The Priority of Prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)
 
Philippians 4:6-7, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
 
The word careful has the sense of ‘anxious’ or ‘worried.’ The thought is ‘don’t be worried about things.’ Rather than worrying about a matter, take it to the Lord in prayer and He will give peace of heart in the matter. How often we worry when we could have the peace of God within. Whatever we are facing or whatever we need we should pray about it. God’s children never have an excuse to worry.
 
Paul's enjoyed the intimate relationship with God both as a Father and Friend. Regardless of how much believers know about the Bible or its doctrinal truths, they must pray if they are to grow and be of service to God. Praying should be as natural for a disciple of Jesus Christ as talking to one's earthly father. Probably the best analogy of the importance of prayer is that of breathing. Prayer should be as natural to the disciple of Jesus Christ as breathing is to the human body, for prayer is the believer’s spiritual breath. The reason so many believers are always spiritually tired and weary is they have been holding their spiritual breath. NOTICE: The Christian who says, "I simply can't find time for prayer," is like the person who says, "I just can't find time to breathe." As a result, the disciple who does not pray regularly will spiritually suffocate.
 
God always answers our prayers. It is very important to remember that sometimes God says "yes," sometimes He says "no," sometimes He says "wait," and sometimes He answers with even much more than what we asked originally. One of the great tragedies of modern-day Christianity is that we simply do not pray as we should. The Lord has placed all of the power and resources of Heaven at our disposal to do His work, “yet ye [we] have not, because ye [we] ask not” (James 4:2). Prayer is not an empty ritual, nor is it a religious exercise. It is how a child of God goes to the throne of grace based on the relationship He has freely given us to seek His help which He has promised to give. Though there are times when a quick prayer is all that is needed; think of Peter sinking beneath the water. However, in most cases the serious issues we face will require fervent (passionate)  prayer.
 
Prayer, Lord, I humbly ask You to graciously restore within me the spirit of supplication and intercession. Forgive me for ignoring this important work and grant me a heart that desires to pray. I’ve have been struggling with fear and doubt that has troubled the peace I have from You. I am casting these things Your way right now. I’m naming them and assigning them under Your care. I’m choosing not to worry about them anymore because You will deal with them under the authority of Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
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     Do You Reflect God? (II Corinthians 3:18)
 
II Corinthians 3:18, But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
 
A woman watched a silversmith as he heated a piece of silver over the fire. He explained that to refine silver he needed to hold it where the flames were the hottest to burn away all impurities.  The silversmith said that he had to watch the silver carefully because if it was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman waited patiently observing the silversmith. Then she asked, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" "Oh, that's easy," he answered, "when I see my image reflected in it."
 
Like the silversmith looking into the precious metal, Christ desires to see Him image reflected in our lives. The moment God saved us, He formed a new creature, and He expects us to be constantly changing into His image and reflecting that image to others. Ephesians 4:24 explains the goal of every Christian: "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
 
Somewhere in the beginning of each day, most of us find ourselves looking at our reflection in the mirror. Do we reflect God? How can we? As flawed human beings with selfish tendencies, how can we ever portray God’s flawless image? The answer is simply by following the leading of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). God wants our hearts and lives to be mirrors that reflect His glory and grace. If we, as followers of Christ, are truly abiding by His Word, then we will reflect His character. The Holy Spirit will shine through us if we allow God into our lives. The figure of a mirror is used to express the change that comes to the believer from Christ. Since we have been transformed by His power into His image. His glory is reflected in us and through us from glory to glory. This astounding transformation within us is accomplished by the Spirit of the Lord.
 
Questions to Consider:
Do you reflect God's righteousness and holiness in your daily life?
Can others see Christ's image in what you say and do?
 
Points to Ponder:
Allow God to change and mold your life so you can reflect His image more clearly.
This is humbling that we have the opportunity to reflect the image of our Saviour and Creator.
 
