Hope for the Weary

The trials of life are hard, but there is hope for the weary.  The passage below says it all.  There is hope beyond the problems of this life, and those of us that know Jesus as Savior have a hope that is inexpressible in it's scope.  We can rejoice, even put a smile on our faces at knowing God has prepared a wonderful heavenly home for us;  and one day, we will shed no tears.   

Born Again to a Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-9

  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB." 
www.lockman.org

Prayer:  Dear Father in Heaven, thank You for the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, the Messiah.  Thank You for the hope that You have given us, and thank You for the knowledge that the trials we suffer here on earth are not without purpose.  What we struggle against becomes inexpressible joy as we relinquish control over our lives to the Lord of all and trust in His provision.  Amen

For Further Study:

As I was searching scripture on the internet, I found a sermon by Rev. John Piper called The Power of Hope , which is based on today's scripture.

What do I treasure?

These devotions are meant to encourage you and me, but I think they must also challenge us.   However, I know that is difficult to believe, when every waking hour you may wonder how you can ever be normal again (whatever normal is).  I know it is hard to concentrate, and what you are reading now may barely be getting through the fog.  I can say that because I have been there, and I still have times that find my focus and concentration impaired.

Since I have been ill, I have often questioned my commitment to God as a Christian, more than I ever did in the past.  Everything in my life changed:  I no longer had the energy to serve outside of my household, I got out of the habit of reading God's word, the Bible, because I could not focus on it.  It simply became too hard, especially when the CFS was at its worst.  If I was able to glean comfort or instruction out of one or two verses, I was doing well.

The verses that stayed with me through this illness are the ones I have memorized or I have read over and over again.  Psalm 23, the Lord's prayer, Romans 8: 27-28, 1 Corinthians 10:31, and 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 -18 among others have comforted me, because I knew them.  I have tried to memorize some new verses, but I have a hard time remembering them for long.  Besides the fact it is best to follow God from a young age, maybe that is one reason the psalmist said, "How can those who are young keep their way pure?  By living according to Your word . . . I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You."  When I was young and healthy, it was easier to memorize.  Those verses have been a part of me from the time I memorized them.  So memorization is good, but there are other ways to keep God's word close at hand:  put them on our computer desktops, write them on post it notes and stick them around the house, or keep a favorite quote journal.  I often remember the gist of a verse or what is being taught in that verse, even when I cannot retain the exact words and even the "address."  And when I am being particularly inattentive to God, my index cards on the refrigerator and the scripture on my calendar cry out to me, "Be still, and know that I am God. " Spend time with Me.  I am your Salvation.  God loves you."

Psalm 119: 9-16

Today's New International Version (TNIV)

   ב Beth
 ⁹ How can those who are young keep their way pure?
   By living according to your word.
¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
   do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
   that I might not sin against you. ¹² Praise be to you, LORD;
   teach me your decrees.
¹³ With my lips I recount
   all the laws that come from your mouth.
¹⁴ I rejoice in following your statutes
   as one rejoices in great riches.
¹⁵ I meditate on your precepts
   and consider your ways. ¹⁶ I delight in your decrees;
   I will not neglect your word.

HOLY BIBLE, TODAY'S NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® TNIV®
Copyright © 2001, 2005 by Biblica®.
All rights reserved worldwide.

I Shall Give Thanks

When I read Psalm 119: 1-8, I want to talk about every single verse, because each speaks volumes of wisdom.  I am drawn by verses that reach right into my heart.  I want to be the person that seeks the Lord, that is disciplined and righteous.  Oh how much better a person I would like to be for God.  But I am not.  I am me:  I fall short of the glory of God. 
But wait!  I have already found the answer for that.
  
God sent His Son Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and paid for all my sins and your sins too.  I believe He died and arose from the dead.   I have confessed my sin and asked Jesus to be Lord of my life, to be my Savior.    I can trust that He will guide and teach me. I do not have to be filled with regret, because I can press on with God as my guide.  And I know He is merciful, full of the grace that I need so desperately. 

I am thankful for the wisdom in Psalm 119, because I need to learn all I can about my God, and live for Him.  His statutes are there to teach me, to help me be a better person, however imperfect I may be. 

My prayer is that of the Psalmist:  "I shall give thanks to Thee with uprightness of heart, When I learn Thy righteous judgments.  I shall keep thy statutes;  Do not forsake me utterly!"  Thank you, Father God, that nothing can separate me from Your love, because I have given my heart and my life to Your Son Jesus Christ.  Amen 

Psalm 119: 1 - 8 
 How blessed are those whose way is ^[a] blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.

