“Closet communion needs time for the revelation of God’s presence. It is vain to say, “I have too much work to do to find time.” You must find time or forfeit blessing. God knows how to save for you the time you sacredly keep for communion with Him.” -Arthur Tappan Pierson
“When I find myself racing around, trying to fill a day with mindless tasks or petty entertainment, this is usually the time that God whispers to my heart to draw away with Him and to silence my heart as He wishes to speak.” -K. Walden
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A co-worker’s grandson, Max, was born with damaged kidneys. He’s had the best medical treatment available. But still Max is sick.
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Suffering comes to all of us. But, hopelessness only comes to those who are “without Christ”. READ Ephesians 2:12 from the Holy Bible, King James Version: “That at that time ye were without Christ, …having no hope,…”
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Followers of Jesus Christ are Never Without Hope! The difference between the Christian and the Non-Christian isn’t their problems. It’s where they’ve placed their hope.
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Max’s grandmother, Karen, is a dedicated Christian. Recently Max had surgery. Because he’s a baby, they couldn’t sedate him. We asked God to send angels to surround Max during his surgery. God answered our prayer.
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Karen understands that only Jesus knows Max’s future. This knowledge comforts her and makes her Never Without Hope!
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Prayer: Jesus, thank-you for being my hope. Solve my problems. Meet my needs. Teach me to always hope in You.
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Devotion by Debbie Simler-Goff
“Prayer is not eloquence, but earnestness; not the definition of helplessness, but the feeling of it; not figures of speech, but earnestness of soul.” – Hannah More
“Prayer is a choice. For us to pray to give thanks, or to voice our questions and doubts shows that we are choosing to leave an opening in our spirits. Without this opening, there is no vessel, no place into which God can breathe.” ~Joanna Laufer
“Promises, though they be for a time seemingly delayed, cannot be finally frustrated…. the heart of God is not turned though His face be hid; and prayers are not flung back, though they be not instantly answered.” ~Timothy Cruso
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God,” (Mark 11:22, Holy Bible, King James Version). I called my car repair shop a few minutes after closing time. The recording advised me to call back during normal business hours. How disappointing! I called God in prayer and He answered. What comfort God brings! His business hours are timeless.
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Prayer: Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the many times You’ve heard my prayers. In frightening times and in the stillness of the night, you are always there. Amen.
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Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
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“By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them…. But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection” (Hebrews 11: 33 and 35). There is a popular notion about prayer which assumes that the thing asked for ought to be the object of faith. But the Bible tells us the only absolutes we can trust and be assured of are the character of God, His love, His will that we be conformed to His Son’s likeness and His sovereign control of the universe. If the thing we ask for is not given or it doesn’t happen, our faith may waver and even dissolve. But if faith latches on to the reality of God’s sovereignty; if it believes in the darkest storm that all things work together for good to them that love God, then faith itself becomes our victory regardless of the outcome!
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Prayer: Lord, help me to put my trust completely in You – to keep my shield of faith lifted high even when Your answer is no, or not yet or wait.
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Devotion by Anne Richardson
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“We must alter our lives in order to alter our hearts, for it is impossible to live one way and pray another”. -William Law