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know Your desire for me is to be like You. I desire to be the mirror You want me to be. I ask You to take control of my life. Help me to reflect You so that others can be drawn to Christ Your Son. I want to be like Jesus! In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
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      Standing on the Promises (II Peter 1:4)
 
II Peter 1:4, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
 
Do you ever feel inadequate for the demands of the day? I do every day! The longer I serve the Lord, the more I recognize my need for His power. Also, the longer I serve Him, the more I recognize my need to trust His power. Through God’s Word, He has given us “exceeding great and precious promises” (II Peter 1:4). But we often trust our fears and our feelings more than we trust His Word. In many cases, our thinking runs directly opposite God’s promises.
 
We say: It's impossible.
God says: All things are possible with Me. (Matthew 19:26)

We say: I can’t do it.
God says: You can do all things through Me. (Philippians 4:13)

We say: I’m too tired.
God says: I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28–30)

We say: I’m always worried.
God says: Cast your cares upon Me. (I Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6)

We say: I can’t go on.
God says: My grace is sufficient for you. (II Corinthians 12:9)

We say: I can’t figure things out.
God says: I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:6)

We say:I’m not able
God says: I am able. (II Timothy 1:12)

We say:It’s not worth it.
God says: It will be worth it. (Galatians 6:9; Titus 2:13)

We say: I can’t manage.
God says: I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)

We say: I’m afraid.
God says: I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Timothy 1:7)

We say:I don’t have enough faith.
God says: I have given everyone a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

We say: I’m not smart enough.
God says: I give you wisdom. (James 1:5)

We say: I feel all alone.
God says: I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5)
 
This chart is not original with me. I don’t even remember where I first saw it, but I have filed it and shared it with others because it is a good reminder that our thoughts are not the final answer. If you feel overwhelmed or insufficient today, I encourage you to identify a promise from God’s Word and claim it! When we stand on the promises of God, we stand on solid ground.
 
Which of God’s promises are precious to you? Which ones are you storing up in your heart and mind to carry with you into the future? Consider starting a list of God’s promises as you read His Word. Make it your intention to believe His promises are precious and very great. Then commit to start knowing them by heart. Then you'll be ready to hang on to them through whatever challenge comes next. What five promises of God can you write down right now? How did each of them become memorable to you? Where are you tracking how God is keeping His promises? If you aren’t, how will you put that into practice?
 
Prayer: Father, I thank You already for what You are going to do for me. For Your Son’s promise to always be with me. Thank You for the confidence to face the uncertainties of the year ahead because I can have confidence in You. I commit myself anew to believe Your Word and to listen to Your Spirit’s prompting. Your promises are precious and I thank You for making them available so I can lean on them and rest in them every day. Once Your presence and Your promises are presented to us our lives cannot be the same. Without You we can do nothing. LORD, abide in us. In the power of Jesus name, Amen.
 
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       2 Priorities for a Powerful Prayer Life
                    (Matthew 14:22-23)
 
Matthew 14:22–23, And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
 
Jesus was very popular. The crowds sought Him out! Everyone wanted to be with Him! Masses of people followed Him for various reasons. They either wanted to hear Him, or ask Him a question, or get Him to heal a loved one. From daylight to dusk Jesus was sought. When the crowd knew He was in town, they found Him. Jesus never had a moment alone to be with the Father, unless He made it happen.  It is very important that we spend time alone with God. Perhaps everyone of us struggle at times when it comes to making time for prayer. The subject of prayer has been has written about thousands of time to make one more confident and consistent in time spent with the Lord.
 
A Quiet Place. The first priority is establishing a quiet place that is free from distractions. When you want to pray, where do you go? Do you have a special place where you enjoy some quiet time? The Scottish pastor Thomas Brooks said, “The power of religion and godliness lives, thrives, or dies, as closet [private] prayer lives, thrives, or dies. Godliness never rises to a higher pitch than when men keep closest to their closets.” Your prayer closet is one of the most important places you’ll go to every day. Since, we all have busy lives we have to adjust to what works best. Personally, I feel the best time and place would be early in the mornings in a quiet secluded place at home. However, for some it may be at a restaurant, coffee shop, or my office cube.
 
