WRITING A DEVOTIONAL

WRITING A DEVOTIONAL

Back in 2003 after having spent the year before reading Sarah Ban Breathnach's book "Simple Abundance" I took her suggestion to heart and wrote my own daily devotional. Each day I took a line or two from one of the various spiritual authors from the last three centuries I was reading and wrote my own thoughts on the subject. I then looked for a scripture that illustrated the truth that had been revealed to me. What follows is the result.

"Our greatest bondage is to have our own way; our greatest freedom is to let God have His way." Warren Wiersbe

Thursday, July 14, 2011

July 14


“Hope in the Christian’s life is not wishful thinking.  It is confident expectation.”  H. Blackaby, Experiencing God Day-by-Day, 7/11

I was thinking today about the hopelessness I feel sometimes.  There are situations or relationships that I feel will never change.  At my age I’ve just about given up on trying to change the way some things are and am learning to accept them.  I always go through a hopelessness about them, though.  But because God does not give up on anything I often feel I must resurrect my concern over the matter.  This morning, though, I realized a difference between hoping about something and putting my hope in Christ Himself.  To hope that the world situation will get better or that a relationship will improve puts my focus in a realm where I have very little control.  While I may be able to contribute something toward world peace or personal peace, I do not have total control.  But God does.  By placing my hope only in Him will I ever experience hope.  My confident expectation is that God is in control and no matter the outcome, in the end it is what God, the creator of all, has deemed fit.

“I love thee, O LORD, my strength.  The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”  Psalm 18:1, 2

2 comments:

  1. Although this post was written in 2011, just goes to show that history continues to repeat it self. At least in my circumstances. Perhaps challenging times are just a part of our everyday lives. Your message was what I needed to read & to be reminded that putting my hope in Him is all that matters. Only HE knows the outcome & for a believer that can only result in goodness.

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  2. Yes, when we totally surrender ALL doubts and fears and self control .. then we totally are free! Love your post as always Merri

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