How to Have Peace and Victory in the Cave?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

Psalm 57 King James Version (KJV)

57 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.

2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

3 He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

We seldom get to live on earth without having a season of finding ourselves in a cave. In this season we lose our peace and victory.

We are not without hope when we encounter difficult times and discouragement that robs us of our peace, success and our joy.

Psalm 57 David gives us some encouraging words to help us escape the discouragement and the loss that comes when we get stuck in the caves of life. Living in a fallen world is hard, but God is good, and the future is bright for God's people. God's people have a merciful Father in heaven who hears and answers the prayers of His people.

Whatever you are going through and whatever your condition or circumstance may be, if you are a child of God, you have the blessed assurance that God cares about you, and He hears and answers the prayers of His people.

Psalm 56:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.

Notice what David did in his time of pressing need:

• He asked for help (verse 1).
• He trusted in God (verse 1].
• He took refuge in arms of God (verse 1).
• He drew near to God and cried out to Him (verse 2).
• David expected a miracle from God; trust Him, and you will experience the goodness and faithfulness of God (verse 3).

Psalm 56:13 King James Version (KJV)

13 For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Father, we praise and thank You for Your goodness, faithfulness, and tender mercies.

Father, we thank You for delivering our souls and giving us peace and victory when we find ourselves in the caves that we encounter in this fallen world. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.

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How Do You Serve God With A Pure Conscience?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

2 Timothy 1:5-7 King James Version (KJV)

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

Today I am encouraged by the letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to his son in the faith, Timothy.  Timothy was going through a difficult time serving God's people, and he was a young man serving many who were his elders.

In this letter, Paul encouraged Timothy to continue with the work that God had called him to do and to use the gifts that God has equipped him with to fulfill his God tailored purpose for his life.

There are three things that Paul admonishes Timothy to remember.

First, Paul urged Timothy to remember the spiritual foundation of faith that he received growing up surrounded by faithful family members. Notice that Paul was able to see that Timothy was a young man who had faith in God.

Second, Paul urged Timothy to stir up the gift of God that is within him. God equips His people with spiritual gifts to carry out the purpose of their life. 

Third, Paul reminded Timothy that God had not given him the spirit of fear; but of power, love and a sound mind.

Finally, what God did for Timothy, He will do for you.

My Soul Sings:

"It is no secret, what God can do.

What He's done for others, He'll do for you.

With arms wide open, He'll pardon you.

It is no secret, what God can do!"

  Stuart Hamblen - Author

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Father, we lift our voices in praise and thanksgiving for who you are, and for what you provide for your people in every generation. Father, we agree with the prayer that the Apostle Paul prayed in his pastoral prayer about the love of God and the power of God that you have deposited in our hearts. 

Ephesians 3:20-21 King James Version (KJV)

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

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Do You Have the Distinguishing Mark of A Christ Follower?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

John 13:34-35 King James Version (KJV)

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

What do you have and who gave it to you? What does Jesus say?

Notice the words of Jesus in the following passage:

John 10:28-30 King James Version (KJV)

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

Do you have this gift of life from God? If so, what are you doing with the life God has given you?

Our focal passage, John 13:34-35 gives us the answer to the question, "Do You Have the Distinguishing Mark of A Christ Follower?

Notice what Jesus said, and I restate it here:

John 13:35 King James Version (KJV)

35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Do we love others in the manner that God loves us? If not, why not obey the commandment of God?

James 1:22 King James Version (KJV)

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Prayer:

Our Father, hallowed be Your name. Father, help us to be demonstrations of people who have been loved by You.

1 Corinthians 16:14 New King James Version (NKJV)

14 Let all that you do be done with love.

"Lord, help me live from day to day

In such a self-forgetful way

That even when I kneel to pray

My prayer shall be for others.

Refrain:
Yes, others, Lord, yes, others,
Let this my motto be;
Help me to live for others,
Help me to live for others,
That I may live like Thee,
That I may live like Thee."

Hymn: "Others" by Charles D. Meigs

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

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Why Should You Pray?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

Psalm 5:1-3 King James Version (KJV)

5 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.

2 Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

I don't believe that we can do anything that will please God more than being in constant communication with him. We need the presence of the Lord in our lives every minute of every day; there is never a time when we can make it alone.

Notice what Jesus said that John records in the Gospel of John.

John 14:12-14 King James Version (KJV)

12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.

Do you desire with all of your heart to glorify God?  Then we must stay connected to God through prayer. That is the what Jesus did during his earthly ministry, and we should follow in his steps.

Notice a couple of examples of the prayer life of Jesus.

Matthew 14:23 King James Version (KJV)

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Luke 6:12 King James Version (KJV)

12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

If Jesus had to pray, then surely we need to pray. Lord, teach us to pray as you taught your disciples to pray.

Prayer:

Matthew 6:9-13 King James Version (KJV)

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton

How Bright Is Your Hope?

A Bowl of Encouragement by Herb Cotton

God Speaks:

2 Peter 3:9 King James Version (KJV)

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Listen to God Speak & Obey:

Colossians 3:16 King James Version (KJV)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

One of the fruits of a bright hope is a peaceful heart. The evidence is gratitude. Why not take a few minutes to recall a few things that give you hope for your future?

My Gratitude List for Today:

1. Freedom

Galatians 5:1 King James Version (KJV)

5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:13 King James Version (KJV)

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

2. Transformation

2 Corinthians 5:17 King James Version (KJV)

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

3. Growth

Philippians 1:6 King James Version (KJV)

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Prayer:

Father, hallowed be your name. Father, we have hope today because our faith is in the Rock of our Salvation.

"My hope is built on nothing less

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand."

Song: The Solid Rock; Author: Edward Mote

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Link to my new devotional book Amazon Author's Page. Everything about the book is found there with pictures, and more to come.

https://www.amazon.com/author/herbcotton