A Quiet Period. The second priority is having a specific time. Having found a quiet place, we also need a quiet, committed period of time. Despite our best plans, there are times when life gets chaotic. This may mean scheduling a specific time of day in which you talk with the Lord. Although we can take our cares and burdens to the Lord at any time, if we are committed to a consistent prayer life and scheduled time will help. For some it will be harder than others to find a quiet hour. This means we may have to sacrifice things that maybe pleasant and profitable. The most important appointment you make every day is the one you make with God. 
 
Find a quiet place and a quiet time where you can spend time alone before God. These are priorities to a powerful prayer life along with an effective personal devotion. Jesus always found time to spend with the Father. Since prayer was such an important part in the life of Jesus how much more important is it to us who are broken and sinful. Time alone with the Lord will be the most comforting time in your day. 
 
Prayer, Lord, I humbly ask You to graciously grant me a heart that desires to pray. Forgive me, I’ve just been struggling with fear and doubt that has troubled the peace I have from You. I commit myself to prayer and I am casting these things Your way right now. I’m choosing not to worry about them anymore because You will deal with them under the authority of Jesus’ name, Amen

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 What the Love of Christ Cost Him? (Romans 5:8)
 
Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
 
Can you imagine this kind of love?  The Father sacrificed His Son to save others who weren't even looking for Him? No wonder that heavenly host filled the sky, proclaiming, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14)! Angels joyfully announced that the time for the plan of all ages, the redemption of mankind, had finally come!
 
Christ loved us so much even when we were enemies of God, He died for us. He knew the only thing that could save us from Hell was a perfect sacrifice given in our place. He came with the sole purpose to die for our sins so we could spend eternity in Heaven with Him. He didn't come to show us the way. He came to be the way. There was nothing we could do, so He did it all. He didn't hold anything back.
 
Jesus proved and demonstrated His love for the world as He bore the wrath His Father poured out. He showed His love by leaving heaven, the adoration of angels, and the throne of glory. He became a Man of sorrows, He hungered, thirsted, and was betrayed and suffered. Love led Him to the cross where He was nailed and crucified. He proved His love for us when He died on Calvary.
 
I don't believe we can fully comprehend the extent to which Christ went to redeem us. We cannot imagine what He gave up in glory to come to this earth. The physical abuse and pain He suffered on the cross is more than we can put into words, and there is no way to describe what it was like for the Son of God to take on all the sin of the world.  It is no surprise that the world falls short when it comes to love, but that should never be true for us. Each of our relationships with family members, friends, fellow church members and the lost should be characterized by this Divine love.
 
Questions to Consider:
How often do we stop and appreciate what Christ did for us on the cross?
How far are you willing to go for Him?
Are you willing to share the Gospel with those around you?
 
Points to Ponder:
It is impossible to truly love people without being willing to sacrificially give to them.
Spend some time today thanking Him for His love for you and purpose to show Him your love today. 
 
Prayer, Father in Heaven, thank You for not sparing Your Son that I might become Your child by faith. Thank You for the assurance that I can come to know and believe the love You have for me, expressed so ultimately in Your Son. Thank You for Jesus who died for me, walks each day with me, and is waiting for me in eternity. I bring You my gratitude under the authority of His matchless name, Jesus. Amen.
 
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Freedom through Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:31-32)
 
Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
 
There isn’t one person reading this devotion who hasn’t been hurt by another person. The real question is…… what are you doing with that offense? Do you hold them hostage for the injury they inflicted on you? How many hours and days have you wasted thinking, You owe me and I’m going to make you pay? That’s a tough question on a painful topic but eventually, your going to have to get it settled or it will destroy you. In order to navigate your way through relationships, you need to hold a principle about how you’re going to respond when someone hurts you. Failing to forgive the other person keeps you in emotional and spiritual bondage.
 
Ephesians 4:31-32 gives us direction: In the context of walking in love and not grieving the Holy Spirit, we are further commanded to let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice. Here listed are five ugly agents, that are the exact opposite of love. They are as follows: bitterness (resentment, animosity, hostility), wrath (loss of temper), anger (rage, fury, irritation), clamour and evil speaking (yelling at another with nasty accusations; joined with hard feelings). It is the exact opposite of love. As God’s people in love, we are directed to do the opposite.
 
