Title: How to Overcome Difficult Times?
Text:
2 Corinthians 4:8-12 (HCSB)
8 We are pressured in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair;
9 we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.
10 We always carry the death of Jesus in our body, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
11 For we who live are always given over to death because of Jesus, so that Jesus' life may also be revealed in our mortal flesh.
12 So death works in us, but life in you.
Observation:
I was in a meeting of seasoned adults yesterday, and our speaker at the end of the meeting asked four people to lead in prayer in these four areas.
- Nation
- Community
- Families
- Individuals
As I read and meditate on our text for today I note the human frailty that the Apostle Paul writes about to the church at Corinth. He mentions these areas. Are these relevant to us today?
- Pressured
- Perplexed
- Persecuted
- Struck Down
The hope and the promise is that for each of these four frailties of humanity there is evidence of God's power to overcome the frailty. The God of yesterday is the same God today. What He did for the Corinthians, He will do for us.
- Pressured but not crushed.
- Perplexed but not in despair.
- Persecuted but not abandoned.
- Struck down but not destroyed.
God is the Sovereign God, and He is an on-time God. His promise is that He would never leave or forsake His people. Jeremiah was called to do a tough job, but He served a great God who provided for him and protected him. He'll do the same for You. Do like Jeremiah, call upon Your God.
Jeremiah 32:17 (HCSB)
17 Oh, Lord GOD! You Yourself made the heavens and earth by Your great power and with Your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!
Prayer:
Father God, Sovereign Lord, my dear Father, I am so grateful that no matter what difficulties and dangers we may face in our journey through this world that we have the promise of Your presence, power, and provisions.
Father, I thank You for being a good and gracious Father, and for providing so abundantly for Your children. Father, help us to never forget or forsake the need to pray; its what Jesus did. In the mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Mark 1:35 (HCSB)
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there.
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:
No comments:
Post a Comment