Keep on Trusting God : a devotion by Ann Broughton

“Trust is the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV).

Have you ever heard the saying; “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”? As Christians there will be times in our lives when indeed the going gets tough. We are not exempt from illness, misfortune, tragedy, or sorrow. But how we handle these situations can be a witness to others who do not have our hope. How do you get going when the going is tough? Let me give you some encouraging thoughts on this subject.

The first thing during a time of crisis is to pray and ask others to pray for you. Tell God about everything and pour out your heart to him. Jesus was in a crisis in the garden when He went to pray before his crucifixion. He asked his friends to pray also. He asked God to take the cup away from him, meaning his approaching death, but then He said to God, “Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39 NIV). We should always pray that God’s will be done in any situation just like Jesus did. Then we need to trust Him with the answer, knowing that His will is best.

Second, stay calm. I know that this is very difficult, because the very word crisis brings about terror in your soul. But staying calm can happen if you trust God to give you the strength you will need for this time of upheaval in your life. There have been times in my life that God’s peace filled me when otherwise I would have totally lost control of my emotions. I promise that in difficult situations if you trust God and pray, He will give you the strength and peace to meet your difficulty in a calm manner.

Finally, keep on trusting that God has this situation in His hands. He knows the outcome, and He can make everything good. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV). 

Dear Lord,

We know that life is filled with unpredictable circumstances that are out of our control. Help us to believe that you are with us and will give us the strength and peace to handle these situations in a way that is a good witness to others.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Never Forgotten: a devotion by Ann Broughton

       

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I am away I am still with you” (Psalm 139:17-18 NIV).

Are you feeling as if you have been forgotten by God? Be assured that God is still there for you and loves you tremendously. When I was in high school and college I had to rely a lot on other people to drive me places. We only had one car and my dad or mom always had it for work. There were many instances when someone was suppose to pick me and had forgotten me. Every time I was forgotten I felt like I must not be worth anything or people would remember to pick me up. It was a blow to my self-esteem every time it happened. To be forgotten can be heart breaking.

I know there are those of you reading this that have felt or are feeling forgotten, as if nobody cares about you. Please know that God does care for you and about your life. You are worth so much to Him and He wants you to know this. After all He knew when you were formed: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know full well” (Psalm 139: 13-14 NIV). After all Jesus said that the very hairs of your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:30)

You have a purpose that only you can achieve. You have special abilities that were given you at birth. Pray and ask God how they can be used to glorify His name. Never feel like you are forgotten. You are a child of the King, an heir to the Kingdom of God. “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs-- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory” (Romans 8:16-17 NIV).

Dear Lord,

Help us to always know that we are special in your eyes, even when we feel we are not. You love us and have a plan for us. Help us to always remember that we are your children and very precious.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

New Year’s Resolutions: A devotion by Ann Broughton

“Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established” (Proverbs 16:3 NIV).

Have you started your list of resolutions for the New Year? It is that time of year when most of us sit down and decide what we want to work on during the coming year. For most people the list includes; a healthy diet, losing weight, and exercise more. These are all very good goals because we are told in the Bible that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), and in order to do His will we need to be as healthy as possible.

I would like to suggest another item that should be on that list. I suggest that you commit your works to God and let Him guide you. One of my favorite verses that has helped me when contemplating what God’s will for me is: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NAS). I believe that our own understanding about a situation may be clouded by fear of the unknown or fear of failure. Sometimes we forget that if it is God’s will, He will certainly guide us to use the abilities He has given us to do the works that He has set before us. God has given you special talents and abilities to be used to serve others. He is with you in the form of the Holy Spirit to guide you and strengthen you. Pray and ask God what His plans for you are during the New Year.  Then when an opportunity opens up for you to use your abilities, do not fear, but step out in faith knowing that God is with you and will help you.

Dear Lord,

As the New Year approaches I am reminded that I need to put you first in all of my goals for the future. Help me to step forward with faith when an opportunity arises to serve you. Let my first goal always be to do your will in my life.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

The Lord is Compassionate by Ann Broughton

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love" (Psalm 103:8 NIV).

    Elijah, (1 Kings 18 and 19) was a prophet who learned firsthand about God's compassion. You see Elijah had a melt down. He was scared, even though God showed his mighty power in front of everyone by sending fire down and consuming a sacrifice. But you see, even a prophet of God can have a moment of panic. After God showed his mighty power, Elijah had all the prophets of Baal, an idol, killed. A very nasty queen named Jezebel sent a message to Elijah that she would have him killed just like he killed her prophets. You might say that this was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Elijah. He was scared and he ran for his life. He went into the desert and collapsed. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors” (1 Kings 19:4 NIV).
    Now God could have been angry at this wayward behavior of his chosen prophet, but here is where we can be encouraged. Instead of being angry with Elijah, he showed him mercy and kindness. God sent an angel to Elijah to give him food and nourishment because God still had a job for Elijah. He also knew that Elijah needed help and comfort.
    There are times in all of our lives when we feel like Elijah....wanting to give up because our problems seem insurmountable. We can take heart from this story of Elijah that God knows what we are going through and will give us the strength to keep on doing His will if we ask Him. He isn't angry with us, but is filled with compassion because He loves us.
    So when you want to run away like Elijah, remember that God is with you. Tell Him what is bothering you and then trust Him to have compassion and feed your soul with peace. It will come, that I promise. God's love never fails.
Dear Lord,
Help us when we feel like the world is crashing in on us. Let us feel your compassion and know that you can give us the strength we need to follow your will for our lives. When we feel like giving up, fill us with courage that only you can give. Thank you for hearing our prayers and giving us your peace.
In Jesus' name,
Amen