Here
is Pastor Karen's devotion today:
Good morning!
When Jacob, with his mother’s help, deceived his father into giving him the blessing and inheritance that was rightfully his older brother Esau’s, he was forced to flee from his home and begin again in another place. Though it was under different circumstances than his grandfather Abraham’s flight from his hometown at 75 to follow God, the pattern of leaving what is familiar and comfortable in order to live out the will of God is the same. Also like Abraham, God assures Jacob of His everlasting presence with him. He reminds him that He has a bigger plan that will also affect Jacob’s descendants, who will be a blessing to “all the families of the earth.”
In Genesis 28:10-22, a frightened Jacob is on his way to Haran. He stops to rest for the night. With a stone for a pillow, he gloomily lies down and has a dream of a
“ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’”
In our lives, we often have what we perceive are “interruptions”— sudden changes or trials that are threats to our peace. Jacob’s life would be radically different after he received God’s “blessings” from his father. These “blessings” would make life more difficult than he had ever experienced. But they humble him and shape his character as a man who begins to rely on the Lord throughout the trials and changes and believes in His promises to him and his offspring.
In 2013, you may encounter what you perceive are “interruptions”—sudden changes or trials that threaten your peace. You may lose a loved one. You may face a diagnosis of a serious illness or disease. You may lose a job or have a falling out with someone you love. This may have happened to you in 2012!
The key to keeping our peace is if we can see these sudden changes or trials as still in our loving God’s control, rather than “interruptions” or “aberrations” in our life’s path. Our Heavenly Father does not desire bad things and needless suffering for His children.
Ultimately, His promises and blessings will be fulfilled. We will live abundantly in this world, relying on Him for strength and guidance through all the trials and changes. And we will live joyfully with Him for all eternity in the world to come.
Will you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, forgive us when we have questioned your will for our lives and wondered if you are still with us throughout the trials and changes. Reassure us of your loving, eternal presence with us and your promise of blessings for our families. Remind us of your willingness to suffer for us and sacrifice your only son so we would be forgiven of all our sins. Give us the peace of Christ today and always as we face “interruptions,” changes, and trials in our lives. Strengthen our faith in the God of our salvation, the God who holds all things in His hands! In Christ we pray. Amen.
Blessings in His name,
Pastor Karen
Good morning!
When Jacob, with his mother’s help, deceived his father into giving him the blessing and inheritance that was rightfully his older brother Esau’s, he was forced to flee from his home and begin again in another place. Though it was under different circumstances than his grandfather Abraham’s flight from his hometown at 75 to follow God, the pattern of leaving what is familiar and comfortable in order to live out the will of God is the same. Also like Abraham, God assures Jacob of His everlasting presence with him. He reminds him that He has a bigger plan that will also affect Jacob’s descendants, who will be a blessing to “all the families of the earth.”
In Genesis 28:10-22, a frightened Jacob is on his way to Haran. He stops to rest for the night. With a stone for a pillow, he gloomily lies down and has a dream of a
“ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’”
In our lives, we often have what we perceive are “interruptions”— sudden changes or trials that are threats to our peace. Jacob’s life would be radically different after he received God’s “blessings” from his father. These “blessings” would make life more difficult than he had ever experienced. But they humble him and shape his character as a man who begins to rely on the Lord throughout the trials and changes and believes in His promises to him and his offspring.
In 2013, you may encounter what you perceive are “interruptions”—sudden changes or trials that threaten your peace. You may lose a loved one. You may face a diagnosis of a serious illness or disease. You may lose a job or have a falling out with someone you love. This may have happened to you in 2012!
The key to keeping our peace is if we can see these sudden changes or trials as still in our loving God’s control, rather than “interruptions” or “aberrations” in our life’s path. Our Heavenly Father does not desire bad things and needless suffering for His children.
Ultimately, His promises and blessings will be fulfilled. We will live abundantly in this world, relying on Him for strength and guidance through all the trials and changes. And we will live joyfully with Him for all eternity in the world to come.
Will you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, forgive us when we have questioned your will for our lives and wondered if you are still with us throughout the trials and changes. Reassure us of your loving, eternal presence with us and your promise of blessings for our families. Remind us of your willingness to suffer for us and sacrifice your only son so we would be forgiven of all our sins. Give us the peace of Christ today and always as we face “interruptions,” changes, and trials in our lives. Strengthen our faith in the God of our salvation, the God who holds all things in His hands! In Christ we pray. Amen.
Blessings in His name,
Pastor Karen
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