Nourish Your Heart

Lord, thank you for being here with me this day. You are walking through this day with me.

You know who I am. You know what I’m going through. You named me and love me as your own.

Forgive me my sins. Spread your peace and joy thick around me. Cushion me with your comforting arms and lift me up.

Help me face this day with your hand holding mine.

Jeremiah 14:9 But God, you are, in fact, here, here with us! You know who we are—you named us! Don’t leave us in the lurch.

(My grandmother, Anna Daisy Siemens, wrote poetry and prose. This devotion was written and published for Devotions for the Deaf in 1994)

James 1:2 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

When the Pharisees ordered the Apostles not to speak in public about Jesus, Peter replied, “We must obey God rather than men,” (Acts 4:19 – But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!). He then pointed a finger of guilt at the Jewish leaders for crucifying the Son of God.

The Sanhedrin wanted to kill the Apostles but Gamaliel persuaded the Jews to flog them with a warning never to preach His name again. Did the Apostles complain? No, they rejoiced because they were considered “worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name” (Acts 5:41) – The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

Paul wrote, “We rejoice in our sufferings” (Romans 5:3 – Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance.) When Paul and Silas sang praises while chained in jail with bleeding backs, God rescued them through an earthquake. The jailer and his family were baptized because of their testimony.

As metal is tempered through heat, we grow through our trials. If we share in suffering, we can also hare in His glory (Romans 8:17 – Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.).

Prayer: Lord, give me the strength and the joy to rejoice in bad times and when suffering.

(Recently my mother had an opportunity to show joy. See her blog, Blessings of a Broken Shoulder)

(My grandmother, Anna Daisy Siemens, wrote poetry and prose. This devotion was written and published for Devotions for the Deaf in 1994)

Bible Read: 2 Timothy 2:8-15

Bible heroes did not live perfect lives. They were human beings. Sometimes they did things that were wrong, but they trusted God for forgiveness. This gives us hope for godly living in our lives.

Jacob, a deceiver, found God at Bethel (Genesis 28:10-22). He made a promise to God and God blessed him.

Men like Joshua and Gideon fought against overwhelming odds. They won because they relied on God.

David cried, “Create in me a pure heart,” after he sinned. God forgave him.

Jesus chose twelve ordinary men as disciples. Their faith faltered. They broke promises, but when they met their risen Lord, they counted suffering for Him a privilege.

Paul and Silas sang in prison although they were beaten and in chains. They were willing to die for Christ, so they could live with Him.

Bible heroes show us that God cares. He has not changed and we can find encouragement in His Word.

ADS

Romans 15:4 – For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

Prayer: Dear God in Heaven, give us hope in Christ. Help us as You helped faithful men who lived before us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.