Reveration Blog
4/13/2018 0 Comments 24/7What causes people to be downcast? I would surmise in most cases it is because of unfavorable circumstances. We want something that does not materialize. We deal with sickness. An enemy is a relentless grief-flinger. “Sixty students who had attempted suicide were asked why they had wanted to end their lives. The majority, 85 percent, said they had tried to kill themselves because their lives seemed meaningless and without purpose . . . Without purpose we lose motivation and sometimes lose health and even lose life.”[1] Without understanding God’s ever-present love we are destined for despair. There is a passage in the Talmud that says, “We don’t see things as they are; we see things as we are.” It is easy to be pessimistic if our perspective is rooted in the wrong place. Meditation Psalm 42:8—The LORD will send His faithful love by day; His song will be with me in the night—a prayer to the God of my life. The author of Psalm 42 wrote, “Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me?” (vs 5a). But then he took his focus off himself and placed his hope in God. Later in verse 8 he made a 24/7 victory statement. Why should we put our hope in the Lord? Because, God’s love is here to help us through this day! Will you say that out loud, right now? Why should we put our hope in the Lord? Because songs recalling His goodness will sustain us through the night. Paul and Silas while in the city of Philippi, were beaten with rods and unlawfully thrown into jail. They had every reason to be downcast. They could have questioned God or wallowed in the pity of pain. Instead, as they sat that night with their feet secured in stocks, they sang hymns to God (Acts 16:22-25). Wow. That’s action made possible by faith in the lovingkindness of God. We can refuse to stay disheartened while negotiating life. God is too awesome, big, caring, devoted, everlasting, faithful, good, honest, incredible, just, kind, loyal, merciful, noble, omnipotent, present, quintessential, redeeming, steadfast, truthful, understanding, victorious, wise, xcellent (with apologies to my English teachers), yessing and zestful for us to succumb to a defeated spirit. Rise up! We are loved by our Father who is with us 24/7. Inspiration God and love are synonymous. Love is not an attribute of God, it isGod. Whatever God is, love is.—Oswald Chambers in Run Today’s Race ©2018 Daniel York ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause. If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the "Click here to receive weekly devotionals" box. Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice. Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth. (Holman CSB) [1]Gary R. Collins in Christian Coaching, (NavPress: Colorado Springs, 2009).
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Photo from Rachel Maxey Miles