Encouragement for Today - August 17, 2005

2005 Aug 17

August 17

Encouragement for Today

“Changes”

Wendy Pope, Director of Development, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member

Key Verse:

Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (NIV)

Devotion:

I was having a little pity party the other day. Every now and then a girl is allowed one, don’t you think? In the past few months several of my favorite things have been closed or discontinued. Let me bend your ear: my foundation, my shampoo, my favorite Italian restaurant, my lotion and, most recently, my signature lipstick, Chocolate Mousse. Now that is enough to make any grown girl cry! But during my pity party God reminded me of something that has never, and will never, change – Him. Praise God and glory to the Father, that we can count on Him to be consistent. Let’s take a look at His track record.

Our God is the same God who:

created…everything
closed the door on the ark for Noah
stopped Abraham from killing Isaac
parted the Red Sea and dried the path so His people wouldn’t get mud between their toes
wrote the 10 commandments with His finger
lead the Israelites by day with a cloud and by night with fire
made the walls fall down around Jericho
closed the lions’ mouths so Daniel would be saved
cooled the furnace for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
choose a shepherd boy to be a king
knew you before you were in your mother’s womb
designed a plan for your life
was conceived in the womb of virgin
lived a sinless life
carried a cross to Calvary for you and me
conquered death and rose again
left a Counselor to help us on this earth
is preparing a place for His children
is sitting at the right hand of God Almighty at this very moment
will come again when the archangel sounds the trumpet

Oh friend, is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob your God today? If not, pray to receive Him as your Savior. Confess your sins to Him now. He is Faithful and Just to forgive you. Confess that you need a Savior. Tell Him that you choose Him above all others. Through all of life’s uncertainties, He is the one certain thing.

My Prayer for Today:

I come before You, blessing You this moment for Your consistent power, consistent behavior and Your constant love. I stand amazed at the thought that You, my God, are the same God who closed the door of the ark. Help me, oh Lord, to never forget the magnitude of who You are and the reality of what You can do. Thank You for never changing when everything around me does. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

Application Steps:

Write down all of the blessings in your life. Praise Him for those blessings. Write down the current struggles in your life. Praise Him for those struggles. Write down three things from the list of Who God Is. Praise Him for being Who He Is!!

Reflection Points:

How do I handle changes?

What can I do to handle change better?

Can others notice a difference in me when something has changed in my life?

Do I praise God continually no matter what my circumstances may be?

Power Verses:

Joshua 3:5, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” (NIV)

Joshua 1:5, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (NIV)

Psalm 63:3, "Because Your love is better than life my lips will glorify you.” (NIV)

Zephaniah 3:17, "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (NIV)

Additional Resources:

Living Life on Purpose, by Lysa TerKeurst

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_livingLife.htm

Get Over It and On With It, by Michelle McKinney Hammond

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_getOverIt.htm

Secrets of the Vine, by Bruce Wilkinson

http://proverbs31.gospelcom.net/newresources_secretsVine.htm