In 1969, Reggae singer Jimmy Cliff recorded a song titled, ‘Many Rivers to Cross’. Jimmy Cliff mentioned that the song was birthed out of the frustration and helplessness he felt after moving from Jamaica to the UK. The feelings came about because unlike what he had expected, nothing significant seemed to be happening in his career at that time.

The lyrics go like this:

Many rivers to cross
But I can’t seem to find my way over
Wandering I am lost
As I travel along the white cliffs of Dover

Are you feeling like that today? Surrounded by turbulent waters that you can’t seem to cross? It is a fact that many people are facing turbulent waters today, especially with the ripple effects of COVID-19. In the midst of such challenges, the Word of God gives us great hope and assurance.

Here is a thought from the Bible that encourage us to have hope when surrounded by turbulent waters.

Turbulent waters cannot drown us

In Isaiah 43:2, the Lord gives great assurance about His protection on His children as they face deep, turbulent waters. He says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2). What a great encouragement it is to know that He will not let us drown or be swept away when confronted by what the scripture calls ‘rivers of difficulty’ (Refer Isaiah 43:2 NLT).

Closing:

So friend if you are facing turbulent waters right now hold on to the promises of God and stand firm in your faith. As you do so, Jesus will speak to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!”   Mark 4:39.

By Palitha Jayasooriya
Used by Permission

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FURTHER READING

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“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3 (NIV)

A few years ago, my sister-in-law gave me a stone plaque with a paraphrase of Psalm 127:3 which reads, “Children are a blessing from the Lord”. I noticed, however, that some days raising children didn’t necessarily seem like a blessing. That’s when I began to question my understanding of “blessing”.

Children are a gift from God meant to benefit us. How often, in my very human, narrow way of looking at life, I have wanted “blessing” that look like gifts under the Christmas tree; gifts that come with no requirement for growth and expansion.

Instead, I am learning that God’s perspective on blessing is so much greater than ours. His blessings sometimes nudge me to dig deep, expand, grow and deny self. I am learning the way of sacrifice and of caring for the needs of others. I am learning the way of love, patience and of seeking wisdom. Ultimately, God’s blessings help shape me into a follower of Jesus.

And that’s truly a blessing.

Reflect:
How is God currently stretching me with His blessings?

Prayer:
Dear Lord, You pour out Your blessings in so many ways. Please transform my thinking to see Your blessings for what they truly are, tools to transform me into a follower of Jesus.

by Idelette McVicker
used by permission

FURTHER READING

Blessings from the Lord

Don’t Miss God’s Blessings

Blessing Of Your Belovedness

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“Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.” Matthew 5:13 (MSG)

Can you face a situation that is out of your control without acting out of control? This is a tough question for many to answer. We are so prone to acting out when we are faced with difficult situations much less difficult people.

When we are faced with the choice of reacting or responding to the situation at hand, as a believer, we have a greater responsibility. We must remember that we are the salt of the earth. We are the light of the world. Our job is to maintain the character of God. When we act out of control rather than responding in wisdom we give others the wrong perspective of what a Christian looks like. No, that does not mean we have to be perfect, but it does mean when we miss it, we should be quick to make amends and get it right.

Emotions are not bad but they must be managed properly. If your buttons are always being pushed then you have handed over your power to other people, it’s time to take your control back. We must actively set boundaries for ourselves to ensure that we are not taken advantage of but we must remember that it is not our place to retaliate or put people in their place. It is God’s job to help change people. It is our place to love and respect others while leading them to Christ. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 12:14 if at all possible, we should live at peace with all men. This can be a challenge because we are faced with so many different personalities. If we stay in tuned with God He can help teach us how to handle each one.

My challenge to you today is to practice allowing God to fight your battles. How do you put that in action you may ask? Walk away when you are in a situation that you feel you have to yell to get your point across. Take some deep breaths and pray before responding to that irate individual. The point here is to maintain your control.

Father, it is my prayer that You will infuse those that are struggling in this area with inner strength. Your Word declares that You are a perfect help in the time of trouble. May they find the grace needed to keep it together when they want to lash out or act unseemly. May they find the grace needed to maintain their peace in the midst of turmoil. Heal the root issues that keep bringing them back to this response. Open the eyes of their understanding today, In Jesus name Amen.

Thought: What are you afraid of? When did you begin reacting the way you do?
What happened to get you to this place? Take a moment and journal your answers to the questions above.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

Learn more about how you can know Jesus in a personal way at:
https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws

FURTHER READING

Respond or React

Change Me

When Panic Attacks

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The first miracle of Jesus was at a wedding—no small event.  For several days, there was gift-giving, speech making, food-eating, and wine-drinking.   Hospitality was a sacred duty  The absence of wine was a social embarrassment.  Mary asks her son to help, and he tells her that his “time has not yet come.” But he changed his plan to meet the needs of his friends.

