|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "My Faith Looks Up To Thee"1 (Lyrics) |
With the support of my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Evans, the church, and my parents, I felt that I was being called to become a missionary. God's Spirit encouraged me to share my love for Him as I sang His praises both in and out of the church. Nothing is sweeter than life with Jesus as our hope and salvation, and nothing is more exciting than fulfilling our God-given purpose. Everything appeared to be perfect — until it wasn't!
Although I was blessed, temptations and hardships still came my way. I experienced heartbreak, illness, depression, loss of loved ones, and chronic pain.
My world became very small when my days were consumed with myself, and my worth consisted of collecting more and more trinkets, rather than sharing my God-given resources. During the daytime, I was distracted by the busyness of life, but in the quiet solitude of night, I faced the fears that I held in my heart. When my spiritual gifts went unopened, I began to cry, "Why am I here?" or worse, "I'm bored," and I forgot my purpose, because my heart become blind to the needs of others. Instead of the voice of wisdom guiding my day, I randomly chose this way or that, and living became meaningless.
Thankfully, the story did not end there.
Why does God allow trials and temptations in our lives? It is essential to understand that these trials serve a purpose: to test and prove the genuineness of our faith.
"Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny." – C.S. Lewis.
Before leaving His beloved disciples for one last time, Jesus left them — and us — this wonderful promise:
John 14:16-17a,18 – And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. No, I will not abandon you as orphans — I will come to you. (NLT)
Whenever I look back over those times of affliction, I can honestly say that God has kept His promise! Philippians 4:13 reminds me that "I can do all things (like facing the trials head on) through Christ who strengthens me." (NKJV) Jesus' Advocate never left my side!
From beginning to end, believers need the Holy Spirit always to be tending to us. He comforts us, helps us, guides us, reminds us, teaches, comes alongside, counsels, intercedes, and advocates for us. There is no area of life in which the believer does not need the help of the Holy Spirit.
Thankfully there is a solution to keep the Holy Spirit active. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Galatians 5:16 give us steps to take.
- Rejoice always. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
- Pray without ceasing.
- In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- Walk in the Spirit, not the flesh.
- Sing! Because, my friends, God always keeps His promises!
Prayer: Lord, You promised abundant life and blessings from on high. Thank You that You fulfill Your promises each day. We can rest in the truth that You will provide for us and meet our needs tomorrow and the day after. We praise You because Your well of blessings will never run out. You are a wonderful Father! Amen.
Forward this devotional Share this devotional on Facebook Like PresbyCan on Facebook
Although PresbyCan doesn't have a mobile app, you can still have a PresbyCan icon on your mobile phone home screen. 
Tuesday, December 10, 2024 – In Peru — Pray for the three babies that have been born the last few months. Each mom is struggling, mostly due to lack of funds, for food and milk. Pray for us as a team as we discern the Lord's will about our pastoral passes for 2025. We also need workers, godly women with life experiences and awareness of the power of God, who are willing to invest time in these women.
Prayer for Pastor Kristen: "Update December 2, 2024: Kristen is not doing well. She will probably need to go on disability. She..." 
Prayer for Healing: "December 5, 2024: Pray, please, for healing for son who has been sick for over a month. Originally..." 
Thanks for the encouraging words, Lois. God bless.
Lois, thank you for this honest and encouraging testimony.
Thank you, Lois, for encouraging us to walk the walk and sing His praises.
Thank you, Lois, for sharing this uplifting and timely devotional with us.
Blessings.
Tomorrow I will visit a close friend who has terminal cancer – I pray the Holy Spirit will help me bring comfort and Hope.
Thank you for sharing your touching story and reminding us how we can face difficult times by walking with God’s gifts of Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
May God continue to bless you always, Lois!
Hello Lois
Thank you for this personal devotional today and the encouragement it brings that God never leaves us and He sends the Holy Spirit to be with us to guide, remind, and love us.
God bless.
Dear Lois,
What a wonderful, inspiring message! It is a blessing for me and so appropriate this morning and right now in this period of my life. I am grateful.
Blessings, Gratitude, Gratitude, Joy, Laughter.
Dear Lois thank you for your very meaningful and reassuring devotional today. Our Lord truly is a “Good father” ever there to assist us. Your reference to Philippians 4:13 touched me deeply as that verse was my constant mantra when I had an accident and the doctor told me I would never walk on my own again. Several months later I walked in his office without assistance thanks to our loving Lord! Blessings for your writings.
Good morning, Lois,
Your message today is one we need to hear over and over. In hindsight, I can see the value to my difficult times. As I am going through them, I don’t often understand why.
Some time later on, I can see the value. It might be in my own growth. It might be because sharing about it with someone else, can help them. It might be a better understanding of what faith is for me.
Really appreciate that you share your experiences and encourage others to think about their faith. Blessings and joy.
So wow Lois.
I too wanted to be a missionary from the time I was little. I too have had more than my fair share (whatever that might be) of trials and hardships. As a teacher, I gave and gave in the spirit. And now as a bnb hostess, I know I can, and have, touched some of the most wonderful folks who come our way.
Yesterday, an older couple and the brother-in-law arrived to stay two nights. This morning at breakfast, we talked about our loved ones who struggle with mental illness…these are Christian folks it turns out…so the discussion was full of hope and God’s blessings. The brother-in-law is spreading his late wife’s ashes where they all gathered each summer, and she loved it there.
Thank you for your writing today.
I was blessed in the reading.
I’ve experienced the same downward spiral, and can testify that the way back is using the gift of encouragement that has been given to me.
I am uplifted, strengthened, and filled with “the joy of the Lord”.
Thanks, Lois for the reminder of my daily spiritual “workout” routine!
With gratitude,
(BC)