Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY TUESDAY!

Today's scriptures are about the comfort of the Lord. We all have and will experience heartache, tribulation, sorrow, and disappointments in life, whether for a few moments, or a lifetime. No matter what the trial, God will be there to comfort us throughout. All we have to do is go to Him and ask for help. He'll give us so much peace, that it'll be even hard for us to understand how we're getting through these rough spots in life. Jesus said that the one thing that we'll all experience is troubles, but it doesn't last always. Still, we can count on Him to be there every step of the way. I can testify to that, and I'm sure you have a few testimonies as well.

Tribulation is hard on anyone, and there are many forms. There's some that happens with no notice; it hits us like a ton of bricks. In those times, it's hard to know how to react. We often feel lost and alone, as if the weight of the world is on our shoulders. Considering the circumstances and the maturity of your faith walk, there are two things that could happen: you could either turn to God, or turn to the world. For some, at the first sign of trouble, they drop to their knees and cry out to God. They ask for the strength to make it through, and pray for whoever is involved in the situation. Those are the people who have a relationship with God, and have allowed Him to establish His place in their life.

There are others whose first reaction would be evil thoughts, whether revenge or they become reckless. There are some who drown their sorrows in drugs and alcohol, which temporarily mask the pain. There are so many ways to deal with hard times in life, but the best and only way is to lean on the comfort of the Lord. This gift is offered to every believer, by the Grace of God.

There's nothing that could separate us from the love of God, not even sin. Our sin debt has been paid in full, so when we need the comfort of the Lord, all we have do is go to Him. We should always repent for our sins as soon as they happen, but if we haven't, we can pray right now and confess to the Lord, and they'll be taken care of. Guilt because of past sin is what makes us try to go through dark periods in life alone. The enemy will have us think that God doesn't want anything to do with us, because of our lifestyle, or past mistakes, and that is furthest from the truth. If God turned away everyone who asked for His help, because of past sin, then no one would ever be able to experience His comfort. We all have our cross to bear, and God understands that, hence the reasons for the ultimate sacrifice of His Son.

Jesus gives us the right to go to God for support through the trials of life. It doesn’t matter if it’s self-inflicted or something that’s out of our control. I know I'm not the only one who has put myself through fire, with self-inflicted hurts and pains. Those times when the Holy Spirit told me not to take a particular road because the fire was hot, and I might get burned, but I took that road anyway. Even in those times of refinement, God was there to comfort me, forgive me, and teach me a better way to go. He wants us to understand that His grace is sufficient in our weakness, so we don't have to go through it alone. He gives me inner peace, as well as the right people to help me get through them. That's always the case when we trust, lean, and rely on Him for our every need.

The Apostle Paul said: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. (2 Cor. 1:3-7 NIV) There is a reason for everything, and as much as we often don't have understanding of our suffering, God does. There are some things that cannot be avoided in this life, either due to the weakness of our flesh, or circumstances out of our control. Either way, painful circumstances are inevitable, yet so is the love and comfort of God. Continue to praise Him through every situation, because He's there. Be sure to cry out to the Lord anytime you need comfort. Remember to be there to comfort others who cry out to you, and help them find their way back to God; pray for, and with them.

Hopefully this helps you, when tribulation strikes, to choose God above the world. The world offers nothing but more confusion and strife, so that's not where you want to be. You need strength to get through these very draining times, and that strength and rest comes from the Lord. Jesus said come to me ALL who are burdened and I will give you rest. You'll find comfort in His word, and in His presences. Sometimes the best comfort is found in just being still and listening to Him. Other times comfort comes from talking to Him in the Spirit. God wants what's best for us, which is sometimes the reasons He allows us to go through certain things. Always choose to see His best in everything, and don't allow the enemy to plague you with fear, doubt, and guilt any longer. The only true comfort comes from the Lord, and you'll know when you've found it, because it just feels right.

If you don't know Jesus as Lord, then you haven't experience true comfort and peace. Jesus holds the key to true peace, joy, and happiness. You'll experience true love and comfort in the arms of the Lord. For those of you who are believers, but haven't turned to God for comfort, because of guilt, fear, or you just don't know how, then take a few moments and speak to Him. Ask your Holy Spirit for help. Go to the word of God and read some of the Psalms, which are songs written by men and woman, who also experienced great joys and great pain. The answers lie within you, where His Spirit dwells. You never have to lose your peace again, because that surety lies in the blood of Jesus Christ. My favorite verse today is: Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15)

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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)

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