Day 6: God's Presence In The Midst of Trials
"Have no fear of sudden disaster, or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be at your side, and will keep your foot from being snared. Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act."
Proverbs 3:25-27
God knows our hearts so deeply and intimately - so he addresses two truths in this passage.
This passage first reminds us that we don’t have to fear sudden disaster; but God’s comfort to us is not that it will never happen. He gives us something even more reliable: that He, the all-powerful God of the universe, will be at our side in the midst of it if it does.
God also knows that, in fear of disaster, our tendency is toward self-preservation (i.e. stockpiling toilet paper, taking all the canned food before someone else does, etc). So He first reminds us that HE is at our side, and that we don’t need to fearfully preserve our own lives. Secondly, He reminds us to look outward, at how we can do good to others in the midst of our fears and trials. Jesus echoes this command all throughout the Gospels (Luke 3:11, 17:33).
So, we’re praying for your health. We’re praying for God's peace, and God's wisdom for you, no matter what that needs to look like in this time.. And most of all, we’re praying that, though it's so natural to adopt a state of fear and self-preservation, that God would give you a heart of joyful servanthood toward others in this time.
Prayer and Action Steps:
Proverbs 3:25-27
God knows our hearts so deeply and intimately - so he addresses two truths in this passage.
This passage first reminds us that we don’t have to fear sudden disaster; but God’s comfort to us is not that it will never happen. He gives us something even more reliable: that He, the all-powerful God of the universe, will be at our side in the midst of it if it does.
God also knows that, in fear of disaster, our tendency is toward self-preservation (i.e. stockpiling toilet paper, taking all the canned food before someone else does, etc). So He first reminds us that HE is at our side, and that we don’t need to fearfully preserve our own lives. Secondly, He reminds us to look outward, at how we can do good to others in the midst of our fears and trials. Jesus echoes this command all throughout the Gospels (Luke 3:11, 17:33).
So, we’re praying for your health. We’re praying for God's peace, and God's wisdom for you, no matter what that needs to look like in this time.. And most of all, we’re praying that, though it's so natural to adopt a state of fear and self-preservation, that God would give you a heart of joyful servanthood toward others in this time.
Prayer and Action Steps:
- God, help me practice the discipline of acknowledging Your presence.
- Lord, please help me to surrender fear-based self-preservation.
- Lord, direct my eyes and heart outward, that I might love and serve a hurting world in difficult times.
- God can speak to us in this time. He sometimes uses trials and hardships to expose our fears, disappointments, and anxieties. Pause and ask the Holy Spirit to name the things that make this time in your life difficult for you. If anything comes to mind, write them down. Ask the Lord to reveal His presence and truth in the midst of these.
- Reflect on Luke 3:11, and Luke 17:33. Absolutely purchase what you need; even think ahead, and be wise. But do this after acknowledging God’s presence and provision, and reflect on whether your purchases are out of trust in the Lord, or self-preservation.
- Return to the store, or give away, what you don’t need. Someone else needs it. Encourage your child’s teacher. Thank them for their flexibility.
Posted in The Presence of God Prayer Series
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Day 1: The Fruit of the SpiritDay 2: What It Is NotDay 3: The Trinity - JesusDay 4: The Trinity - FatherDay 5: The Trinity - The Holy SpiritDay 6: Assumptions and ExcusesDay 7: Sunday SermonDay 8: The GardenerDay 9: Bearing FruitDay 10: Submitting to the ProcessDay 11: Abide in His LoveDay 12: Loving Each OtherDay 13: Vine and the BranchesDay 14: Grace and Truth Sermon DevotionalDay 15: When I Don't See JesusDay 16: When Pain Leads to JoyDay 17: It's All About Who You KnowDay 18: Take HeartDay 19: Jesus’ Priestly PrayerDay 20: Jesus' Priestly PrayerDay 21: Unity as One
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Day 1 God is HolyDay 2 God is UnchangingDay 3 God is LoveDay 4 God is TranscendentDay 5 God is OmnipotentDay 6 God is GoodDay 7 God is ImmanentDay 8 God is OmnipresentDay 9 God is our IntercessorDay 10 God is our CreatorDay 11 God is OmniscientDay 12 God is our Good ShepherdDay 13 God is FaithfulDay 14 God is our FriendDay 15 God is the Lord of the FeastDay 16 God is GenerousDay 17 God is Three in One (the Trinity)Day 18 God is JustDay 19 God is CompassionateDay 20 God is Lord of the HarvestDay 21 God is Coming King
March
Day 1: The Priestly BlessingDay 2: LeadershipDay 3: The Upper RoomDay 4: He knowsDay 5: Be StillDay 6: God's Presence In The Midst of TrialsDay 7: God Is In ControlDay 8: His WhisperDay 9: Our FatherDay 10: Wrestling with GodDay 11: God Is My ShieldDay 12: In His Presence Is JoyDay 13: The God of All ComfortDay 14: Sermon Reflections & ApplicationDay 15: Watch the WordDay 16: God is My Portion
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