Good Morning Weak But Strong, Growing in Faith, Trusting, Expectant Prayers! Amen! May that be us Lord! Grow us in these and be glorified, Amen! This salutation flows right from our devotionals for (below). When we are weak, He is strong. That is reflected and comes to life as we get to the end of ourselves, humble ourselves, allow Him to grow our faith as we keep trusting in His faithfulness and good plans no matter what we are facing. As we move through these things our prayers are informed and we know we can expect Him to answer according to His perfect will! (Even when it's not our will) Yes! Amen! So be it Lord! Where do you find yourself leaning on your own understanding and trying to resolve things in your own strength as if you didn't trust God? Where are your prayers weak and half-hearted? Stop! Breathe out the junk and anxiety and give it to God. Humble yourself and be still in trust and faith knowing He's got this! And turn to Him with and joyful praise that flows from this trust. He knows you, loves you, cares, hears and responds as we continue to allow Him to do His thing His way.
in zoom huddle we discussed not worrying and how that is almost impossible for us. Yet we know all these above things but still struggle. We are able to grow in faith and trust and as we continue to allow Him to have His way and watch for His promised faithfulness. We all have our struggles and have experienced and moved through hard things--sometimes severe things and witnessed God working all things together for good. Who do you have to help you redirect, pray with you and hold you accountable. Finding teammates we trust is critical Our zoom huddle has become a place of deep trust, fellowship and a place of encouragement and prayers. We are witnessing someone trying to continue to trust even with a hopeless diagnosis. We are trying to help another process and prepare for what seems to be a very hard future. We encourage, process and pray and God is always with us and leads us and even brings His shalom. But we have to release our junk to know and receive that shalom. And when we release and trust and pray, we can move forward in faith doing what we can with what we've been given and even things we can't imagine because all things are possible for God and then we are watching for Him in little and big things and answered prayers and we continue to worship and trust. Please find some teammates. Life is hard! BUT GOD!
What's your impossible, nerve-wracking thing? Who is helping you to process, refocus, pray and choose joy? Who is walking with you as you persevere in faith? That is your assignment: find some teammates and keep persevering in faith through the hard and the good things together. Lead us and unite us with the right teammates Lord. Bring Shalom and help us release all anxiety to You knowing Your plans are perfect even when we have to endure hardships. Thanks! Come! Help! hear and answer according to Your perfect will. Amen! Be still and know before you joyfully step into this day and His peace beyond understanding. His plans are perfect and He will be with you always! Amen!
We are: Weak But Strong, Growing in Faith, Trusting, Expectant Prayers andand that's good! PTL!
Upper Room: Strength Is Overrated
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. - Psalm 46:1 (NRSVUE)
It’s often flattering to be called strong, but I am learning that human strength is overrated. I wanted to be strong for my dad and our family as I helplessly watched my dad’s health deteriorate due to sepsis-induced multiple organ failure. So I tried to ignore the hurt I felt. Even after he died less than three weeks later, I kept trying to be strong. The effort nearly broke me. I was exhausted and drained physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
I’m learning it’s okay to be tired, frustrated, or overwhelmed. And we can admit it to those close to us — especially to our heavenly Father. We don’t need to pretend with God, to act strong or seem like we’ve got it all together. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Christ cried to God before facing crucifixion, so why should we try to face challenges, heartbreak, or loss without crying to God for help? God is our ever-present help in trouble, and God invites us to draw near in times of need. We can be vulnerable with God, who is not embarrassed by our tears or put off by our weakness. Rather, God takes us in, comforts us, and gives us strength.
's Prayer
Ever-present God, may we, with the help of the Holy Spirit, always remember that even when we feel weak, you are with us in our times of need. Amen.
The Word for You
Our Daily Bread
Fueled by Faith
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” Matthew 15:28
J.D. witnessed amazing sights on his trip to several African nations. His text messages to us from Eastern Zambia included several pictures of faith-filled women who presented their three-year gospel ministry plan. “It is one of the most powerful strategic plan presentations I’ve ever heard in my life. Instead of a whiteboard, they drew in the dirt. Instead of handing out nice copies of what they were going to do, they displayed their plan on poster-sized crumpled paper held up by two of them. It was just incredible!”
They were demonstrating the kind of faith that Jesus values. Matthew 15:21-28 records another example. A daughter’s condition drove a woman to seek Him. “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly” (v. 22). Her “great faith” (v. 28) in Jesus contrasted with the faithlessness of the Jewish leadership whose hearts were far from God (v. 8). While Christ recognized the outward pedigree of those belonging to Abraham, His commendation was for a gentile woman who possessed the faith of Abraham.
What compels you to look to Jesus ? A personal, family or community need? Whatever prompts you to go to Jesus, go—even if you feel that you’re limping. Go to Him because it’s not the size of your faith that matters. What matters is the object of your faith: Jesus and Jesus alone.
By Arthur Jackson
REFLECT & PRAY
How would you describe your faith ? How might you refuel your trust in Jesus?
Dear Jesus, please help me to grow in my faith as You provide what I need.
The encounter with the Canaanite woman has often perplexed Bible students because Jesus’ treatment of her seems out of character. Why would He be so harsh with this hurting woman? Perhaps His interaction with her regarding her demon-possessed daughter was more for the disciples’ benefit to show them the hardness of their own hearts as they repeatedly pushed Christ to send her away (Matthew 15:23). By communicating with her before His disciples, Jesus gave them a wonderful example of what “great faith” (v. 28) looks like when He healed the gentile woman’s daughter because of her faith in Him. It’s saying that this incident closely follows a debate between Christ and the religious leaders whom He described as formalistic in their religion without a true heart for God (vv. 1-14). , as we focus our eyes on Jesus, the object of our faith, we can entrust our cares to Him.
LISTEN ONLINE
