Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY MONDAY!

Today's scriptures are about life's pain and sorrow. This is a subject that I'm sure we all can relate to, in one way or the other. There isn't a person in this world that hasn't experienced some type of pain or sorrow, at some time in their life, even Jesus Christ. Some may have experienced more than others, but there's always a reason for it. God never promised that life would be easy, but He promised to love us unconditionally. Love isn't always the butterflies in the stomach feeling, but there are different emotional levels. God loves us on all levels, He takes us as we are, and creates righteousness from the inside out. After all, the most excruciating pain is the pain that comes from the heart. I believe the most pain comes from losing a loved one through death, strife, divorce, or being separated physically or emotionally. The sorrow of losing a loved one through death is something we all have or will experience, and it's out of our control. We often can’t understand why we have to endure it, but we do. Jesus said: Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Matt. 5:4). The pain and sorrow of strife is something that can sometimes be avoided, but is depended upon our growth and maturity level. It's written: Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. (Prov. 10:12) The sorrow of divorce is something I've been experiencing over the last year and a half, and it's a feeling that has caused me grief. When two people marry, they're not only making a vow to each other, but a vow to God. When that covenant is broken, it feels like something has died. At times it feels like a death you could've avoided, similar to abortion. It's almost like you had a choice in the matter, so if you’d done things differently, your marriage could’ve survived. Sometimes you feel that had you tried harder, loved stronger, or given more, you’d still be happily married. Divorce is much lighter than abortion, but to some it could be just as great a burden, and causes deep sorrow and pain. There is no sin greater than the other, and it's written in Ecclesiastes chapter 3, there are due seasons in life. Thanks be to God, we're forgiven of our sins, and our mistakes are forgotten when we repent. Divorce is a touchy subject in Christianity, especially among different denominations, because some people see it as a mark of shame, and something you should never discuss. However, I'm living for God, He knows my heart, and what I've gone through. He only wants what's best for all of His children, and He places some people in our lives for seasons, and some for a lifetime. We need to learn how to be grateful for our seasons with certain people, and graciously move forward when that season ends. Repent for the sins you've committed, forgive the other person wholeheartedly, but most importantly forgive yourself and move on. There's so much God has in store for us, and sometimes it's not in ways we imagine. Breakups or losing loved ones are some of the hardest things we'll ever face in life, but thank God that the heart heals, and we have forgiveness through Jesus. Thank God for the new people in our lives who are meant to restore joy to our heart, and most importantly, be grateful for the good memories from the past. If I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. If you hold on to all of the painful things in life, you become bitter and resentful. As for me, I have made peace with God, and have received forgiveness through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that's all that matters. What others think is no longer relevant. I have to admit, I'm gradually going through the five stages of grief, and that's to be expected. I believe I'm finally entering into the stage of acceptance, and I no longer feel any shame, remorse, or regrets, because God is seeing me through it. I want each of you to understand that we should expect sorrow and heartache in life; they’re called growing pains. When you live your life for other people, you not only experience your pain, but you’re subjected to theirs as well. When you're living for God, He'll give you peace, joy, and happiness in abundance, which surpasses all understanding. I'm going to leave you with this, from the prophet Isaiah, about Salvation and the coming of Jesus Christ: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound...To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” (Isa. 61:1,3) Joy comes from Jesus Christ, throughout all of life's seasons, good or bad, so allow Him to heal your heart today. The one thing pain and sorrow is known to do is harden your heart, but how could you love God with all of your heart, and love your neighbor, if you're holding on to pain? I urge you to let go, and let God. If you don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior, get to know Him today; I'll be happy to pray with you. My favorite verse today is: Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. (Psalm 61:20)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455271&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nl/newsletter.asp?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943547

I love you!