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
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
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.