. The troubles were from within, and without, but they both drained him of his peace, and his joy.

Psalm 55:6-8 (ESV)

6  And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest;

7  yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah

8  I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.”

When we find ourselves feeling like this, when we think will I ever get out of this pit. This is the time to be still, and remember who we are, and whose we are. It is time to connect with our Father in heaven.

Psalm 55:16-17 (ESV)

16  But I call to God, and the LORD will save me.

17  Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

Yes, there is nothing in this world that will satisfy our souls, and heal our wounded hearts like the presence of the Lord. That is why David writes this near the end of his Psalm, and you can claim this promise in your season of trouble, and pain.

Psalm 55:22 (ESV)

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

The Apostle Peter draws upon this wisdom, and writes this encouragement to the first century believers, and it speaks to us today.

1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)

7  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Prayer: 

Father, I exalt and give praise and honor to Your name; the name that I cherish above every name on earth below, and in heaven above.

Father, hear our cry; hear our plea as we cry out to You in prayer for others, and for ourselves. Father, we declare that our hope is in You, and that our help comes from You.

Father, we know that You can, and that You will hear our prayer. We watch, and wait for Your answer to our prayers. 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.

Read all the Daily Devotionals by Herb Cotton; click here:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/

Do You Have A Deep Longing For Rest?

 

Text:

John 13:5 (ESV)

5  Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

Observation:

I have the word rest on my mind today. It was prompted by listening to a devotional, “Lord, Bring Us Rest”.

As I sat down at my desk this morning I recalled the lyrics of the hymn, “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say”.

“I heard the voice of Jesus say,

“Come unto Me, and rest;

Lay down, thou weary one, lay down

Thy head upon My breast.”

I came to Jesus as I was,

Weary, and worn, and sad;

I found in Him a resting-place,

And He has made me glad.”

I have this picture of Jesus in my head of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. Now, that is a scene that is peaceful, restful, and it makes my heart glad.

Living in this fallen world we face many things that are hard, difficulty, and too heavy for us to bear in our strength alone. This is what Jesus prepared His disciples for before departing this world.

John 16:33 (ESV)

33  I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

You don’t have to live under the circumstances of the problems, difficulties, disappointments, and troubles that arise by living life in this fallen world.

Would you like to have the heavy load that you are carrying lifted? Then, why not accept the invitation of Jesus, and His promise to give you rest.

Matthew 11:28-29 (ESV)

28  Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Prayer:

Father God, hallowed be Your most holy and righteous name. Father, thank You for the invitation that You extend to the weary, tired, and worn to come to You and find rest.

Father, I pray that many who are tired will come to You, and will be able to say like the hymn writer, “I came to Jesus as I was, weary, and worn, and sad; I found in Him a resting-place and He has made me glad”. 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