Daily Prayer_March 25, 2011

The Word for wisdom:

Proverbs 25:7 (MSG)
It's better to be promoted to a place of honor than face humiliation by being demoted.

The Word for inspiration:

Psalm 19:11 (MSG)
There's more: God's Word warns us of danger and directs us to hidden treasure.

The Word for encouragement:

2 Corinthians 1:6-7 (ESV)
⁶ If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

My observation:

The psalmist says that God's Word directs us to hidden treasure. How true and how timely is that message for today as we focus on how the believer should deal with suffering? I never cease to be amazed by the way the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to speak into the hearts of his people.

The sufferings that we experience in this world have a redemptive purpose. The God who allows trouble to come into our lives also provides sufficient grace for us to overcome those troubles. Our troubles may hurt us, but they cannot harm us if we respond to them appropriately. God's comfort provides us with the means to overcome our afflictions.

Notice that the scripture says, "If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation". First, the comfort that we receive in our time of trouble is not to be self-contained. We are comforted so that we may share the comfort we have received with others when they go through their season of trouble. Don't waste your troubles by hoarding your comfort.

 If you want to reap the benefits from overcoming your troubles there are two things that you can do. First, in the midst of your suffering, take time to praise the Lord. A joyful heart is good medicine for the soul.

2 Corinthians 1:3 (HCSB)
Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.

Proverbs 17:22 (HCSB)
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

The second thing that we can do when we face troubles and trials is fix our eyes upon Jesus. Resist the temptation to turn inward, and receive the gift of joy when you look upward. Our suffering may not cause us to have joy, but looking to Jesus will indeed cause us to rejoice and experience joy unspeakable and full of glory.

James 1:2 (HCSB)
Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (HCSB)
¹⁷ For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. ¹⁸ So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

My prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray for the faith to be able to praise you in all of the seasons of my life. Father God, give me the desire and the power to be a vessel that will share the comfort I receive from you during my season of trouble with others who are going through their season of trouble.

My song:

Praise medley by Steve Green (Click on link below to listen by clicking on Open Player):

http://www.stevegreenministries.org/lyrics/index.php?song=414#

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My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily
http://www.herbcotton.org
To receive via email: Send request to me at: herb@herbcotton.org

Proverbs 3:5-6 (HCSB)
⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; ⁶ think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.