March 7 – Whatever Comes

“Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You,”  - Jeremiah 32:17 (NASB)
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?”  - Jeremiah 32:27 (NASB)

We find the context of our verses today to be the time God has pronounced the ruin of Judah and Jerusalem through Jeremiah.  His prophet Jeremiah was called to proclaim God’s judgment on His people.  This is a stark example of the sovereignty of God.  If God chooses and for His purpose in our lives, He may allow wicked and evil forces (this time Nebuchadnezzar) to come against us.  As His children we are not spared discipline from His hand.  Our promise is in both verses.  Nothing is too difficult for God.  Whatever needs to be done, whatever God has called us to endure and whatever instructions and commands He has given to us, can be carried out.  We may see it as an impossible task to bear up under but God is always with us even in the times He is disciplining us.  God also promises, “They shall be My people, and I will be their God;” (Jeremiah 32:38).  “Just as I brought all this great disaster on this people, so I am going to bring on them all the good that I am promising them.” ;” (Jeremiah 32:42)

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July 29 – Near Your Crushed Spirit

“The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (ESV)

Our Lord God in heaven has so many ways to show His concern for His children.  In today's verse from a psalm by King David we find a reminder of God's involvement in our lives.  These words tell us of how close our Lord is to us and aware of our circumstances – even when we are in a difficult and dark time.  Even though He is in control of all the universe which He has created, He knows what is going on in each of our individual lives. He know when our heart is breaking and even knows this about every one's heart.  He knows our disappointment and our sorrows.  He knows when we are suffering anxiety, depression, sorrow, and loss.  He knows when each of us has a special need of His help and He is right there with us when we need Him – even when we might not feel like He is near, He is near.  So my friend, when things look dark around us lets remember that God knows and He is right here with us.  Let's open our heats and let Him do for us what He promises to do for our crushed spirit.

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May 17 – Equipped With Everything

“Now may the God of peace...equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20a, 21 (ESV)

Does it sometimes seem difficult to live the Christian Life in such a way that we will please God? Our verse for today is a long sentence and we are looking at the first six words of the statement and then at the ending promise. This reminds us that we shouldn't try to live a life pleasing to God by our own effort. We will never make it on our own because we do not have the ability and God doesn't expect us to do that. God knows that we do not possess, on our own, what we need – we don't have it in us and so He equips us with what we need. Our God comes into our lives when we accept Jesus as Savior. He makes us complete and He wants us to recognize that He will bring the changes in our lives to live pleasing to Him. This is a promise and the result brings glory to God – our reason for our existence.