² How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.

³ They also do no unrighteousness;
They walk in His ways.

⁴ You have ^[b] ordained Your precepts,
^[c]That we should keep them diligently.

⁵ Oh that my ways may be established
To keep Your statutes!

⁶ Then I shall not be ashamed
When I look ^[d]upon all Your commandments.

⁷ I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart,
When I learn Your righteous judgments.

⁸ I shall keep Your statutes;
Do not forsake me utterly!

“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
www.lockman.org 

Inspiration and Instruction

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work  (NASB, 2 Timothy 3: 16-17).
“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB." 
www.lockman.org

All too often, I fail to spend time in God's word.  I hate to admit that, because I equate reading His word with spending time with Him.  My spirit comes alive with His words in my heart.  I am so glad I learned to memorize scripture at an early age; because often, those scriptures come back to me when I need instruction or comfort.  And I cannot think of a time reading the Bible did not fill my heart so much that I did not want to talk to God.  Whether I am led to confession or praise, the Holy Spirit leads me ever closer to my Creator through His word.

Prayer: 

Dear Father in Heaven, Thank you for inspiring men to write the Bible.  I believe in my heart, that this is your word to us on this earth.  Thank You for speaking to my heart in comfort, for leading me to confession, and for filling me with the desire to know more about You.  Fill me with Your Wisdom for I want to have the thoughts and desires You put in my heart; that I might serve You in whatever capacity you may lead.  Bless my brothers and sisters in Christ, Lord,  that their lives may be enriched  and pleasing in Your sight.   In Jesus Name I pray,  Amen.

Dancing in the Spirit

The Psalms  have been such a blessing in my life.  While reading them, I have cried to my God, have laid my fears at His feet, have praised Him, and have shouted in the joy of the Lord for His instruction and His blessings.  Because of these powerful words, I have been strengthened deep within my spirit.  I praise God; and I applaud Him.  He is good.  He is marvelous.  He is wonderful.  He is glorious!

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My prayer for you is that you will find your spirit lifted by the comforting words in the Psalms; and that today's scripture will be one that you can voice in spirit and in truth.

Psalm 30:10-12
 ¹⁰ “Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me;
O LORD, be my helper.”
¹¹ You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
¹² That my ^[a]soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)  www.lockman.org

Too Good Not To Share

Today's Scripture:
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:14-15, NIV). * 

I know these are supposed to be short devotions, but the following link is too good not to share.  My suggestion is too read it in short sections.  You can save it in Favorites and come back to it.  Or save my blog--LOL--and link to it from there.  I am going to have to go back to this myself; because today, I am having some brain-fog (common to Fibromyalgia).

This is a short passage from the devotional link by Mary Southerland:

Step three:  Be yourself.
We should always be looking for something new to learn, an area where we can grow and changes that need to be made. Sit down with your mate or close friend and ask for a realistic evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses. Constantly search for gifts and abilities on which you can work. Don’t be afraid of change. It is a sign of life and growth. Change what needs to be changed, accept what you cannot change and quit whining about it! Don’t waste another minute trying to be someone you were never created to be. Stop questioning God’s design for your life. When an old man from the mountains of North Carolina was asked how he created such extraordinary wooden carvings of dogs, he replied, “Well, I just take my knife and a piece of wood and carve away everything that doesn’t look like a dog.” Learning to see your self through the eyes of God is like “carving away” everything that is not part of the original design – God’s plan – and then learning how to accept what remains.  

In His Eyes on Crosswalk.com devotionals

This is one of the things that I have been learning in my own life, and Southerland says it so well.  Psalm 139 has been a pivotal scripture in comforting me that God knows exactly where I am and who I am.  Furthermore, it has helped me to accept myself.  I hope Psalm 139 does the same for you.


*THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

My Assurance

My abba Father God has been working on my attitude.  I don't need a magic pill or a quick fix.  I need Him. He has used my infirmities to draw me to Him.  That may sound strange to some people.  In fact, I have to admit that I went through such a dry period in my life during my illness, that I wondered about my relationship with God.  Romans 8 gives me the assurance that I have not separated myself from the love of God, nor can anything separate me from His love, for He chose me and I said, "Yes!. 

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Just as it is written,
         “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
         WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:31-37, NASB)
“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB." 
www.lockman.org