By Shelly Burke, Editor, Nebraska
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Several months ago in a post titled "Lifting Up in Prayer" how my prayer list just seemed to grow longer and longer. Since that time God has answered several of those prayers; several people had
follow-up tests to see if cancers had spread and they had not, and one very
specialized scan found absolutely no tumors,
when the symptoms indicated the worst. There were many prayers of thanksgiving
on the days of those positive results!
However, since that day more people have been added to my
prayer list and the lists of many others.
Friends and acquaintances continue to experience medical problems, financial
problems, and personal problems. It is difficult to see others suffer in body,
mind, or spirit, and it’s very discouraging to realize life isn’t turning out
as we had planned, especially when we can’t see how things are going to work
out.
I know that I am not the only one to grow disheartened by a
growing prayer list and circumstances that affect friends and family members. As
Paul told the Corinthians (and therefore, us), “We are
hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair,
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed…Therefore we do
not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being
renewed day by day.” (1
Corinthians 4:8-9 and 16)
Life is unpredictable. But these words tell us that we do
not need to despair; we won’t be crushed, we won’t be abandoned, we won’t be
destroyed…we do not lose heart, because we are sure of our faith. We can be
absolutely positive that our Father in heaven will never, ever leave us!
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Although we may be wasting away—literally or
figuratively—inside, our heart and soul and mind are being renewed every day (2
Corin. 4:16) through our Bible study, prayer, and worshiping with other
believers. The things we are facing today are “momentary”—lasting only while we
are here on earth. When we believe that Jesus died and rose to forgive our
sins, we know that through His grace, we will experience “the
eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” (2 Corin. 4:17).
Renew yourself today. Read a few chapters in your Bible.
Pour your heart out to the Lord in prayer. Know that He is with you and hears
your words. Feel joy that you will experience eternal glory beyond all
comparison.
“Give
ear to my words, o Lord;
consider
my groaning.
Give
attention to the sound of my cry,
my king
and my God,
for to
You do I pray.”
Psalm 5:1-2
Lord, You know what we
each are experiencing today. You know our troubles and our worries. Thank you
for your promise of eternal life! Amen.
I’m
also blogging at Home is Where the Mom Is.
Check
out today’s post, titled “Teach Your Children Well.”
