Surviving the Storms of Life

Life hands us lemons; and mental health experts tell us to make lemonade out of them. We are drowning in circumstances, and we are supposed to take time out and have the presence of mind to "make lemonade".

Wave after wave of misfortune strike. It's hard to breathe. We despair of hope at times. As we sink into the abyss of life, God calls out to us to cling to Him as our life raft.

God's love and hope help us to float as we put our faith in His faithfulness (Romans 5:5). He works out even the most dire of circumstances for our good (Romans 8:28).

Without Christ abiding in us, we often turn to bars, drugs, vocation, people and places to change our circumstances. This rarely helps. We cannot trust in the riches of this world, because they are here today and gone tomorrow.

It is only when we fully surrender to God's plan for our life that we experience joy when devastation surrounds us. We trust in our living God, because He always gives us all good things to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17).

We all need faith and love; but without hope, they are impossible to attain. When our expectations are for God alone, trusting in Him helps us to experience deep abiding hope (Psalm 62:5).

God is able to do so much more for us than we can ask for or even imagine, because of His mighty power that is working within us (Ephesians 3:20).

He gives us his peace and hope as we walk in His precepts and worship Him with our whole body, soul and spirit (Jeremiah 29:1; Deuteronomy 6:5; Mathew 22:37). We find rest for our world-weary soul in God alone, who is the only true hope for this lost and dying world (Psalm 62:5).

Prayer:

Father God, throughout life, we diligently place our full hope in the assurance of Your love for each one of us (Hebrews 6:11). We trust You for the provision of our daily needs, our earthly safety and the needs of our soul and spirit as well.

You are the anchor of our soul and You keep us steadfast during any stormy swells. You remind us that we will enter the veil of Your Most Holy Place for eternity (Hebrews 6:19). Keep us ever faithful and help us to fulfill Your purpose for each moment of our day.

Thought for the Day:

Due to the grace we receive when the revelation of Christ was birthed in our heart, we are faithful and sober and keep our hope in Christ until the end, when He will come in all of His glory. - 1 Peter 1:13

Satisfy Longings with Rivers of Living Water

People all around us, both Believers and unbelievers, are dying of thirst. We are filled with the rivers of living water which they need (1 Corinthians 16:18; 2 Corinthians 7:13). As we allow these rivers to flow out of us, fresh water flows into us.

This living water is not a one-time blessing, but a continual flow of eternal life flowing from Jesus and His Spirit who abide within our innermost being - our soul and spirit (John 14:14-17). 

Water is also often used in the Bible to symbolize the life of the Holy Spirit filling us. He transforms us with the character, nature and fruit of the Trinity within us.

The fruit of the Spirit within us actually helps to provide our mate, children, extended family, friends, neighbors and associates exactly what they need to abundantly live in this world (Galatians 5:22-23).

As we walk in God's Spirit, He gives us what we need to satisfy the thirst within us and within those He brings into our life. Of course, we cannot force others to drink.

Jesus dwelt on earth for 33 years, and most people rejected Him. They ignored Him, argued with Him, attempted to disprove His assertions and wanted to crucify Him.

They did not believe His claims as Messiah. Even His signs and miracles could not convince them of His deity, and that He alone offered their thirsty soul living water to drink (John 7:37-39).

These stubborn, prideful, rebellious people rejected and eventually crucified Him. They were looking for a reigning King rather than a stable-born, carpenter's son.

They looked on the outward appearance rather than on the Holy Ghost power within Him. They did not recognize God in Him because they did not know God (John 5:23; 8:19, 42).

Prayer:

Father God, it is only as we know You that we realize we can ask You to quench our thirsty soul (John 4:10). You are our living water of life and satisfy all of our longings. We are completely immersed in and quench our thirst in Your rivers of living water which flow out of us to the world around us.

You fill us with Your Spirit, whom those who believe in You receive (John 7:37-39). He and Christ are rivers of living water abiding within us now and for eternity (Acts 10:44-45). Your Spirit seals us for salvation; ministers to us and flows out of us through our spirit, soul and body; and brings refreshing, thirst-quenching life to the world around us (Ephesians 1:13-14).

Thought for the Day:

Only Jesus satisfies the longing and fills the empty soul with both spiritual food and living water. - John 6:35

I'm Dying to Go to Heaven

We often say, "I'm dying … to go to the mall" (or for some ice cream, or for a new dress, etc). No one ever says, "I'm dying to go to Heaven."

When we are ill, regardless of our age, we spend exorbitant amounts of money and time devoted to living. We applaud one another, saying, "She fought hard to live."

When a person decides to allow their body to die, we say, "Oh, he just gave up" or "She had no more will to live." We view life as the ultimate prize to be battled for above all else.

Yet, death is a Christian's privilege (Philippians 1:21). The death of God's Saints is precious in His sight (Psalm 116:15). We leave this temporal realm and enter into His eternal realm forever.

God made all of the intricate parts of our body, knitting them together in our mother's womb. Our body, soul and spirit are wondrously complex and God's workmanship in us is marvelous (Psalm 139:13-15).

Since God does not dwell in time, He saw us before we were ever born and laid out every moment of our life before we even lived one day of it (Psalm 139:16).

God views the day of our death as better than the day of our birth (Ecclesiastes 7:1). He sends us an angel escort to bring our soul and spirit into His presence (Luke 16:22).

His Saints will never die again, but live eternally in the same respect as the angels. We are children of the Living God, raised from death into true life (Luke 20:36).

God is our guide through death and forever and ever (Psalm 48:14). Even in death, He gives the righteous His refuge (Proverbs 14:32). When we die, our real life is just beginning.

Prayer:

Father God, remind us that when we are ill, rather than dreading death or fighting it, our body, soul and spirit can be filled with joy. You do not leave us in the grave. You allow us to experience the joys of life, and then bring us into the peace and joy of Your eternal presence (Psalm 16:9-11).

We can confidently say that when we leave this mortal body, we shall be in Your glorious presence (2 Corinthians 5:8). We simply fold up this earthly tent, and then our soul and spirit go to Your house (2 Corinthians 5:1). Thank You, that at the coming of Your Son, we will leave our corruptible body behind and put on our immortal body to serve You for eternity (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).

Thought for the Day:
God is a refuge for the poor and oppressed in our times of trouble; we trust in Him because He never forsakes anyone who humbly seeks Him, not even in death. - Psalm 9:9-10