Be Reconciled By Ann Elaine Broughton

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5: 23-24 NIV).

  Jesus wants you to be reconciled with whoever you have something against. That is a tough one isn’t it? But Jesus spoke these words and He was pretty adamant about it. He said that you are to leave your offering and go and reconcile right then. This verse follows His speech in regards to the fact that you should not be angry with your brother or you will be subject to judgment. He went on to say that if you call someone a fool you will be in danger of the fire of hell. Being angry and having arguments are not pleasing to God. Jesus’ whole message is about loving one another as you love yourself (Matthew 19:19 NIV). If you love someone you try very hard to get along and talk about problems in a calm manner. Anger only escalates a bad situation and causes hurt feelings. It is so important for you to pray for help with this, if you have an issue with anger. God can help you control this.

   So if you are in need of reconciliation. I would urge you to do this as soon as possible. God wants you to be at peace, and you cannot be at peace if you are having a disagreement with someone. Pray and ask God to give you the right words when you speak and ask Him for guidance on how to go about it. You could even go to your pastor for some ideas on how to reconcile with someone you have had a disagreement with, especially if the person is a family member, spouse or a friend. Please know that you cannot have a right relationship with God either if you are holding a grudge against someone else.

Dear Lord,

Please help me to do what you would want me to do in regards to my relationships. I know you want me to love them as I do myself, but sometimes it is hard. Help me to view others through your eyes and love them as you do.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

  

Remember What God Has Done For You By Ann Elaine Broughton

“I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land” (Psalm 143:5-6 NIV).

   Are you going through a trial at the moment or know someone who is? The above verse can give you comfort. I have had many trials in my life and every time God has given me the strength and faith to make it through them. I prayed with all my heart and found peace in the midst of a crisis. When I am in a difficult situation I recall how God helped me through those tough times. I survived and learned valuable lessons about faith through it all. It gives me comfort to know that my God will never forsake me.

    Does your soul thirst for God? Have you ever been so very thirsty that you couldn’t wait to get a cool drink? That is how we are to thirst after our Father in Heaven. When we are in trouble He wants us to go to Him as one who is thirsty for His comfort. He alone can quench the deep thirst that our spirit longs for. When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, he told her: “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14 NIV). You see the drink that Jesus gives you fills you with the peace that only God can give in the midst of trials. Thirst after God with all your heart, and He will meet your needs.

    I would encourage you to remember all the ways God has helped you in the past and know that He will get you through whatever you face today. Seek Him with a thirsty soul, ready to drink up all the peace and love He has to give you. He will never fail you in this respect.

Dear Lord,

When I am going through a trial, help me to remember all the times you have helped me. Help me to thirst after your love and peace as one who is in a parched land. Thank you for never failing me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

God's Grace is Sufficient by Ann Elaine Broughton

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9 NIV).

   Do you have a thorn in your life that keeps bothering you? It could be an illness, fibromyalgia, arthritis, any condition that hurts and won’t go away. Jesus spoke the above words to Paul because he had a “thorn” and what he called “a messenger of Satan to torment him” (2 Cor. 12:7) He had prayed three times that God would take it away, but the Lord responded with the fact that His grace was sufficient for him. You see sometimes God says no, and we are to rest in the fact that just having His grace is enough. We need to be thankful that Jesus came and gave His life as a sacrifice for our sins. Heaven is enough. What ever else we have is a bonus. Sometimes the thorn we have actually makes us closer to God. It can make us more sympathetic to those who suffer from a “thorn”.  It helps us not become conceited and proud. It can make us totally humble.

    I have had fibromyalgia for over 37 years. Sometimes it is just a dull ache and sometimes it can be excruciating. Believe me when I say that I too prayed that God would take it away from me, but it has not happened. Instead, I have learned through each time of terrible debilitating pain to trust God to give me the strength to make it through it. He never failed me. Eventually, it would ease up and go back to that dull ache, which I have learned to live with. Because of my thorn, I have grown closer to my God. I am more sympathetic to those who hurt. Nobody can understand unless they have been through it. God is my strength when I am weak, just as He promised Paul.

    Maybe you are sitting there and nodding that the thorn is there and that you are having problems dealing with it. Please pray to God that He will help you accept it and that He will give you the strength that only He can give to overcome despair. Please reach out to others who have the same problem and tell them that you care and understand.

Also, tell them that you are praying for them. Sometimes if you take the focus off of yourself, you will feel so much better. It always is good to reach out to others.

Dear Lord,

Please let your grace be sufficient for me. Help me to go through life knowing that life wasn’t meant to be easy, and that I am to rely on your strength to support me when my strength is gone. I know that life is full of “thorns”. Help me to trust you in any situation that comes my way.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen