22. Devotional: Have Faith in God

Devotional: Have Faith in God

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

Have faith in God. (Mark 11:22)

    “WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM.” Our God has spoken. His Word is truth: believe it, plead it, expect the fulfilment of it. He cannot deceive you. His ear is open to you. Try Him. What do you want? Why do you want it? If you really need, if your motives are good, plead with God for it; expect Him to bestow it; and receive it as coming from Him. In every trial, for all you need, have faith in God. He will be gracious unto you. He is ever with you. He is ready to help you. He rejoices over you to do you good. His word is true from the beginning. He is the faithful God. He keepeth covenant and mercy. Believe in God for all that your circumstances require. Patiently wait His time for your supplies. Never stop praying or expecting because He delays: never doubt Him but trust in Him with all your heart. He is God, thy God; He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that you ask or think. This is thy direction, thy duty, thy privilege: have faith in God. Walk with God, talk with God, expect from God, do all for God, be entirely devoted to God. "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” Therefore will I look unto the Lord.

Begone, unbelief! my Saviour is near,
And for my relief He’ll surely appear:
By prayer let me wrestle that He will perform;
With Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm.

21. Devotional: I Will Surely Do Thee Good

Devotional: I Will Surely Do Thee Good
Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

I will surely do thee good. (Genesis 32:12)

    “I AM NOT WORTHY OF THE LEAST OF ALL (THY) MERCIES.” This was Jacob’s confession to the Lord in his prayer. God’s gracious promise to Jacob extends to us his spiritual seed. It is thus God speaks to us this morning. How gracious He is! We know not what a day may bring forth, but we know our God who superintends every event will do us good. We may mistake as to what will be for our good, but He is infinite in wisdom and goodness, and He makes no mistake. We may look at afflictions, losses, and crosses, and cry out, "All these things are against me!" But read the history of David. What a train of troubles attended him! Hear his acknowledgement: "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." Thy God will do thee good, therefore He will try thee, sift thee, humble thee, and prove thee. He will give thee medicine as well as food. He will consider nothing too expensive or too painful, if necessary for thy soul's welfare. Look at your trials and say, "This also shall turn to my salvation." Look on the past, and acknowledge, "Goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life." Look to the future and rejoice, "The Lord will give that which is good." Look in every direction, and say, "I will trust and not be afraid."

I cannot doubt His bounteous love,
So full, so free, so kind;
To His unerring, gracious will
Be every wish resigned.

20. A Quote from Oswald Chambers (18)

 Download Link

19. Hymn: Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

Hymn: Leaning On The Everlasting Arms

Author: E. A. Hoffman (1839-1929)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms;
    What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:

Leaning, leaning,

Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning,

Leaning on the everlasting arms.

2. What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms?
    I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms.

3. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms;
    Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
    Leaning on the everlasting arms.

18. Devotional: A Dark Sabbath

Devotional: A Dark Sabbath

Author: Charles F. Stanley (1932-2023)

If God seems absent, remember the resurrection and know that joy is coming.

    Just as Christ once rested in the stern of a boat through a raging storm, His lifeless body lay in the tomb as storms raged within His disciples. A day after they saw Jesus die, their minds must have been filled with an endless cycle of fear, doubt, and grief. Memories of life with Him must have played there, too: how it felt to stand upon a rolling sea, to feed thousands with a few loaves and a couple of fish, to see a demon-possessed man restored to himself and his community, and to see Lazarus walk out of his tomb.

    The disciples’ feeble faith shouldn’t surprise us because, if we’re honest, we’re at times the same way. Those “of little faith,” as Jesus often called them, failed to believe or recall things the Lord said of Himself—especially that He’d lay down His life and take it up again. Had His followers held these things in their hearts, that Sabbath day might have been a time of joyful anticipation.

    At times in our life, God may seem absent, but ultimately we know He will never leave us (Hebrews 13:5). When we are tempted to rely on our own solutions, we need to recall the wonder-working power of Christ’s resurrection. If we are willing to wait through the darkness of night, we can rest in the knowledge that morning will surely come.

