by George | Aug 3, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
I Don’t Know What to Do
“O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
II Chronicles 20:12
Have you ever shrugged your shoulders, lifted up your hands and said, “I don’t know what to do!”
Jehoshaphat was at that point. He was in trouble, and afraid. At least 3 nations were invading. Things looked grim.
Jehoshaphat was a good, godly king. II Chronicles 17:3 says, “Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals.” He restored worship, strengthened Judah, and made several reforms. Jehoshaphat went out among the people and “brought them back to the Lord.” II Chronicles 19:4
Trouble comes upon the good and the bad. God allows trouble to come in our lives, and in the midst of that, He wants us to turn to Him and acknowledge our dependence on Him.
2 Chronicles 20:5-12 records Jehosophat’s prayer. Study it when you can. It has several elements of effective prayer.
At the end of his prayer, Jehoshaphat cries out to God, and says “we don’t know what to do!” Acknowledging his helplessness. Then he says, “but our eyes are on You.”
If you are in a troubling, seemingly impossible situation, pray. Be honest with God. “I’m weak.I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You. Please make your will clear to me, and show me what to do.”
God will answer in His time and way, just like He answered Jehoshaphat. God brought a miraculous victory over his enemies.
by George | Jul 29, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Longing For Home
“for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Hebrews 11:10
Sunday afternoon, I drove down a country road. I enjoy looking at the scenery, old barns and the like. (It’s a great way to relax, renew and reconnect with God!)
Soon, it became cloudy and dark. Heavy rains followed immediately. The visibility wasn’t the greatest as I made my way towards home.
I looked at the Garmin on my dashboard and it said “US Hwy 27 ahead.” This was a comfort, because I knew that the highway would be easier to drive on in the rain than a side road.
And, it meant I was closer to home.
The writter of Hebrews said Abraham was looking for a city. Not an earthly one, but a heavenly one.
Abraham, though he was nearly 100, knew that God would fulfill His promise to give his descendants the land where he was dwelling.
Though for now, he lived in a tent.
Greater still, he looked forward to “the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
As you journey, today, keep your eyes on the road. It might rain and the visibility becomes poor. Follow your “Spiritual GPS” and don’t lose sight of the heavenly city. Our eternal home.
by George | Jul 26, 2020 | Community News, Devotional, Newsletter
Condensed Version
“The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.”
Psalms 28:7
Reader’s Digest Condensed Version Books… If you are less than 50 years old, you probably don’t know what I’m talking about. I remember them well. My mom had several of them.
They were a collection of four books, shortened in length, placed in one volume. The idea was that a busy person could read a book faster, and still get the main idea of the book.
I think the same is true of some Bible verses. So much is packed in one verse!
So it is with this one. Let’s unpack it.
David is the author.
- “The LORD is my strength.” David needed God’s strength to face many battles.
- “The LORD is my shield.” Protection. God kept David safe from the enemy.
- “My heart trusted in Him.” David could look back to his childhood, to the first time he trusted in God.
- “And I am helped.” He declares that God is already helping him.
- “Therefore my heart greatly rejoices.” When David thought of all the above, he felt great joy.
- “And with my song I will praise Him.” David is so joyful that he burst out into a song. Look over the verse again, and personalize it. Then, you can make it into a prayer if you like. Take your time. There’s a lot of truth in this one verse!
