Tag: troubles

How Do You Handle Your Trials and Troubles?

 

Text:

1 Peter 5:6-11 (ESV)

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

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

8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

10  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

11  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Observation:

There is hardly a day that goes by when I am not presented with a request to pray for some person that has a pressing need in their life.

I’m learning not just to say a prayer for that person, but I’m learning how to cast all of my cares upon the one who cares for them and for me more than anyone on earth or in heaven. I’m learning that prayer is the most that we can do, and I’m learning how to take my faith in God to a new level. To see God as He alone is willing and able to care for all of our our anxieties.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

20  Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

21  to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer:

Father, I am so thankful that you have prodded me by the Holy Spirit to think on this topic, and to write and talk about it to you, and to others.

Father, I pray that you would increase my faith; Lord, increase the faith of all my brothers and sisters, until we all take our faith to another level; to the point where we are willing to cast all of our cares upon You. 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:

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Daily Bread

Title: The Secret of Living A Life of Contentment in A Troubled World

Text:

Mark 4:35-41 (HCSB)
35 On that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side [of the sea].”
36 So they left the crowd and took Him along since He was [already] in the boat. And other boats were with Him.
37 A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking over the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped.
38 But He was in the stern, sleeping on the cushion. So they woke Him up and said to Him, “Teacher! Don’t You care that we’re going to die?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”
41 And they were terrified and asked one another, “Who then is this? Even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

Observation:

Could the cause of my worry and anxiety be unbelief? The disciples would have not been so worried and anxious if they had believed what Jesus told them before they got in the boat.

35 On that day, when evening had come, He told them, “Let’s cross over to the other side [of the sea].”

Jesus told them let’s cross over to the other side of the sea. Jesus did not ask them to get in the boat so that they would drown. The problem was their lack of faith in Jesus; that He meant what He said.

Mark 4:40 (HCSB)
40 Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?”

O Lord, give me the faith that in the midst of my troubles; when it seems like the storm will never calm, help me to remember these words, and for my soul to sing:

“Brightly doth His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall,
Trusting Jesus that is all.”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/h/569#3#ixzz2nYggr2Mk

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, help me to always remember in every circumstance, that Jesus is in the boat with me, and that He has promised to get me to the other side. This is my prayer, and this is my song.

Psalm 18:1-2 (HCSB)
1 I love You, LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:6 (HCSB)
6 I called to the LORD in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears.
Psalm 18:16 (HCSB)
16 He reached down from heaven and took hold of me; He pulled me out of deep waters.
Psalm 18:19 (HCSB)
19 He brought me out to a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.
 Psalm 18:31 (HCSB)
31 For who is God besides Yahweh? And who is a rock? Only our God.