This miracle tells us that what matters to you matters to God. You are his child.  So go ahead. Tell God what hurts.  He won’t turn you away or think it’s silly.  Hebrews 4:15-16 says,

“For our high priest is able to understand our weaknesses…Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God’s throne where there is grace.”

Does God care about the little things in our lives?  You better believe it.

By Max Lucado
used by permission

To learn more about Max Lucado visit his website at:    
https://maxlucado.com/about-max/

From: He Still Moves Stones

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: http://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

FURTHER READING

Attributes of God

God is Thinking about You

Father God’s Intimate Love Letter to You

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“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3

Thought

He restores my soul. My that sounds so good. But it is more than talk. When we’ve reached that point that we can’t go on, God blesses us with strength to just keep on walking. When we’re in a struggle and things are tough, his power upholds us and we run to victory. When we’re winning victories in his name, we can soar on wings like eagles. He is a shepherd and more. He is the Rock and Sustainer of our lives!

Prayer

O Gentle Shepherd, help me rest tonight in your grace and in the confidence that you are nearby. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

By Phil Ware
used by permission

From: http://www.heartlight.org

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Since we moved close to a shopping area, I usually walk to buy groceries.  Often, in the mornings, there is homeless man sitting on the sidewalk near the store. He sits  hunched over, his hat covers most of his face.  He isn’t asking for money, he just sits there.  So I decide to smile and  greet him with a cheerful, “Good morning!” And he looks up and smiles back – is missing most of his teeth – and answers  “Good Morning!”

As you know, people generally just walk by a homeless person without looking at them – very few people look in their eyes.  Smiling and saying a few friendly words brings them encouragement. Helps them feel better.

One night during my quiet time with the Lord, I read  2 Corinthians 3: 18 “ But we Christians have no veils over our faces; we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord.  And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him.”

Bill Bright, in his book, Promises, says, “You and I can be mirrors that reflect the glory of the Lord.  As the Spirit of the Lord works within us and we mature, we become more and more like Him”.

Max Lucado, writes, “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way.  He wants  you to be just like Jesus.”

Years ago, I learned about the power of the Holy Spirit in us as believers. Philippians 2:13 says, “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”  He actually changes our attitudes and actions. There are times when I don’t want to change my attitude, but the Holy Spirit reminds me that He even helps me “want to” change.

Marvin and I both have put this wonderful promise into practice and it has helped us have a great marriage.

He helps us to be nice to a grumpy clerk.  We can be calm when drivers are going to slow. We can be thankful when things are not going the way we expected.

So I encourage you to put into practice the wonderful promise in Philippians 2:13 – at home, with the family, at work –anytime of the day or night – god is always  listening.

Lord, thank you for changing us so we become more and more like Jesus.  Thank you for giving us everything we need to be mirrors that reflect Him.  Amen

By Katherine Kehler
used by permission

 

 

Have you ever noticed a couple who have been married for many years? They have truly become one. They finish each others sentences. At a restaurant they look down the menu and can tell you what the other person will order. They start smiling when their spouse begins to tell a story, because they know the punchline is going to be good. They even start looking more and more like one another. It is hard to know where one of them starts and the other stops.

James Houston once said “Prayer is keeping company with God, and we become like the One with whom we keep company.” That is the invitation: to spend time in the presence of the One who beckons us to the life-changing friendship called prayer.  Jesus kept company with His Father while here on earth.  Seven times Luke records Jesus praying: at His baptism (3:21), often (5:16), all night before choosing the twelve to be with Him (6:12), privately (9:18), before His transfiguration (9:28), in an accustomed place (11:1), in the garden (22:41-44), and from the cross (23:34).

That is my passion for me and for you. I want us to get up close to Him in His Word long enough that we see it not as a theological treatise or an object of study, but as opportunity to deepen our relationship as a friend of God. I want us to break out in praise to our holy, holy, holy, yet-oh-so-personal God, search our souls by the light of the Holy Spirit, share our hurts and fears and run for refuge to our Keeper, and draw closer to Jesus in pure devotion.

God desires an intimate relationship with us. God beckons us deeper into His heart, and we must not hold back. We need the personal resolve of Joshua who said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  We ask for God-given vision birthed in prayer, God-given ministry based on prayer, and God-permeated mission completely depending on Him. Then our lives will bear the imprint of His character in light, peace, joy, power, and truth.

