JOYCE'S DEVOTIONS FOR 9-9-05
JOSHUA 21:43-45
So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there.
The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord handed all their enemies over to them.
Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
The greatest lesson a soul has to learn is that God, and God alone, is enough for all its needs. This is the lesson that all God's dealings with us are meant to teach, and this is the crowning discovery of our entire Christian life. GOD IS ENOUGH!!!! No soul can really be at rest until it has given up dependence on everything else and has been forced to depend on the Lord alone. As long as our expectation is from other things, nothing but disappointment awaits us. Feelings may change, doctrines and dogmas may be upset, the Christian work may come to nought, prayers may seem to lose their fervency, promises may seem to fail, everything that we have believed in or depended on may seem to be swept away...and only God is left ...just God, the bare God if I may be allowed the expression, simply and only God.
If God is what He would seem to be from His revealings;
if He is indeed the "God of all comfort"
if He is our shepherd
if He is really and truly our Father
if, in short, all the many aspects He has told us of His character and His ways are actually true....
then we must come to the positive conviction that He is, in Himself alone, enough for all our needs and that we may safely rest in Him absolutely and forever!
God prved faithful in fulfilling EVERY promise He had given to Israel. Fulfillment of some promises took several years, but "every one was fulfilled." His promises will be fulfilled according to His timetable, not ours, but we know that His word is sure! The more we learn of those promises God has fulfilled and continues to fulfill, the easier it is to hope for those yet to come. Sometimes we become impatient, wanting God to act in a certain way NOW! Instead, we should faithfully do what we know He wants US to do and trust HIM for the future.
Lord, Thank you for being our honest and faithful God.....you always fulfill your promises. No one is like you. You have given us many promises in Your Word.... all for our own good. Help me to patiently wait for Your promises to be fulfilled. Sometimes I grow impatient...especially where my brother is concerned. Help me to trust in You and the fact that only You hold the future in Your hands! Help me to keep you in the drivers seat and not be a backseat driver. I love You and thank You for Your love for me and my family and Your promises to us that shows Your love.
In Christ's name....amen
JOSHUA 21:43-45
So the Lord gave Israel all the land He had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there.
The Lord gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the Lord handed all their enemies over to them.
Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
The greatest lesson a soul has to learn is that God, and God alone, is enough for all its needs. This is the lesson that all God's dealings with us are meant to teach, and this is the crowning discovery of our entire Christian life. GOD IS ENOUGH!!!! No soul can really be at rest until it has given up dependence on everything else and has been forced to depend on the Lord alone. As long as our expectation is from other things, nothing but disappointment awaits us. Feelings may change, doctrines and dogmas may be upset, the Christian work may come to nought, prayers may seem to lose their fervency, promises may seem to fail, everything that we have believed in or depended on may seem to be swept away...and only God is left ...just God, the bare God if I may be allowed the expression, simply and only God.
If God is what He would seem to be from His revealings;
if He is indeed the "God of all comfort"
if He is our shepherd
if He is really and truly our Father
if, in short, all the many aspects He has told us of His character and His ways are actually true....
then we must come to the positive conviction that He is, in Himself alone, enough for all our needs and that we may safely rest in Him absolutely and forever!
God prved faithful in fulfilling EVERY promise He had given to Israel. Fulfillment of some promises took several years, but "every one was fulfilled." His promises will be fulfilled according to His timetable, not ours, but we know that His word is sure! The more we learn of those promises God has fulfilled and continues to fulfill, the easier it is to hope for those yet to come. Sometimes we become impatient, wanting God to act in a certain way NOW! Instead, we should faithfully do what we know He wants US to do and trust HIM for the future.
Lord, Thank you for being our honest and faithful God.....you always fulfill your promises. No one is like you. You have given us many promises in Your Word.... all for our own good. Help me to patiently wait for Your promises to be fulfilled. Sometimes I grow impatient...especially where my brother is concerned. Help me to trust in You and the fact that only You hold the future in Your hands! Help me to keep you in the drivers seat and not be a backseat driver. I love You and thank You for Your love for me and my family and Your promises to us that shows Your love.
In Christ's name....amen
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