Let God Lead You

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JESUS SPEAKING

‘From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” (Matthew 16: 21 – 23)

FAITHFUL THOUGHT

Jesus informed His disciples of His impending death and eventual resurrection. Peter however, who was unwilling to accept this prophecy, took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him. Jesus identified Peter’s attempted intervention as being influenced by Satan. As believers we must continually seek to accomplish the will of God in every circumstance, even when God’s plans do not fit with our own understanding.

In the Old Testament, the Son’s of Jacob plotted in secret against their brother Joseph. They took him by force and sold him into slavery in Egypt. They also faked his death so that his dad wouldn’t go looking for him. For many years he underwent hardships as a slave, but eventually, by God’s divine hand, he was raised up into the second highest position in Egypt, just beneath Pharoah. When a famine struck the land, his dad’s tribe was in danger of starvation. So the family journeyed into Egypt to find food. Upon arriving, they encountered Joseph, who saved the entire family from death by feeding and protecting them. The brothers apologized for their evil actions, and Joseph forgave them. And yet, Joseph could see that despite his brothers wicked intentions, his ordeal was actually the result of God’s will. He was put in that place to save them. He said, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many lives.” (Genesis 50: 20)

God’s will for our lives can often differ from our own expectations. In these circumstances, we must embrace whatever path God has chosen for us. We must also let Him guide and direct our lives. Only God knows what is best for us. As we walk with the Lord, may we strive to submit to His will.

“Lord heavenly Father, we recognize that Your plans are far better than our own. As we journey through this life, may we trust You completely, and may we adhere to Your will in every circumstance. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Saying Grace Before Meals

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JESUS SPEAKING

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.” So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets full of the fragments that were left. Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. And He sent away the multitude, got into the boat, and came to the region of Magdala. (Matthew 15: 32 – 39)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

The crowds that had followed Jesus into the wilderness were famished. In a gesture of affection, Jesus miraculously turned a small meal into enough food to feed 4,000 men (as well as their women and children.) Within this account, we also read that Jesus gave thanks to God before distributing the food. This practice, seen in other portions of the gospels, has commonly become known as ‘saying grace.’ By thanking God for His provision before eating, we are following the example of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus sought to teach His disciples how to pray, He recited what has become known as, “The Lord’s Prayer.” Included within this prayer is the phrase, “Give us this day our daily bread.” We are urged to remain focused on today, and to remember that God alone provides for all of our needs. In fact, concerning God’s provision, Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

If we, as believers, know that all good things come from the Lord, then outward displays of gratitude will manifest in our lives. Thanking God in prayer before meals is an excellent Christian discipline; as is praising God for all of the other blessings He has bestowed upon us.

“Lord heavenly Father, we recognize that You are the provider of all good things. May we honor You with thanksgiving and praise You for Your many blessings. May our hearts also learn to trust you in all things. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Faith In the Resurrection

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JESUS SPEAKING

“Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore, you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” (John 16: 19 – 22)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Jesus prophesied that after His crucifixion He would remain buried until His resurrection on the third day. During this time His followers endured terrible confusion, sorrow, and doubt. When He did rise from the dead and appeared to them in the flesh, their faith was restored. As promised, they were filled with a supernatural joy. An enduring peace that could never be taken away from them, no matter the circumstance.

In the 1800s there lived an American Missionary to Burma named Adoniram Judson. Like most missionaries he endured many hardships. One day, on furlough, he returned to England and was walking through the town of Stonington, Connecticut. A young boy was playing near the wharves when he encountered Mr. Judson. He was struck by the man’s appearance. He had never before seen such a light on any human face. He fetched a minister to come and inform him of who the stranger was. When the minister arrived, he became so absorbed in conversation with Judson that he forgot all about the impatient boy standing near him. Many years later, that boy, who could never get away from the influence of that wonderful face became a famous preacher named Henry Clay Trumbull. In a book of his memoirs he penned a chapter entitled: “What a Boy Saw in the Face of Adoniram Judson.” That missionaries lighted countenance had changed his life.

Like Adoniram Judson, only those who have faith in the resurrection of Christ from the dead can walk with eternal joy. For if Christ did not rise we have no hope. The disciples who saw Him in the flesh were transformed by their encounter. If we embrace the resurrection, then the light of Christ will shine through us as well.

“Lord heavenly Father, may we possess great faith in Your Son’s resurrection. May we be transformed by this truth and seek to carry the gospel to all those who are lost. Give us the strength to endure hardships with joy, knowing that You are our inheritance. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of You!