Dear Ones,
Hope you have a faith-filled day! I plan to fry fish and make spaghetti pies, go to exercise class and a picnic supper party here at Northern Lakes. If we are done in time we will go to Bible study after that. Emoji
Devotions from Judy’s heart
The Lord wants us to have confidence in Him, for He is our solid rock and will be our safe place no matter what we face in the future. He doesn’t keep Himself at a distance, but is close to us and watching over us, especially when going through those hard times. I read recently from Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” I’m sure we all have had times when we feel like the bottom has dropped out and we wonder where God is. But we can have unshakable confidence that He is right beside us, feels our pain and will uphold us.

A song came to mind the other day by Ira Stanphill that I remember singing in a quartet as a teen. Theses words came back to me: “I don’t know about tomorrow; I just live from day to day. I don’t borrow from its sunshine, for its skies may turn to grey. I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said. And today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what lies ahead. Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.”

There is a lot of fear in our culture today and people are stressed and anxious. But when we know the Lord, we can confidently rest in Him and know that we are held firmly in His hand. Like the last verse of this song says: “I don’t know about tomorrow, it may bring me poverty. But the one who feeds the sparrow, is the one who stands by me. And the path that is my portion, may be through the flame or flood; but His presence goes before me and I’m covered with His blood.”

Instead of fear let us trust in the One who stands by us, is close and gives us hope. We can face whatever happens in the future because of the assurance of God’s goodness and mercy.

Challenge for today: When fearful thoughts come to your mind, thank the Lord that He holds your future in His hands.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy