Your Daily Crossroad
30
Jul '19
Finding Rest Amidst the Stress
30
Jul '19
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)
How do you find the possibility of freedom and peace in a world where there seems to be no rest? The idea that the pace of life seems to continually increase stress and worry is a universal concept. There seems to be no end to the demands on our time and energy. Are you tired of the constant busyness that seems to consume our lives? I know I am!
There is a solution: It isn’t one that offers escape from the demands of life, but one that guarantees rest in the midst of the rat race and the fast pace of life. Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
Jesus offers us rest amidst the stress.
Christ doesn’t always take us out of life’s demanding situations. Instead, He asks us to let HIM show us how to handle life’s demands. Jesus wants us to face each day and each challenge with HIM. Walk with Jesus Christ daily and trust Him for guidance and wisdom to handle whatever comes next. In this way, you’ll finally experience true rest amidst the stress of life.
When I read this devotion it blessed me and I pray it encourages you to find rest in the midst of life’s demands. I would hope to encourage you to let go today and let God, He is bigger than anything you are facing and He desires to face life’s demands with you.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Matthew 5:16
29
Jul '19
Waiting on God is Tough
29
Jul '19
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him . . . (Psalm 37:7)
I don’t know about you, but I hate to wait. From doctor appointments that run way too long, to rush hour traffic, waiting often feels like a waste of time. Thankfully, when it comes to waiting, God’s timing is always just on time! We need to trust that God sees the full picture and be willing to do His will, in His timing, not our own. Because, the right action at the right time equals the right result.
So, what does it really mean to “wait on the Lord?” I’ll tell you one thing, it doesn’t mean just standing still and doing nothing; that’s not the idea. It might be how we wait around at a restaurant or in line at the DMV – we stand still, quietly waiting and not doing anything – but it shouldn’t be how we approach waiting on God.
The word “wait” in the original Hebrew means, “to be bound like a rope or twisted or bonded together.” So, to wait on the Lord means that you trust Him, that you humble yourself and rely on His strength. It means that you obey His Word and commands. It conveys all those meanings.
Sometimes it’s very difficult to wait on the Lord for things to happen or for things to take place, but if we will do those things, if we will trust the Lord and if we will humble ourselves under His mighty hand and make sure we obey His will, then we will be blessed. Waiting on God can be tough, but God’s timing is always the best thing for us.
When I read this devotion I was reminded of a quote I once read, it said, Patience is not the ability to wait but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting. When you begin to get frustrated I would encourage you to remember what today’s devotion says, the right action at the right time equals the right result and remember, if it doesn’t open, it’s not your door. Trust Him for His timing truly is always the best thing for us. Give God your weakness today and He will give you His strength. It’s truly that simple. Waiting on God is tough but don’t get discouraged.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 119:93
25
Jul '19
The Blessings Found in the Fire
25
Jul '19
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:3)
Do you ever get tired of the constant battles in your life?
Let me be the first to say I understand.
There are times it feels like I hardly get one issue resolved when another seems to pop up. Not that I go looking for problems; they just seem to be incredibly adept at finding me.
I’m learning, though, to view my troubles in life as “growth opportunities.” They give me a chance to recognize God shaping and molding me to fit the calling He’s given me. They remind me God is interested in my character, not my comfort.
Which brings us to a passage of Scripture I’d love for us to look at closely together today. In Malachi 3, God wants His people to know they have some character issues that need to be addressed.
The Lord declares through the prophet Malachi: “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:1-3)
The messenger in this passage actually refers to John the Baptist. (Matthew 11:10-14) He went before Jesus to ready the people’s hearts for Jesus’ first coming. Now we are the messengers God has called to prepare people for Jesus’ second coming. But that means our own hearts need to be purified so we’re prepared and mature for our calling.
Malachi 3:3 reveals that the Lord comes both “like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.” The “fullers’ soap” (or alkali) was a strong soap used in the ancient Near East to whiten clothing.
And the refiner’s fire? This is a method of purifying precious metals with intense heat. Impurities rise to the top where they can be skimmed off and discarded. The way a refiner knows that the process of purification is complete is by looking into the open furnace and checking the reflection. He knows the dross has all burnt away when he can see his reflection clearly.
This is what we were made to do — to clearly reflect the image of our Maker. Genesis 1:27tells us God created us in His likeness and image. But when sin entered the world, we were “marred” by sin. We were left spiritually disfigured and defiled. The purification process removes that sin and disfigurement and restores our ability to reflect the goodness of God Himself.
Another name for this refining work is sanctification. It’s the Lord’s continual process of making us holy and wholly set apart for Him. And today’s passage reminds us that sometimes the sanctification process involves suffering.
I saw such a vivid depiction of this when I took my children to a silversmith’s workshop when they were younger. We saw firsthand how the magnificently beautiful pieces in the showroom had to undergo a grueling process in the workroom. There was pounding, turning, heating and then even more pounding before the polishing. For the silversmith to put his name on a piece, the silver had to submit to treatment we might say is harsh and cruel. But every painful blow the silver endures … every scorching second it sits in the fire … each moment has great purpose. And the results are truly stunning.
Oh, how I pray this will stir our hearts to trust God in the midst of our troubles. Our God is not a cruel God. He allows the heating and shaping, the abrasive rubs and polishing in our lives for a reason. They are purifying and smoothing us so we will reflect Him.
Is it always an easy process? No. It’s not.
But is beautifully reflecting our Creator and having lives that point hearts toward Him worth the discomfort? I truly believe so.
How grateful I am to know that nothing God allows us to go through is pointless. Even in the midst of hurt, He will work things for our good and His glory.
Lord, I’m so thankful that I can trust You, even in the most difficult and refining seasons of my life. Shape me. Purify me. Make me look more and more like You. I want to reflect You in all I say and do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Wow! I myself was blessed by this devotion today and I pray you are as well. Remember today, nothing God allows us to go through is pointless. I needed to read this today. Thank You Lord, for you are always faithful, always there to lead, guide and protect. Even in the fire there are blessings to be found. May we never forget this and trust Him in the midst of our troubles.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 119:60
24
Jul '19
Out of the Valley
24
Jul '19
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18)
Life is beautiful, but it can also be painful. In reality, we are all either hurting, healing, or somewhere in between. So when—not if—you find yourself in a valley, what do you do?
Here are three methods of dealing with emotional pain.
First, it’s okay to feel the way you do, but don’t let it become your identity. Your feelings are not bigger than who God created you to be. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
Second, focus on what you know. In no way should we compare our struggles with Christ’s suffering on the cross, but do you think he could have willingly put himself through that kind of humiliation and torture if he was focused on his feelings? No, Christ knew God’s plan, and it was his singular focus until his last breath. We must strive to have the same mentality. “My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.” (Psalm 73:26)
And third, remember what you’ve already overcome! It’s not healthy to live in the past, but we can certainly learn from it and remind ourselves how God has already helped us persevere. He has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11), and when we learn to rely on Him in every aspect of life, we can accomplish anything (Philippians 4:13). “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Cor 12:9-10)
Healing is a process, but when we refuse to let it define us, focus on God’s plan for our lives, and learn to rely on his love, grace, and mercy, in all things, he will bring us out of the valley.
This devotion blessed me today. I pray it gives you spiritual guidance when dealing with emotional pain. I love how God’s word has all the answers when life is beautiful and when life is painful. He will always bring you out of the valley. Isaiah 40:29 says, He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. He is faithful.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
Today’s Reading is Psalm 112:5