17. Devotional: Our sufficiency Is of God

Devotional: Our sufficiency Is of God

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

Our sufficiency is of God. (2 Corinthians 3:5)

    OUR LORD JESUS SAID, “WITHOUT ME YE CAN DO NOTHING.” With Him, we can do all things; without Him, nothing. He is our sufficiency. Let us think of this, whenever we are cast down on account of our weakness, or the difficulties we meet in our way. We are weak but Jesus is strong and His strength is made perfect in our weakness. He has given us His word that He will work in us to will and to do of His own good pleasure. He speaks and it is done. The word of the Lord knows no obstacles or difficulties; all things must obey Him. When He sent Moses to Pharaoh, He said, "Certainly I will be with thee:" and the Lord's presence was his strength. He acts just so with us; His fullness is our sufficiency; it is opened to us in Jesus, and we receive from it according to our wants, weakness, and faith. "Through God," said David, "I shall do valiantly." "I can do all things," said Paul, "through Christ which strengtheneth me." Look not then at your own emptiness or weakness; but look at what God is to His people, and what He has promised to give them, and sing, "Our sufficiency is of God." God is our refuge and strength; and as our days so shall our strength be. His grace is sufficient for us; His strength is made perfect in weakness.

When we cannot see our way,
We should trust and still obey;
He who bids us forward go
Will instruct the way to know.

16. Modern Worship Song: Give Thanks

Modern Worship Song: Give Thanks

Author: Don Moen

(Vocal)

(Music)

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One;
Give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.

And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
Let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
Because of what the Lord has done for us;
And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
Let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
Because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks

15. A Quote from T. Austin-Sparks (17)

 Download Link

14. Devotional: The Lord Helped Me

Devotional: The Lord Helped Me

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

The Lord helped me. (Ps. 118:13)

    IF he had not, what would have become of me? Can we not bear this testimony this morning, "The Lord helped me." Yes, before I knew his name, before I sought his face, before I ventured my soul on the finished work of his beloved Son, he helped me. But since that happy period, in how many instances, in how many ways, by what a variety of instruments, has he helped me. If he had not, conviction would have driven me to despair; Satan would have led me captive at his will; inbred lusts would have gained the ascendency; my circumstances would have overbalanced me; and I had this day been a disgrace to religion, or have been shut up in hell. But he said, "I will help thee." And I have ever found him "a very present help in trouble." Here I lift up my Ebenezer, and, to the honour of his faithful love, say, "Hitherto the Lord hath helped me." Surely then I may with confidence conclude, that he will help me in time to come, and exclaim as David did, "Behold, God is mine helper: The Lord is with them that uphold my soul," (Ps. 54:4) Or rejoice and say, "Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."

My help is in the Lord; 
In danger he is near: 
He wears an all-victorious sword,
And will for me appear.

13. Devotional: Why Are Ye Troubled?

Devotional: Why Are Ye Troubled?

Author: James Smith (1802-1862)

Why are ye troubled? (Luke 24:38)

    TO THE FEARFUL DISCIPLES, THE RISEN LORD SAID, “PEACE BE UNTO YOU.” To us today, He says the same. Why should you be troubled? Consider what Jesus has done for you, promised to you, and is gone to prepare for you. Consider what He is to you, your loving Bridegroom, faithful Friend, and gracious Saviour. What troubles you? Is it sin? He will pardon, subdue, and cleanse it. The world? He has overcome it, redeemed you from it, and is leading you through it. Is Satan the problem? He is conquered, condemned, and will soon be imprisoned. The cares and troubles of life? Jesus says, "Bring them to me by prayer, cast them on me in faith, leave them with me; I know what you want, I have provided of my goodness, I will supply all your needs; your bread shall be given you, and your water shall be sure. I will make a way in the wilderness of trouble, and a path in the desert of perplexity. Let not your hearts be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Try me, trust me, in all your ways acknowledge me, and I will direct your paths. I have wisdom, power, and love; and all that I have is yours, to be employed for your good." Commit your way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will bring it to pass.

Yield to the Lord, with simple heart,
All that thou hast, and all thou art;
Renounce all strength, but strength divine,
And peace shall be for ever thine;
Behold the path the saints have trod,
The path which led them home to God.