We are commanded to be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. These are helpful and instructive. It is a manifestation of walking in love. God has so loved us when He forgave us for Christ’s sake. Read that last phrase again, “even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Just as freely as He forgave you. Just as quickly as He forgave you. Just as generously as He forgave you.
 
Jesus models what forgiveness should look like in our lives. He was falsely accused, mocked, beaten, and spat upon, then crucified. As He hung on that cross for your sins and mine, He said: “Father, forgive them.” Jesus’ model motivates us to live out Ephesians 4:32, “even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” There are no enduring relationships without forgiveness. None. Before you go very far in any relationship, there will be forks in the road where if you do not forgive, the relationship will not survive. It’s true in every marriage, in every household, in every small group, in every friendship, and even in every church. This is always, always true.
 
Prayer, Lord, I’ve not yet begun to explore the depths of Your mercy toward me in Christ. Your grace is beyond what I can imagine. But help me live with an increasingly proper calculation of it. Each day, as I draw closer to understanding Your grace and mercy, may I also extend grace and mercy in greater degrees toward others. I know that if I am Your child, I must forgive. Empower me to be a forgiver like You are, for Your glory. I ask this through the precious name of Jesus, amen.
 
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       Jesus' Greatest Craving (John 4:31-34)
 
John 4:31-34, In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
 
We all have cravings. For many its java (coffee), for some it is a job done successfully, for others its Jesus. We were all creative with cravings. These cravings we were given are a desire to worship the LORD. When a person fails to satisfy the craving for the LORD they become dissatisfied and eventually miserable until that void is filled. One can attempt to gratify these passions with earthly possessions however, there will never be satisfaction until Jesus has the preeminence. For Jesus, He sought the Father every day for direction and purpose.
 
Jesus enjoyed meals. Throughout the Gospels, He made many significant statements and worked many miracles in the context of a shared table. Whether it was the feeding of the five thousand or the Last Supper, we can see Jesus liked sitting down to a satisfying meal of food and fellowship. However, eating wasn’t the central motivating factor in His life. Sometimes He went without food for extended periods like His fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4).
 
In the passage today, Jesus chose not to eat while the disciples took time for a meal in town. They left Him by the watering hole and returned later. Meanwhile, Jesus had an extended, life-transforming conversation with the woman at the well.
 
Apparently, the disciples brought back something for Him and were encouraging Jesus to eat. “But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” His answer caught them by surprise. “Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?’” They could not conceive He had not gratified His hunger for food. They must have thought when we’re hungry we ate! How can He not be hungry?
 
Knowing their thoughts, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” His priorities put obeying His Father far above satisfying mere physical hunger. Jesus hungered most for His Father’s pleasure. Here, as elsewhere, His view of His role was, “…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done (Luke 22:42).” He had a task to finish for God and skipping a few meals wasn’t going to be a problem. In life, some things are more important than food.
 
By far, the most satisfying times in life are when we sense we have done as the Lord wanted us to do and served as He wanted us to serve. Those moments remind us that any attempt to satisfy self apart from doing the will of God is inevitably not only a frustrating and empty pursuit, but also creates a very discouraging result.
 
God is not interested in being our casual interest or an occasional appetite. If we know Him at all, He provokes a craving in us for Himself that should be apparent in our lives. So where does desire for God’s will and work fit into your list of priorities? It’s easy to let our earthly appetites distract us from what really satisfies. Hunger for God is the best kind of hunger, and doing God’s will brings the truest satisfaction.
 
Sometimes we forget that. We fixate on satisfying ourselves and not on the will of God. The most lasting satisfaction in life comes from knowing we have done as the Lord wanted us to do. Any attempt to substitute anything other than God’s will only leave us feeling empty, frustrated, or discouraged—and hungry again soon.
 
