Encouragement To Carry On

Like a reservoir of water that collects from rain or from melting snow to create this amazing lake named Lake Tahoe, we need to store up the Word of God for encouragement to carry on day by day. We have good days and bad days just like David who needed encouragement when he wrote Psalm 61.  

He was distressed from fighting enemies and his feelings were distant from God as he called from the ends of the earth but his heart grew faint (v. 2). He expressed his trust in the Lord (v. 3-5) and requested that God come near so he could protect against his enemies.

I’m reminded today of a story I once heard about the rebirth of a bald eagle. A bald eagle can live up to 70 years but to reach this age, it has to make some tough choices. At the age of 40, its long talons can no longer grab prey and its beak starts to bend so it begins to starve. Its heavy wings stick to its chest causing difficulty when trying to fly. It has a choice, to die or go through a painful process that takes about 150 days.

The bald eagle that chooses to live on, flies to a mountain top. Starts to knock its beak against a rock until it breaks. Then waits for it to grow back. After the new beak forms, the bald eagle starts to pluck out its talons and then the heavy feathers on its wings. After about 150 days, the bald eagle takes its famous flight of rebirth and can live for another 30 years.

In today’s reading, David was at a turning point in his life. He prays for strength and security so he could be king for an extended number of years. In return for answered prayers, he promises to praise God each day through the good and the bad times.

This day with You Lord, sometimes we reach a turning point in our life. We need to follow Your way so all will be fine. We can then soar like an eagle and roar like a lion. Help us each day to take advantage of opportunities to do what we need to do to take our flight of rebirth. To fulfill the purpose You have for us … In Jesus name. Amen.

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Trust The Truth

During difficulty, it’s a time to reflect like David did in Psalm 56. David trusted God to get him through and you can too! Each day is a new day, and God can bring you out of the darkness into a brighter day. Remember this … opportunity often comes disguised as difficulty so keep thoughts of God’s compassion in mind. Like the song Carry Me by Josh Wilson, pray to the ONE that can calm the water and trust his power to carry you to solid ground.

Index of devotionals

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Poetry Friday 03-31-2023

A poem posted at my other blog Step Ahead is inspired by the post ”Aspire to Apply the Word” with some thoughts on growing spiritually, being at peace with God, and being a leader in sharing good thoughts for the soul. Our writing and sharing with others gets the Good News out to the world and is useful not only for ourselves but to those that read our posts.

For more inspiration today, here is the song Write Your Story by Francesca Battistelli. Some of the lyrics go as the following:

Author of my hope
Maker of the stars
Let me be Your work of art
Write your story on my heart
Come on and make your mark
I want my history 
To be Your legacy
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Commitment To The Plan

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. - Proverbs 16:3

Noted in “Endure Distress So He Can Bless”, the nation of Israel had been slipping and suffered defeat after defeat until David began to pray and provide the leadership they needed. With God, we will gain the victory like in the song I Surrender All by Oslo Gospel Choir. This day, let us be disciplined enough to go to God in prayer, work the plan, and be patient as God sets things up for the plan to be carried out.

Index of devotionals

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Endure Distress So He Can Bless

The reason for leap year was to adjust the calendar so the seasons would not be totally out of whack. The picture above was taken during a winter storm in 2021. The picture below was taken during the summer of that same year.

In a short time, great transformation can occur. With God by our side, we can set out each day to make minor adjustments in our life so that we become in sync with His way. It may be simply tweaking our daily routine.

Reading in Psalm 60, we note that Israel was out of sync. They had been slipping and suffered defeat after defeat until David began to pray and provide the leadership they needed. It was then that the Lord gave David victory wherever he went. Many nations with great influence in the Mediterranean world succumbed to David. With the spoils of war, David dedicated silver, gold, and bronze to the Lord.

Prayer gives us a chance to have an open exchange with God who believes in us and is interested in our future. He gives us a plan but it is up to us to fulfill our obligations towards the attainment of that plan.

With God we will gain the victory but we also have a part to play. We need to be disciplined enough to go to God in prayer, work the plan, and be patient as God sets things up for the plan to be carried out.

This day with You Lord, we pray that we surrender all to Your will. Day by day, little things change and over time, a complete transformation occurs. These small changes lead to amazing results if we are disciplined and put our trust in You. Help us to endure distress so You can bless in Your perfect timing. Amen.

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