GOD’S WORD FOR  MARCH 4

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is  Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

*** ***

THE GREAT REVERSAL

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.”   Acts 16:25

D.L. MOODY

An old gentleman got up once in a meeting and said he had lived nearly all his life on Grumble Street, but not long ago, he had moved over to Thanksgiving Street.  His face showed it.  Paul and Silas in jail at Philippi, when they had received stripes on the back and had their feet in stocks, still sang praises to God.  If some of us were in jail with our feet in the stocks, I don’t think we would sing much.  We want a cheerful Christianity.

ERWIN LUTZER

Can we give thanks to God for an evil act when God uses it for good?  In Los Angeles, a baby was born to a teenage girl who was raped.  The baby girl grew up and became a soloist and blessed the hearts of millions of people.  She was Ethel Waters, who sang the beloved gospel song at the Billy Graham crusades., “His eye is on the sparrow.”

This is an example of how we can give thanks to God for how He sometimes uses evil to bring about good.  We don’t give thanks for the evil, but we do give thanks for the good He brings forth from it.  Do not ever underestimate God’s ability to take sorrow and turn it into a joy.  He does that today, even for you and me.

As we discover in Acts 16, Paul and Silas could sing hymns to God while unjustly prisoned.  They saw God above the pain and unjust events of life.  If you are going through a trial today, give thanks to God for it.  You will bring glory to His name and help you look at it from a divine perspective.  God, in His grace, may bring something beautiful from what you are going through.  Give thanks right now;  God is able and the war has been won.

PRAYER

Father, You can take the deepest of sorrows and bring hope.  Please help me to thank You in all things.  Please let me sing praises to You despite unanswered questions.

*** ***

Hebrews 12:5

 Do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord.

** *

Ecclesiastes 7:14

In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other

** *

Isaiah 45:7

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things

** *

Lamentations 3:38

 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?

** *

Amos 3:6

Does disaster come to a city, unless the Lord has done it?

** *

Following are more promises along with an excerpt from a sermon I heard a while ago.

Isaiah 46:10:

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’”

I was reminded today of  the importance of always knowing that every detail of our lives are pre-scripted since Christ’s victory on the cross.  

Just like professional wrestling ~ the end is determined before it starts.  

So, when you feel beaten in your grief, ~ when your back is against the ropes, and you’re feeling nothing but grief and pain ~ remember, the end HAS BEEN DETERMINED.   You will OVERCOME because Jesus has already done the conquering and has made a show of the evil one over 2,000 years ago!    (Colossians 2:15).

Whatever your future is, has been determined, (God knows the end from the beginning ~ Isaiah 46:10 above)  and the Word says you are already a conqueror. (Romans 8:37). 

 So,  don’t believe the fakery of the devil…….the acting that he does like the fake wrestlers……….believe what IS WRITTEN!   Find out what the Lord wants you to  do next in His plans for you.

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord