Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:6, 7.
Your mind may often be clouded because of pain. Then do not try to think, but just rest, and show that you have committed your soul to God as unto a faithful Creator. It is your privilege to show in your weakness and suffering that you do not doubt the love of God toward you, that you know that He is faithful who has promised, and that you trust soul and body in His hands, that He will keep that which is committed to His trust.
Let your mind dwell upon the goodness of God, upon the great love wherewith He has loved us, as evidenced in the work of redemption. If He did not love us, and consider us of value, then this great sacrifice would not have been made. He is beneficent in mercy and in grace. Let your heart and mind be at rest, like a tired child in the arms of its mother. His everlasting arms are beneath you. In all your afflictions Jesus is afflicted. What a privilege it is for you, now afflicted, to find a refuge in Jesus.
The gospel armor seems too weighty to be borne. Well, Jesus Christ is your armor. Hide in Him, and the wicked one will not harass or confuse your faith. Jesus has bequeathed His peace to you….
Praise the Lord that you have felt the cleansing efficacy of the Saviour’s blood. Upon your soul the Sun of Righteousness hath arisen with healing in His wings. How empty and unsatisfying is every earthly thing. But Jesus, the precious Saviour, is your spiritual sustenance. He has linked your life with His life. The word of His grace is manna to the believing soul. The precious promises of the Word are life, greatness, and peace.
Do not be troubled. Jesus loves you, and will care for you and bless you. The active, aggressive battle you can no more fight, but you can let Jesus fight it for you. He says to you, “Give your case entirely into My hands. Be still, and know that I am God.”
Dear Sister _____, we hope and pray that the Lord will give you help and strength under the severe taxation that is upon you. That God that saw Nathanael under the fig tree sees you and understands all your griefs and all your sorrows. The Lord Jesus will be your strength in this day of your affliction….
The Word is the living bread. Eat of it daily. It will be a sustaining power to do all that you must do. It will infuse immortal vigor into your soul, perfect your experience, and bring to you those joys which are real, and which abide forever.—Letter 16, November 17, 1896, to an aged sister.
The Upward Look p. 335
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Prayer Requests
—-Urgent prayer for Daniel please. I can’t talk about it right now. But it’s life and death situation. Lissa
—-Our daughter-in-law got bit by a black widow on sabbath. This evening she has started having multiple negative effects. Olive
—- Asking prayer for Mike who has been our window washer for years. He had COVID but recovered enough to get back to work and earn a living for a while but he hasn’t regained his strength and has to stop working again. Nancy
—-Please pray that God will heal David’s mind and emotions. Buck
—-Mama took a bad fall and hurt her chest. She is 89 years old. Please pray. Dawn
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Dear Friends,
This year has been a difficult one for everyone. Restrictions on almost every aspect of our lives have made life so different from 2019. All are perplexed and wondering why God has allowed this to happen. During these times our heart is overwhelmed within us and we stumble along in a daze not knowing which way to turn. Everyone is wishing for 2020 to be over, but will 2021 be any better? The only way that it will be, is if we are drawn closer to Jesus and allow Him to change us into His image.
Just as God’s Law is a schoolmaster to help us see our need of the saving grace of Christ, (Gal 3:24) so Our Great Creator uses trials and troubles to help us to see what is really important in our lives. Paul tells us, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” Heb 12:5-11
May we, during these troublous times, cling to our Rock and our Fortress for He is Mighty to Save. ( Isa 63:1) May we keep so focused upon our Lord and Saviour, that when these or even greater troubles come in like an overwhelming flood, we will look past them and into the Face of the Mighty Deliverer is my prayer.
Rose