October 19: TROUBLE

Believe it:

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NKJV)

Live it:

We can learn three lessons from today’s text.
1. Pain is a gift. Imagine for a moment what it would be like to live in a world with no pain. A bone breaks, you feel nothing. You burn your hand, but you can’t tell. You puncture your skin and don’t even notice. Good or bad? Could it be that the feeling we call pain is a gift from God—a gift God created to protect us?
2. Ask yourself “What for?” rather than “Why?” When a person finds himself being afflicted, he asks himself, “Why me?” “Why now?” “Why this?” The answers to those “whys” belong to God. Instead, ask “What for?” Seek to find the purpose—not the cause—of your pain.
3. There are places you can reach only through pain. The path to the next level of your spiritual life can be called “pain.” Sometimes that road is unrelenting, sometimes complicated, but always blessed. There are no shortcuts for those who wish to experience the fullness of God’s blessing.

Share it:

Knock on the doors of two neighbors and ask them if they have any request that you can pray for. Then go home and pray for them.

My prayer today: for the decision calls to commitment that will be made each evening.

-Pray that God will help people make decisions for Him every night.

-Pray that God will help the speaker use the right words as he invites people to respond.

from God’s City, My City