As we continue on this journey with God through the years, people will begin to notice that level of oneness in us. As we soak in His Word and allow it to become a part of us, we can finish His “sentences.”  We will smile in the middle of the story God is unfolding, because we know the punchline is going to be good.  And people will begin to say, “You know, they even look like each other.”

By Sylvia Gunter
used by permission

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Read: Matthew 1:18-25

To find examples of wise, godly reactions to disappointment, you’re more likely to turn to Psalms than to Matthew. But the very first chapter in the New Testament tells the story of an upright man’s reaction to painful and disheartening news.

Joseph—Jesus’ earthly father—was a righteous person. A godly man wants a wife who shares his desire to honor and obey the Lord, and Scripture indicates that Mary was exactly that sort of woman (Luke 1: 45-55). So imagine how stunned Joseph must have been when Mary returned from a long visit with her relative Elizabeth and told him that she was pregnant. Moreover, she was claiming no man had touched her.

Any way Joseph looked at the situation, it appeared grim. And yet Matthew 1:20 says that he “considered”—in other words, he sought a wise, righteous response. God entered Joseph’s life in a dramatic way to confirm Mary’s story and put a stop to his “quiet annulment” plans.

The Lord turned Joseph’s mourning into joy. Mary had told the truth—strange and startling as it was. The couple would bear the intense public censure of an early pregnancy, but Joseph stopped thinking about what others would say. God had blessed work for him: to raise the Messiah alongside a faithful woman.

Followers of Christ should seek a godly response to disappointments they face. Since the Lord always has a plan, the wisest reaction is to anticipate the good He can do and await His timing. God certainly blessed Joseph for his willingness to “seek first His kingdom” (Matthew 6:33).

By Dr. Charles Stanley
Used by permission

http://www.intouch.org/

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“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8

God anointed David as His chosen king over Israel. Absalom tried to usurp God’s chosen king. David fled. His counselors and soldiers sided with Absalom. David could have feared and lost heart; instead he provided testimony and gave instruction.

In Psalm 4, David spoke his distress and confidence in Jehovah. He knew God heard his cries. David recognized God’s righteousness and his source of righteousness. It showed he knew Who gave him blessings and is all-powerful.

After verse one David spoke to all people. He taught that God sets apart the person who seeks Him. David explained how to be a godly person, one whom God sets apart. He gave six commands to people who want to be God’s child.

• Tremble and be in awe of and fear God.
• Follow the LORD and His commands.
• Meditate about God and His Word in your heart.
• Be still in mind, heart, and body to ponder on God.
• Offer sacrifices of righteousness to God.
• Trust in the LORD.

In God, David found his greatest blessing. For David, God was worth more than abundant grain and new wine. Being in God’s presence gave complete joy, contentment, and peace. Knowing and having a relationship with God gave David perfect peace. He rested from his worries and received complete refreshment. David trusted God and let down his own guard because of that perfect peace in God.

Oh Lord, please help us to trust only in You and look to you alone for our guidance and safety. Help us to place our complete trust in You so we can have perfect peace even in the tumult of our lives.

By Gail Davis
Used by permission

If  you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you can learn how to start one at this link:
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“I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I can’t. I do what I don’t want to – what I hate…When I want to do good, I don’t; and when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway….It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong…So you see how it is: my new life tells me to do right, but the old nature that is still inside me loves to sin. Oh, what a terrible predicament I’m in! Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature? Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free” Romans 7:15,19,21,24,25

Harry gave every indication of being a happy, joyful, fruitful Christian. He was active in every major event of the church and many large citywide Christian efforts. He always had a high visibility, and because of his extrovertive, outgoing personality he seemed to be a model Christian.

Then one day I saw the real Harry. He just blurted it out.

“I‘m a hypocrite – miserable, defeated, frustrated. I’ve lived a lie and worn a mask all my life, never wanting to reveal my true self. But I need help. I’m seriously thinking of committing suicide. I just can’t live the Christian life, no matter how hard I try.”

As I began reading Romans 7:15-25, he said, “That is my biography, the story of my life. I’ve done everything I know to find victory – to live the Christian life as I know I’m supposed to live it. But everything fails for me no matter how hard I try.”

I encouraged him to read on. Paul asks the question in the 25th verse, “Who will free me from my slavery to this deadly lower nature?” Then he answers that question by saying “Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free.”

If you are living a carnal life, as described in Romans 7, you can be liberated to experience a full and abundant, victorious and fruitful life, as you by faith claim the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit day by day, moment by moment.

Bible Reading: Romans 7:18-23

Today’s Thought:  By faith, I will claim the power of the Holy Spirit to enable me to live the abundant, supernatural life that Jesus promised, so that I can bring glory to God by bearing much.

By Dr. Bill Bright
used by permission

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