DEVOTIONAL

Prayer: Father God, thank you for your amazing love for me and the way you have helped me throughout my life, I praise you and worship you and as I come into your wonderful presence will you please have mercy on me and forgive from all my sins and cleanse me so that I may heart may be as white as snow. And I ask you today as I come into your presence speak to me, encourage me and draw me closer to see you in all your majesty and the splendour of your holiness. Lord in your mercy hear my prayer in Jesus name. Amen.

Scripture Reading for Prayer and Praise: Psalm 149:4-5

"4 For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.” 5 Let his faithful people rejoice in this honour and sing for joy on their beds.”

Worship Song Sung or Said: Faithful one (Brian Doerksen)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxviwvjyg1w

Faithful one, so unchanging

Ageless one, you are my rock of peace
Lord of all I depend on you

I call out to you, again and again

I call out to you, again and again

You are my rock in times of trouble

You lift me up when I fall down

All through the storm
Your love is, the anchor

My hope is in You alone

Faithful one, so unchanging 

Ageless one, you are my rock of peace
Lord of all I depend on you

I call out to you, again and again
I call out to you, again and again

You are my rock in times of trouble

You lift me up when I fall down

All through the storm
Your love is, the anchor

My hope is in You alone

Your love is, the anchor
My hope is in You

My hope is in You

Our hope is in You alone

God’s Word for Today: Psalm 95:7

"for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” Today, if only you would hear his voice.” 

Devotion/Study: (Part 2)

Having encouraged the Christians in Rome to be joyful in hope in the struggles they were experiencing, he also tells them to be "patient in affliction.” Here Paul is urging us to be patient in times of trouble. The word patience conveys the idea of endurance despite difficulty and suffering. Affliction is anything causing pain or distress; suffering; Afflictions can come in an may forms persecution, conflicts, sickness, physical pain, emotional distress, loss of a loved one, work-related stress.

In the context of this verse, Paul was thinking the affliction of persecution and suffering. What Paul is saying here is that in the midst of the Afflictions we are to remain steadfast and persevere. Life is difficult, with many trials, temptations, and tribulations. However, the hope we have is that God hears our prayers and is with us and gives us the patience to endure all hardships. The Psalmist said in Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the LORD.” He turned to me and heard my cry for help.” 

I don’t know about you, but when something in my life troubles me I want it sorted and removed immediately. Let’s just be honest it is HARD to be patient in affliction. Often when we’re in a time of trial, we pray for relief from the trial, and that’s not necessarily wrong.  

In Colossians 1:9-12 Paul prayed that believers would be strengthened with God’s power so that we could endure trials with joy and thankfulness and patience. Let me say Paul doesn’t downplay the genuine pain of hardships and difficulties because we all know Life can be unpleasant, and not all moments are happy moments. 

However earlier in Romans he pointed out that the struggles of life on earth are not worth comparing with the glory to come. He said in Romans 8:18 "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” He knew all he suffered was nothing compared to the eternal glory, he would experience in the presence of the Lord Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 Paul says, "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” One thing Paul knew, sufferings and trials of life build our character. 

We read in Romans 5:3-5 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not puts to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

We must never forget that all the difficulties we face, and experience will strengthen our character and an understanding of Gods purpose and plans. James also said something similar we read in James 1:2-3 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” 

Paul’s relationship with God was very deep and therefore throughout his life he knew whatever difficulty he faced nothing could separate him and us "from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:28. Although life was difficult for him, he never gave up and continually served God with humility and tears and lived to glorify Jesus. If we know in our hearts the truth that nothing can separate us from the love of God, it will help us to cope with any hardships and difficulties that come our way.

  
When we face hardship and discouragement, we need to remember God is with us and He has equipped us to handle any difficulties that come into our lives and the best quipping God has giving us is His living presence through the Holy Spirit Sometimes when life is filled with trouble, hardship, and all kinds of difficulties, we can easily be led to believe to doubt Gods love and care for us. 

What is important for us is, to always keep in our hearts and minds that God is at work in some way for our good and for His glory. Every difficulty in our life, whether it’s big or small, is something God will use to build our character. The right view of God in difficult circumstances is to always believe that God loves us and is with us.

And let us never forget, we will go through tough times, just as Jesus did and all those who follow Him. Jesus told His followers to take heart in the trouble because He has overcome the world. We read in John 16:33 "In this world you will have trouble.” But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Brothers and sisters, our circumstances do not change God’s character of love or goodness. When life is good, God is good and is with us and when life is hard, God is good and is with us. Our God is always good, and He will always love us. And nothing can separate you from His amazing love and grace.

Paul says in Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

Paul the apostle knew all about troubles and suffering.  He also understood and experienced the comfort of God that is why he could say in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles.”

It’s important to understand that that when we are being ‘comforted' it doesn’t mean that the problem will go away. When we are comforted, we receive strength, encouragement, and hope to deal with our troubles. To be comforted by God means he stands by our side and takes our hand and helps us through our troubles. If you are feeling overwhelmed, allow God to comfort you. 

Pause for Prayer: Let’s just take some time to pray, if you are going through a very difficult time, hand it over to the Lord and let him surround with His love and bring healing to your soul and as you pray do it with a thankful heart. He is faithful and will never leave you or stop loving you. Remember that every trial you endure will help you comfort other people who are suffering similar troubles. You may remember the poem Footprints in the sand, this poem tells the story of a man who had a dream that he is walking along the beach with Jesus. 

When the man looked back, he saw places during his life where there were two sets of footprints and other times there were only one. The man assumed that during the hard times in life Jesus had left him to walk alone. This bothered him and so he said to the Lord You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. 

But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me? The Lord replied, The times when you have seen only one set of footprints is when I carried you. (Mary Stevenson wrote the poem in 1936).  

When we experience troubles in life, let us never forget Jesus is God with us. We may not always feel is presence, but we can be assured He gives us strength and carries us through the storms, loving and caring for us. So, when we are going through times of darkness, we can always say “Days of darkness still come o’er me, Sorrow’s path I often tread, But His presence still is with me; By His guiding hand I’m led.” (I will sing the wondrous story) 

                     
Brothers and sisters in the midst of the afflictions we experience in life it’s not easy to be at peace. But if we trust in God knowing what lies ahead for us in heaven we can be at peace and remain calm through tribulations. So whatever affliction you may experience at this time or in the future be patient, remain steadfast in Christ. Remembering in the midst of the storms to "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction.”

Thirdly: Paul says "we are to be faithful in Prayer". Being faithful in prayer means praying always without giving up and with all kinds of prayers and requests. When life is tough, rejoicing and being patient in affliction and praying faithfully is not easy. 

Praying faithfully requires a heart that keeps trusting and believing God answers all prayers in his time according to His will and purpose. Brothers and sisters, the enemy is constantly trying to distract us and lure us away from prayer. 

The devil will do anything and everything to stop us from being on our knees in prayer because he knows the power of prayer is a mighty weapon against his attacks and disturbs his plans. prayer is an amazing gift God has given us because prayer moves God’s heart and draws us closer to Him. If want peace during times of trouble, we must spend time in prayer trusting God to strengthen lead and guide us.

So, while we are on this earth let us in the power of the Holy Spirit live with a deep Joy and with patient endure and preserve whatever storm comes our way. And let us be faithful in prayer certain of that hope there’s a wonderful day coming when "There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4  

Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Personal Prayers: