GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST 13

liveinthelightofourlord August 13, 2024 Leave a Comment

AUGUST 13

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES:

“I WILL HELP YOU, SAYS THE LORD.” Isaiah 41:14

Let us hear the Lord Jesus speak these words to each one of us: “I will help you.” It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already. “What! Not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood!

What! Not help you? I have died for you; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the lesser?

Help you! It is the least thing I will ever do for you. I have done more and will do more

It is much for you to need, but it is nothing for Me to bestow.

Help you? Do not fear! If there were an ant at the door of your granary asking for help, it would not ruin you to give him a handful of your wheat; you are nothing but a tiny insect at the door of My all-sufficiency.

“I will help you”

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This month we will continue the book, “Whatever Happens – How to Stand Firm in Your Faith When the World is Falling Apart.” By a contemporary author of many best-selling Christian books, Robert J. Morgan. He took care of his wife when she had MS, until she went home to her Savior. “He knows of which he speaks.” I pray that this book blesses you.

Philippians 4:4-7

“4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

WHATEVER HAPPENS….HAVE A STATEGY FOR IMPERFECT SITUATIONS

REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS

Paul revived his words from Philippians 3:1, suggesting we can handle imperfect situations better if we don’t let them steal our joy. Paul was using Old Testament language here. The phrase “rejoice in the Lord” occurs only in the Old Testament and in the book of Philippians. It seems Paul had been studying his books and parchments. He’d been impacted by this phrase, which was often used in the Old Testament by people facing difficult imperfections in their circumstances.

For example, the Old Testament hero Hannah was ensnarled in a very difficult domestic situation. She went to the tabernacle in Shiloh and prayed earnestly about it, and later she offered one of the most beautiful prayers in the Bible. It begins, “My heart rejoices in the Lord.” (1 Samuel 2:1).

In Psalm 32, David faced the deep guilt of his sins and confessed them. He ended that prayer saying, “rejoice in the Lord and be glad.” (vs 11).

The most visual description of faith in the Bible is given at the end of Habakkuk: “though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).

Here in the book of Philippians, the imprisoned apostle was writing to a somewhat divided church, advising them to rejoice in the Lord. When we can’t rejoice in our load, our losses, our loneliness, or our lot in life, we can still rejoice in the Lord. We rejoice in His presence around us, His Word within us, His promises to us, His care over us, and His future for us.

I recall one day being depressed and anxious. I wanted the joy of God to fill my heart, but I was consumed with worry. Somehow the words came to me of this great hymn by Henry Van Dyke:

“Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love;

Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Opening to the sun above.

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away;

Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day.”

That prayer became real to me, and I prayed it earnestly. The Lord answered that prayer, and in the years since, I feel I’ve been growing in the joy of the Lord. We simply have to make up our minds to do it:

“Rejoice in the Lord always……. I will say it again…..REJOICE!”

LET YOUR GENTLENESS BE EVIDENT TO ALL

The next thing Paul told us is to be gentle, in verse 5. The biggest barriers to gentleness are our anger, our pride and selfishness. The Greek word for gentleness, “epiekes,” has to do with being gracious. It has to do with etiquette.

Gentleness doesn’t mean a lack of strength or drive. It means that your strength, drive and determination are cloaked with graciousness.

In Luke 4:22, the people were amazed at the gracious words that came from our Lord’s lips. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation be gracious as well as sensible, for then you will have the right answer for everyone.”