In An Upside-Down World
Sometimes our once bubbly effervescent faith becomes a deflated helium balloon. You’ve seen it before, faith that scuttles along, dragging itself from here to there as the wind blows. But, wait a minute! We are anchored in Christ through faith and the Word of God and this week our Devotional Team will remind us of some fundamental truths in God’s Word from this week’s topic, “Discouragement.” This scripture is a keeper, so commit it to memory!!!!
SCRIPTURE: “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:12-14
Running the race set before us with endurance; laying aside every weight and the sin that easily ensnares us and looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith – WHEW!! Living in an upside-down world in which all believers are in an Extreme Makeover Edition of the heart we can conclude that God has not finished with us yet. We can choose to throw in the spiritual towel or keep pressing on. (Philippians 3:14) Discouragement will come through things sent by God or allowed by God in order that we might know Him in the fellowship of His suffering and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10)
Mary of Bethany could have allowed the negativism of the disciples to discourage her from anointing the feet of her Jesus, but she cared more about expressing her love for Jesus than their criticism. The Samaritan woman did not allow her previous lifestyle to discourage her from proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. And Joseph did not allow his trials to determine the perfecting of God’s will for his life. The cloud of witnesses and even your own life is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and our yieldedness in our times of discouragement.
Remember: optimists and pessimists contribute to society. Proof? The optimist invents the airplane, and the pessimist invents the parachute. I Peter 5:10 says “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered awhile, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
Prayer: Lord I’m yours!! Break me, Melt me, Mold me, and Fill me so that You can Use me for Your Glory!! Empty me to Fill me so that You can Fill me to Empty me!!
By Sis. Cheryl Torain
Mary of Bethany could have allowed the negativism of the disciples to discourage her from anointing the feet of her Jesus, but she cared more about expressing her love for Jesus than their criticism. The Samaritan woman did not allow her previous lifestyle to discourage her from proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus. And Joseph did not allow his trials to determine the perfecting of God’s will for his life. The cloud of witnesses and even your own life is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and our yieldedness in our times of discouragement.
Remember: optimists and pessimists contribute to society. Proof? The optimist invents the airplane, and the pessimist invents the parachute. I Peter 5:10 says “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered awhile, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”
Prayer: Lord I’m yours!! Break me, Melt me, Mold me, and Fill me so that You can Use me for Your Glory!! Empty me to Fill me so that You can Fill me to Empty me!!
By Sis. Cheryl Torain
Archive
2025
January
Prayer For A New Year 2025Prayer for A Heart Like Christ’sA PRAYER FOR HELP WITH OUR FAITHA Prayer of RepentanceA Prayer to Press OnPrayer For a Fragile Next GenerationPrayer For an Open HeartA Prayer For EndurancePrayer of Praise From the RedeemedPrayer For True EnlightenmentA Prayer: God is Waiting in the New YearSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer That Celebrates God’s WorkPrayer To See Things God’s WayPrayer of Thanks for God’s Keeping PowerPrayer When Faith is Tested: Accepting God’s WillPrayer of Dedication to Our LordA Prayer of Appreciation and WorshipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer For Humble LivingPrayer for Greater Faith to Live for GodPrayer Against Our FeelingsPrayer to the ONE Who Knows All ThingsPrayer For Sight in the Midst of LossPrayer to be Better Lovers of All Kinds of PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer of Rekindled PraisePrayer According to Your WillPrayer for the Generations to ComePrayer For the Benefits of PrayerPrayer For a Fresh Awareness of the HOLY SPIRIT
February
The Celebration of Jerusalem’s Deliverance: The Festival of LightsSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS WITH Pastor Wayne CockrellThe Gift of ForgivenessGreat Love Requires DisciplineFrom The 2024 Vault: We Must VoteHow Does God Love?Running Our RaceA Prayer of Thanksgiving to GodSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHeart to Heart with GodWill You Be Mine?Birthday Gifts for Pastor Wayne Cockrell.The Discipline of GodStop In the Name of LoveSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellApple of God’s EyeOne Thing NeededStriving Side by SideWhat’s Love Got to Do With It?An Unshakable LoveHis Love and Our WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellAnchored in a Storm by the WordRenewing Your MindI’m Delighted in the LordWe are FamilyFAITH, ALIVE
March
Where is Your Faith?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellGod’s Prayer for MePraise to God in His Holiness and MajestyThank You, But Lord, I Got ThisSound the AlarmBEAUTIFULLY, POWERFULLY, GRATEFULLY RENEWEDThe Imperative to Obey and WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellWeapons for SinBeware the Ides of MarchAn Expectation that Won’t DisappointWhere Does Jesus Say in Your Bible, 'I am God. Worship Me’?Given GiftAre You My Enemy?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellListening for God’s Voice and DirectionsA Good Faith SystemThe Road Not TakenBelieving God’s PromisesLOVE LOVEPraise God for WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellIn Captivity, But Still In His PlansYour Will Be DoneTHE WAY TO THE FATHERLife LessonsI Never Knew YouWhere do You Stand?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellCaregiver, Doulos, Friend
April
FIVE YEARS LATER: Believe and ObeyFIVE YEARS LATER: - More Of HimFIVE YEARS LATER: - Idle WordsAnchored in the Storm by the WordInevitable ChangeSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellLet the Redeemed Say SoAre We 'DONE' Yet?You Better Shop AroundGear Up for The JourneyReviving My Spiritual Temple
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2 Comments
Amen! Oh Lord help us to cleave to Your Word and be the light you have called us to be in this dark dark world...for we have no place else to go but to You, our refuge, strength, fortress, helper, defender....
Help us Lord to be in alignment with Your perfect and perfecting ways, that at the end of it all, we shall behold You, in the company of the many, having their 'Yes' and 'Amen', to then have an eternal praise. What a day that shall be... be encouraged... share the hope.