Men’s Breakfast Devotional
December 10, 2011
I wanted to do a devotional that was Christmas related. But during my thought and meditation, I couldn’t come up with something that wasn’t too cliche for the season.
Also, around the same time, God has really been leaning on my heart about another topic.
(Discouragement) Can be temporary–or it can destroy our life. The choice is ours. If we refuse to deal with discouragement head-on, we are opening the door for it to completely dominate our life. – Dr. Charles Stanley
I’ve been thinking a lot about things that are going on in my life right now and I must confess. There have been many things that have caused me to feel discouraged. Or at the very least, disappointed
Searching the scriptures, looking for encouragement. Looking for promise that this disappointment I was feeling was temporary. I came across this passage:
ROMANS
(5:1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; (4) and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; (5) and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (6) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Here’s what I got from this passage:
(v1) - I am justified. I am at peace with God. It’s all through His Son Jesus.
(v2) - I am good. I am in God’s grace, on His ‘good side’. I am to rejoice in His Glory.
(v3) - I am to rejoice when I have problems or issues. Stand strong and keep on going.
(v4) - You’ll find out whats in a sponge as soon as you squeeze it. Character will be revealed in tough times. Also, whether or not you have Hope in your heart. Do you really trust God?
(v5) - Hope only in God does not disappoint. Never.
(v6) - We were still helpless? Of course we are. I am today. I can do nothing without God. Also, Yes, Jesus did die at the right time. God’s appointed time. He died for me.
It helped to remind me: All of life’s events whether tiny or humongous; are all by design. We are not supposed to understand it. Yet, have faith and give the glory to God.
So.
If you haven’t noticed yet, this is very similar to one of the points in this weeks CG reading! If I tried to tell you I planned it this way, I’d be lying. But, to think that these all come together by mistake would be just as wrong!
Bottom line. Regardless of what we do, we should do it as if it were for God directly! He’ll work out the kinks for us. Remember what I said before, YOU NEVER KNOW WHATS IN A SPONGE UNTIL YOU SQUEEZE IT. It could be a test.
Disappointments will come and go, but discouragement is a choice that you make. – Dr. Charles Stanley
Question: How do you cope during times of ‘Disappointment’ or discouragement?
December 10, 2011
I wanted to do a devotional that was Christmas related. But during my thought and meditation, I couldn’t come up with something that wasn’t too cliche for the season.
Also, around the same time, God has really been leaning on my heart about another topic.
(Discouragement) Can be temporary–or it can destroy our life. The choice is ours. If we refuse to deal with discouragement head-on, we are opening the door for it to completely dominate our life. – Dr. Charles Stanley
I’ve been thinking a lot about things that are going on in my life right now and I must confess. There have been many things that have caused me to feel discouraged. Or at the very least, disappointed
Searching the scriptures, looking for encouragement. Looking for promise that this disappointment I was feeling was temporary. I came across this passage:
ROMANS
(5:1) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (3) And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; (4) and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; (5) and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (6) For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
Here’s what I got from this passage:
(v1) - I am justified. I am at peace with God. It’s all through His Son Jesus.
(v2) - I am good. I am in God’s grace, on His ‘good side’. I am to rejoice in His Glory.
(v3) - I am to rejoice when I have problems or issues. Stand strong and keep on going.
(v4) - You’ll find out whats in a sponge as soon as you squeeze it. Character will be revealed in tough times. Also, whether or not you have Hope in your heart. Do you really trust God?
(v5) - Hope only in God does not disappoint. Never.
(v6) - We were still helpless? Of course we are. I am today. I can do nothing without God. Also, Yes, Jesus did die at the right time. God’s appointed time. He died for me.
It helped to remind me: All of life’s events whether tiny or humongous; are all by design. We are not supposed to understand it. Yet, have faith and give the glory to God.
So.
If you haven’t noticed yet, this is very similar to one of the points in this weeks CG reading! If I tried to tell you I planned it this way, I’d be lying. But, to think that these all come together by mistake would be just as wrong!
Bottom line. Regardless of what we do, we should do it as if it were for God directly! He’ll work out the kinks for us. Remember what I said before, YOU NEVER KNOW WHATS IN A SPONGE UNTIL YOU SQUEEZE IT. It could be a test.
Disappointments will come and go, but discouragement is a choice that you make. – Dr. Charles Stanley
Question: How do you cope during times of ‘Disappointment’ or discouragement?
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