Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: Dealing with Life through Prayer
Weekend Music links on iTunes: Let God Arise by Chris Tomlin; Not To Us by Chris Tomlin; Glory by Hillsong; Rescue by Desperation Band
Read: John 10:7; 1 Kings 18:44; Psalm 18:6
Think: Today, I learned a lot from a nine month old baby. He was hungry and tired. He wanted to be held and fed. He was fussing and crying. I dearly love this baby and I knew exactly what he needed but in order to prepare his food, I had to put him down (he's a chunk!). He wailed and crawled after me, all around the kitchen, sure that I had not heard and understood his needs. I got one jar of food warmed and ready, picked him up and fed him. He gulped happily, beaming at me. That jar was empty. I put him in the highchair, and began to quickly warm two more jars of food. He wailed fiercely, sure that that was all he was going to get and sure that I did not realize he was still hungry.
How limited is his understanding. Even though he could see me preparing the food right in front of him, he didn't understand that it was for him, that I did hear and was in the process of answering his cries.
Psalm 18:6 "In my distress, I called to the Lord, I cried to my God for help. From His temple, He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ear." vs.19: "He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me."
Do you struggle to believe that God hears your cries and is coming to your rescue? Perhaps, as pastor said on Sunday, your understanding of his nature is flawed by past teaching or past experiences. To know him is to trust him. He loves you and even delights in you.
Do: Give some thought to your understanding of who God is. If you're not sure, look through the Bible and jot down a few of his attributes. In Exodus 34:6&7, God gives a self-description. He says this: "The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin..."
Pray: Lord, I am often so blind to your presence, to your abilities, to your plans, to your provision for me. You are working and moving in my life. Help me to understand and to know you better. You are responding to my cries. Help me learn to trust you. Amen
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church. |
