For the past few years, I have used a number of daily devotionals. For the last year and a half (or so), I have used Grace For The Moment written by Max Lucado, one of my favorite Christian authors. Before that I used the daily devotional written by Tim Tebow titled One-Year Devotional: Mission Possible, and also mixed in a new book in 2023 by Max Lucado titled Calm Moments For Anxious Days. All of these books were excellent reads and I shared a number of those devotionals from each book with you at the time I read them.
However, I decided at the beginning of this year to go back to my original devotional that I used for many years, titled Jesus Calling written by Sarah Young. It has been a few years since I have read it, so I decided it was time to return to my original favorite devotional. As I conclude (for now) my reading of Grace For The Moment, I want to share a final devotional from it that ties in well with Pastor Don’s sermon last Sunday.
Pastor Don’s sermon was about how our emotional needs occasionally are running on empty and how we need to turn to God in those situations, because He is always there to sustain us when we need Him the most. The title of this daily devotional is Looking Up from September 22, and begins with the following scripture:
John 14:8 – “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Max then shares Biographies of bold disciples begin with chapters of honest terror. Fear of death. Fear of failure. Fear of loneliness. Fear of a wasted life. Fear of failing to know God.
Faith begins when you see God on the mountain and you are in the valley and you know that you’re too weak to make the climb. You see what you need …. you see what you have …. and what you have isn’t enough to accomplish anything ….
Moses had a sea in front and an enemy behind. The Israelites could swim or they could fight. But neither option was enough….
Paul had mastered the Law. He had mastered the system. But one glimpse of God convinced him that sacrifice and symbols were not enough….
Faith that begins with fear will end up nearer the Father.
The scripture that Pastor Don used for last Sunday’s sermon was:
Isaiah 40:29 – He gives strength to the weary, and to the one who lacks might He increases power.
Pastor Don gave a powerful sermon last Sunday, as he always does. He reminded us that we all have days (weeks or months ?) that we feel totally weak, and are actually fearful of our future. However, we know that God is always by our side, ready to communicate with us whenever we are ready. More importantly, He is also ready to guide us back to Him, to let us know that He is with us always ready to comfort and sustain us in our hour of need.
Whenever you are in a rut and can’t seem to get out of it, be sure to turn to the One who is always by our side. Turn to the only One that can lead you from your difficulties to seeing the sunshine once again.
Please note that after this Sunday, Cindy and I will be gone for the next few weeks. We are going to Hilton Head, as we always do in January, and then on a Disney cruise with our daughter and two granddaughters. So I will not be able to send any messages while we are gone. I look forward to sharing my TGIF messages with you beginning February 6 again.
May God bless you all while we are away!