Dear Friends,
As you all know, today is Ash Wednesday. A day that marks the beginning of Lent as we journey to the cross with Christ and to Resurrection Sunday on April 20th. I’m very excited about the new sermon series coming up as we see images from the Holy land and hear stories from our pastors from their recent visit. Thank you all for sharing in this time with me and for faithfully serving each and every week. You are indeed a blessing to me and so many others.
Today’s devotional reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s “thorn in his side” that he asked God to remove from him. Three times he asked for this problem to be taken away. God did not take it away from him, but offered grace instead. Through Paul’s problem, God gave him more strength, wisdom and knowledge. Only a loving, caring God can turn our “problems” into victories. Be blessed in this friends! Love, Scott
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Make Friends With The Problems In Your Life. Though many things feel random and wrong, remember that I am sovereign over everything. I can fit everything into a pattern for good, but only to the extent that you trust Me. Every problem can teach you something, transforming you little by little into the masterpiece I created you to be. The very same problem can become a stumbling block over which you fall, if you react with distrust and defiance. The choice is up to you, and you will have to choose many times each day whether to trust Me or defy Me.
The best way to befriend your problems is to thank Me for them. This simple act opens your mind to the possibility of benefits flowing from your difficulties. You can even give persistent problems nicknames, helping you to approach them with familiarity rather that with dread. The next step is to introduce them to Me, enabling Me to embrace them in My loving Presence. I will not necessarily remove your problems, but My wisdom is sufficient to bring good out of every one of them.
Romans 8:28 (AMP) 28We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
1 Corinthians 1:23-24 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Daily Devotional from “Jesus Calling” by Sarah Young
