Thanks for the Problems

Nov 02, 2023

Here are my reflections and comments from today’s scripture from Our Daily Inspirations App.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, before I read or comment on God’s word, I pray that He prepares my heart to receive his guidance and ask that He uses me as his vessel to comment on His word.

The scripture is from 1 John 2:17: “This world is passing away with its lusts, but he who does God’s will remains forever.”

The devotion is titled Thanks for the Problems by Ann Hendrickson. The author starts off with telling the story about singer and songwriter, Maijohn Wilkin. She showed up at a young preacher’s church in her Cadillac, adorned in all the material riches that anyone could imagine. She walked up to the young pastor and told him that she had all kinds of problems. The young pastor went down a list of things. She said finally that she didn’t know. The young pastor asked her if she ever thanked God for her problems. She returned home and sat down at her piano and began to sign a prayer that come to mind, “One Day at a Time”. This song was widely considered the biggest gospel hit in the 1970’s. The author goes on the say that we have problems even when we seem to “have it all”. The author goes on to say when we out our lives and talents in God’s hands and thanking Him for our problems, He has put in our way, he is ready and willing to use us to bless the rest of His children.

Reflections, Questions, and Challenges for Us: for what problems of yours will you thank God today.

Here is my response, yours may be different: the problems I have that I will thank God today is our finances and how we can be able to still live in California.

My Personal Prayer for us: Gracious God, Thank you for Your Son, Jesus Christ, He has not only forgiven us, but He has also given meaning to our lives, filling us with joy, hope, love, and peace. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Inspirations (2023/02/11) retrieved from Website: Daily Bible. Thanks for the Problems by Ann Hendrickson.

God Has Set Me Free

Nov 01, 2023

Here are my reflections and comments from today’s scripture from Our Daily Inspirations App.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, before I read or comment on God’s word, I pray that He prepares my heart to receive his guidance and ask that He uses me as his vessel to comment on His word.

The scripture is from Psalm 29:11: The Lord will give strength to his people. The Lord will bless his people with peace.”

The devotion is titled God Has set Me Free! by David Haase. The author starts off with his experience when he returned home from the Vietnam conflict. He didn’t understand why he and other Vets were so hated. It got to him, and he started to focus on things that happened. He convinced himself that his life was worthless. He became bitter with a short temper and a bad marriage. He remarried and his second wife convinced him to go to church. He soon realized that God’s grace was greater than anything he had done. His life changed and he accepted Christ’s gift of grace. Today he is a pastor and works for God every day, filled with God’s joy, strength, and peace. He concludes that God truly freed him to live his best life for Him. He prays the God will free us to experience His grace and peace in our lives as well.

Reflections, Questions, and Challenges for Us: How does peace come from within when God is in control of our lives?

Here is my response, yours may be different: For me, peace comes from within when God is in control of my life because God’s grace is truly greater than anything I have done  or will do until Christ’ returns and we are transformed.

My Personal Prayer for us: Gracious God, Thank you for Your Son, Jesus Christ, He has not only forgiven us, but He has also given meaning to our lives, filling us with joy, hope, love, and peace. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Inspirations (2023/01/11) retrieved from Website: Daily Bible. God Has set Me Free! by David Haase.