Bible Study & Devotional (Day 221)
Read Today’s Passages (August 9, 2022)
Guiding Scripture: Psalm 31:19-24 How abundant are the good things
that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all,
on those who take refuge in you.
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues;
you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.
21 Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercywhen I called to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
Life is hard, but God is good
Written by Robin Lambert
Worrying is imaging a future without God. You worry when you project your current feelings, discouragements and struggles into the future. You worry when you take God’s love and faithfulness out of the equation. You imagine a stark and bleak future, a screaming void in which your faithful and loving Father does not exist or act on your behalf. Underneath all of this anxiety, fear and confusion is you living in a state of unbelief.
It’s acting as if God does not exist. No matter how hopeless it seems, God is still God.
There is no circumstance, no trouble, no testing, that can ever touch you until it is filtered through the hand of God. If it has come that far, it has come with great purpose. Don’t yield to discouraging circumstances, wrongly believing that you are cut off from the eyes of the Lord, and left to the pride of men.
The deliverance from and the destruction of your enemies ought to strengthen and comfort your hearts under all the afflictions of this world.
Be of good courage. Keep your attitude focused on God’s goodness and don’t let any cowardly thoughts fill your mind.
Fear weakens, courage strengthens.
Instead of yielding to impatience or despondency under your troubles, turn your thoughts to the goodness of the Lord. You are just a human being whose life keeps proving how much you need God. Once you try to manage life on your own, your body is faithful to remind you that you are not strong enough. In fact, God never intended for you to be strong enough on your own. You were made to need Him, run to Him and surrender to Him. God is stronger.
God is faithful. He is perfect. He misses nothing.
He promised in the Word to bring all things together for good – ALL things. He has a plan and a purpose for every circumstance, every friendship, every illness, every business venture and every moment of your life. He makes no mistakes.
Trust in Him. Trust His plan for your life.
Hold nothing back and hand your life over to Him. Remember, Whose you are, to Whom you belong, and Who governs all that concerns you. Nothing in this world is too hard for goodness of your God!
This devotional was submitted by Robin Lambert, a loving contributor to Our Given Purpose. Edited by Torrie Slaughter the founder of Our Given Purpose® in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Bible In A Year Daily Reading Plan
Tuesday, August 9, 2022
Ezra 8:21-9:15, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Psalm 31:1-8, Proverbs 21:1-2
Connect with Robin Lambert at Oily Life
Robin is a California native and a SW Virginia resident who is a wife, mother, grandmother, Young Living Essential Oils representative and founder of Emotionally Messy Friends. The Church is full of women who desire a deeper walk with Christ. Their lives may be a mess, but God doesn’t want to keep them that way!