Questions to Consider:
What is your first craving in the morning?
What do you depend on to get you through the day?
What are some ways in which you communicate and/or demonstrate your craving for the LORD?
 
Points to Ponder:
Jesus’ greatest craving was to please the Father.
Doing God’s will satisfy your greatest craving.
 
Prayer, Heavenly Father, teach me each day to rightly value Your will above anything else, particularly my own. Remind me that doing my will can’t satisfy me or please You. Lord, I want to trust You by honoring Your desire throughout my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
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 What Makes a Trustworthy Foundation for Life? 
 
Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”
 
Jesus begins by warning of false foundations. He set forth a simple test with a simple illustration. It is not enough to just hear His Word, but also to actually do it (James 1:22-25.) That doing begins with trusting Christ. Jesus uses another simple illustration from life: a house and its foundation.
 
A structure built upon bedrock will be solid and stable. Failing to build on an enduring foundation leads to destruction. A structure built without any foundation may stand for a short time, but when the inevitable storms come, the foundation of the house will collapse.
 
The clear and simple application is of not only hearing, but actually doing the full spectrum of God’s Word in our lives. Some people miss salvation because they have built their lives on the shifting sands of religion.
 
The actual doing of God’s Word is the foundation that brings strength, security and blessing. This is true in the matter of being saved in the first place and it is particularly true of the ongoing Christian life. It is the doer of the Word who is like the house on the rock. The one not doing His Word is likened to the house on the sand.
 
Christ Jesus is the foundation stone for every true believer, a resting place for those who build for eternity. The Words of Christ are a trustworthy foundation. Obeying God is like building a house on a strong, solid foundation that stands firm when storms come. When life is calm our foundations don't seem to matter. But when crises come our foundations are tested. Be sure your life is built on the solid foundation of knowing and trusting Jesus Christ.
 
The Bible never says that the rains won’t come. But if we’re built solidly on God’s Word, then we’ll survive the storm. If we’re built on worry, doubt, fear and the world’s temporal pleasures, then our lives will shift, crack and eventually crumble. Wise people hear the Word of God and do what it says. Foolish people hear the Word of God but don’t do what it says.
 
We shouldn’t be afraid of the storms because we believe in the God of the storms. We shouldn’t pray that God takes away our trials, because trials help mold us into His image—and they reveal the person we really are. Take some time today to examine your life. Is it built upon shifting sands, or on the strong foundation of God’s Word?

·Why would people build a house without a foundation?
·Perhaps to save time and avoid the hard work of preparing a stone foundation.
·Maybe they haven't heard about the violent storms coming, or they have discounted the reports.
·Possibly they think disaster can't happen to them.
·Whatever their reason, those with no foundation are shortsighted and they will be sorry.
·When you find yourself listening but not obeying, what are your reasons?
 
Prayer: Almighty Father, there are so many times when I turn the volume down on You and go my own way. I honestly don’t know why I do that because it never goes well. I want to be more sensitive to Your Spirit. Help me to stand on Your Word and live according to Your principles. Help me to trust You enough to obey Your Word. Forgive my unbelief and pride to think I can manage on my own. In Jesus’ name, Amen
 
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   The Power of Encouragement (Proverbs 12:25)
 
Proverbs 12:25, “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.”
 
In our text, we read that one good word of encouragement can make another person’s heart glad. It does not take much to uplift our brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes, all it takes is a few simple words. Back when I was in seminary and working a warehouse job everyday a fellow co-worker would ask me “give me a good word Rev.” My mind would go to this verse and I would ask the Lord to help me give this man something that he would need.
 
There are many times when people are discouraged simply because of the nature of living in a fallen world. There are pains, disappointments, and defeats that each of us will face. The temptation in those trying times is to gloom and give up. In those moments, a simple word of encouragement can be powerful. Everywhere we go there will be people with heavy hearts.  They may have a smile on their face and appear to have everything in control, but inside heaviness is making their hearts stoop. Those heavy hearts could be lifted by a good word from you.  Use your words to encourage those around you.
 
