Did you know that you bring glory to God by calling upon Him when you are in distress? God promised He would deliver you if you turned to Him. You deny the Lord honor that is rightfully His every time you find yourself in difficulty and you fail to call upon Him for help! There may be times when God allows you to reach a point of need so that you can call upon Him, and thus let Him demonstrate to a watching world the difference He makes in the lives of His children. If God never allowed you to experience need, people around you might never have the opportunity to witness God's provision in the life of a Christian. If you never faced a shortfall, you might be tempted to feel self-sufficient and without any need of God in your daily life. Pride will tempt you to think that you do not need to seek God's assistance. Self-regard will seek to convince you that you can handle your dilemma through your own wisdom, resources, and hard work. Pride will also rob glory from God and seek to give it to you. Don't allow your pride to take what rightfully belongs to the Lord. Call upon your Lord and wait exclusively upon Him to rescue you. Then give Him the glory that He deserves. Self-sufficiency can greatly hinder your ability to experience God and bring Him honor. The next time you are in distress, turn to Him! - Blackaby Experiencing God Day by Day
Oh the timing of this devotional! Are we a world, a nation, a people in distress? Oh in many ways.
Even before the coronavirus distresses abounded. During it, a new kind of distress has been on the forefront.
Perhaps the hardest distress isn't so obvious. It's called understanding and being understood. Reading stories of the risks some people are taking vs those who are hunkering down. Everything is out there. From people looking at every Government decision under a microscope to those accepting what's being done.
On a personal level it's being far more cautious than we know how to be. People can be carriers of it yet show no signs of it. Still others are far more susceptible than others and don't even know it.
It's distressing! But God is still the God of all comfort. He is still on the Throne of the Universe. Regardless of your views, that is the constant of all things.
This blog also isn't the place for some points because God said so. This is His writing space. I may be the writer but He is behind the words. He may choose to use examples out of my life or bring in thoughts from others.
We all will be facing distresses differently. It's going to be that way. It's people taking it personally where it goes wrong. Quite often we have to make decisions that aren't going to be popular. God does the same with His Children.
Take a look again at the book of Revelation. It says Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. Do you really realize what that means? It means separating those who are His from those who are not. Splitting up families and friends and acquaintances and strangers.
There will be some stressful moments in that for sure. But His will WILL be done.
My friends this coronavirus is scary. But it's also an opportunity. God's giving this world a chance to turn and repent before the real judgment of God as written in Scripture happens.
You may not be understood in your choices but God is still on the Throne.
You may not like what you go through in life but God is still on the Throne.
You may be making questionable decisions but God is still on the Throne.
In all things...God is still on the Throne.
Feelings likely will be hurt throughout this particular birth pang in the history of this world. People erring on both sides of caution. Some willing to risk exposure while others do not.
As I have heard yet again recently, God gave us the ability to have a sound mind in Christ. Use it.
What's also interesting to me in this time is that God's been removed idols from a great many people. Things they didn't even realize they were in fact worshipping. But that's for another post.
Right now, dear reader, remember the love of God. Remember His peace and understanding. Remember what we have in Christ and cast our personal issues aside. We will have tribulations in this life. Jesus said so. But He also said to be of good cheer, He has overcome the world.
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