Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY THURSDAY!

Today’s scriptures are about seasons of heaviness. Boy, am I familiar with this subject, I could go on and on about the heavy seasons in my life, but thanks to Jesus, I don’t have to. His life tells it all, and studying about the things He’s endured, makes my humdrum trials look like a walk in the park. Unfortunately, we’ll all experience times of heaviness, trials, temptation, stress and feelings of despair–it’s a part of life. Just as the seasons change from winter, spring, summer, to fall, our life changes from happy to sad, joy to pain, ups and then downs. King Solomon taught us about the different seasons of life, and in the book of Ecclesiastes, he constantly pointed out that “there’s nothing’s new under the sun”. Nevertheless, God will always give us the strength to endure, or as it’s written, He’ll give us “beauty for ashes”. You know the saying, “when one door closes, another one opens”, that’s how God operates in the life of a believer.

God is not always a subtle God; He’ll make sure we experience everything we’re meant to experience, by any means necessary. If we step in His way, He’ll move us to the side, and if we’re not open to change, He’ll open us up to change. Check His track record; read the Holy Bible, and learn about Him. The bible says we should fear Him, because everything is under His control. So ask yourself, do you want to take the direct path to righteousness, or do you want to take the scenic route? Just keep in mind that you serve an almighty and all powerful God, so either way you’ll get to the destination He has for you, because He has the final say.

Let’s not forget that at one time, it was necessary for God to destroy mostly every living creature with a flood, and start all over. At another time He presented salvation to the world, by offering His only begotten Son as the ultimate sacrifice. These things may seem irrational and illogical to us, but according to His predestined will, He did what was necessary, because He loves us. Just as we can’t understand the flood or the sacrifice of an innocent man, we can’t understand why we have to experience seasons of heaviness. I believe Paul explained it best, it’s written: For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (1 Cor. 13:12) There’s no better way to explain it then this. In the flesh we can’t possible see ourselves the way that God sees us, nor can we see our future the way that He can. He knows our weaknesses, downfalls, vices, and He knows what things will interfere with our growth, and reaching the next level in life.

There are many things that our meager mind can’t comprehend [compared to the Awesome mind of God], even if He laid it all out for us, so it’s best to just thank Him every day of our life. Not just when things are wonderful, and we’re “happy”, but through every season. There’s always something to be thankful for, because we are Children of God. Everything that He puts in our path is a blessing, even if we can’t quite see it as that. The Apostle Paul taught us to “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ” (Phil. 4:4) Here’s a man who truly suffered for Christ, and while in Roman prisons he rejoiced! Paul was no stranger to seasons of heaviness, and he knew how hard this could be. Nonetheless, he also knew God, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and that was something to rejoice about. Paul truly understood, and lived by, what Jesus said: My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:27-29) These are indeed some of the promises that allow us to rejoice always.

Seasons of heaviness are inevitable in the life of every human being, however when we accept Jesus as Lord, He lives inside of us, and gives us insurmountable peace, and an awesome strength, that an unbeliever can’t understand. Without God, your heavy seasons are more severe, and often times last longer than a believer, because we have power in the Name of Jesus Christ. If you’re tired of suffering alone, you don’t have to any longer, salvation is, and has always been, a free gift from God. All you have to do is ask Jesus to be Lord of your life, and believe that He lives; it’s just that simple. Take a few moments to take the God Quiz today! My favorite verses today are: Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous but grievous: nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11)

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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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