Solomon wrote, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). It is a blessing to have friends to offer that kind of help and encouragement when things are hard. Unfortunately, not everyone has this kind of friend. Therefore, we are to always be ready to provide hope and comfort when others face difficulty. Sometimes we get wrapped up in looking for someone to come and encourage us when God wants us to be offering encouragement to others. There is never a bad time to provide genuine and hopeful words to a friend. Certainly, by doing so you may help make the difference between success and failure to someone else.
 
I can remember times that others said a good word to me, and it made my heavy heart glad. Today there is someone grappling with guilt, wrestling with regret, and contemplating quitting. I wonder who will be the one to be used to deliver that good word to their heavy heart? We are never more like Christ than when we are encouraging His people. Pray the Lord will use you to lift someone’s heavy heart.
 
Question to Consider:
Why don’t we ask God today to help us be aware of opportunities to say a good word to someone, to lift a heavy heart, to be an encouragement?
 
Point to Ponder:
Find someone today who needs to hear “a good word” and give it to them.
 
Prayer, Father in Heaven, I know You see that person who is hurting. Their mind and emotions seem shackled in shame. Send me and shine Your light through my life. May Your Word fill their deepest longings until they overflow with joy. Replace any destructive thoughts they might have with the truth of Your Word. In Jesus name, Amen.
 
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      Lord’s Goodness and Mercy (Nahum 1:7)
 
Nahum 1:7, The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.
 
President Calvin Coolidge was awakened one morning in his hotel room to find a burglar going through his pockets. Coolidge spoke up, asking the burglar not to take his watch chain because it contained an engraved charm very precious to him. Coolidge then engaged the thief in quiet conversation and learned he was a college student who had no money to pay his hotel bill or buy a ticket back to campus. Coolidge counted $32 out of his wallet declared it to be a loan, and advised the young man to leave the way he had come so as to avoid the Secret Service! Although this young man never earned nor deserved mercy Coolidge showed this young man mercy rather justice. Surprisingly, the loan was paid back.
 
God declares and demonstrates His goodness to His children. Nahum described the mercy and goodness of God. He is good! He is a refuge for help in the day of trouble. Furthermore, God knows those who trust in Him. He knows His own. … The Lord knoweth them that are his (II Timothy 2:19). He has promised to bless those who trust in Him (Psalms 2:12; 34:78; 40:4; 84:12). Those promises remain to this day.
 
Three traits which comfort Christians in turbulent times:
1.His Mercy is Pure (The Lord is good)
This verse declares the goodness and mercy of the Lord. Although God’s mercy is something we are not deserving of, we should be very grateful for it. Only the heart of a divine Saviour can love us at the level we receive.
 
2.His Mercy is Preserving (a strong hold in the day of trouble;)
God is a help in trouble, not just in the good days, but also in the days of trouble. Many things and people can help us on good days but when trouble and calamity comes, their help ceases and is not adequate. "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1). It is the Lord Himself, His presence, that will shelter and protect the person who places his faith in the Lord. No matter the trouble (whether terrifying trial, seductive temptation, or simple problem) the Lord is good and He cares for those who trust in Him. The Lord will shelter, protect, and deliver the believer into the very presence of God Himself.
 
3.His Mercy is Personal (he knoweth them that trust in him)
Believers will not face the vengeance of God because the Lord knows those who trust Him. The word knows suggests a close, personal relationship, a deep, intense, loving relationship. The Lord knows those whose faith and hope are in Him. He knows them because true believers walk with the Lord, fellowshipping, sharing, and talking with Him. They live righteously, obeying His Holy Word and commandments. The Lord and His dear people have a close bond, a very personal relationship. Therefore, when His people face trouble, whether mild or terrifying, the Lord is a refuge or stronghold for them.
 
Prayer, Father in Heaven, use me as a sanctified vessel, to pour out mercy and love without measure on other people. Father, we live in a world where there are so many hurting people. Help me to stretch out a willing arm of comfort, when I see other people hurting or in pain. May Your Holy Spirit empower me to bless and help all those whom I come in contact. In Jesus name, Amen!

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