hope I N T H E C R I S I S

GodLife is providing this short series of devotionals toencourage you during the COVID-19 world situation.Take a little time each day to read them and apply whatyou are learning!

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Special thanks to the contributing authors:Global Media Outreach Staff Gary FleetwoodLuis PalauJanet Perez Eckles

Who are we? Global Media Outreach is the ministry behind GodLife.com. Global Media Outreach (GMO) is a non-profit 501c3 Internet ministry that presents the GoodNews of Jesus Christ online. We share the Gospel in all 195 countries of the world using 26different languages. Our goal is to use technology to give everyone on Earth multipleopportunities to know and follow Jesus Christ. You can view live as people just like you see theGospel on our sites and indicate decisions for Jesus at www.WitnessToAll.com.

LIFE ISUNFAIR.

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And we know that God causes everything to work together for thegood of those who love God and are called according to hispurpose for them." Romans 8:28

How in the world can a pandemic be used by God for good? Sin in our world makes it difficultto understand the world as God wants it to be. Bad things happen to "good people," and "goodpeople" sometimes let - or even make - bad things happen. "Everyone has sinned; we all fallshort of God’s glorious standard" (Romans 3:23). It is so easy to want to sin. Why is life noteasier? You might wonder, Why would God make a world where horrible things can happen?You might even be furious with Him. But injustice exists because of sin; God created people"for His glory" (Isaiah 43:10). God Is Just.The Lord said, "I love justice" (Isaiah 61:8), but He hates sin. We cannot hope to understandHim nor our place in the world if we cannot understand that He is righteous, holy, and loving.Bad things happen; however, the Bible tells us that "God does not want anyone to bedestroyed, but wants everyone to repent" (2 Peter 3:9). The Creator's "purpose was for thenations to seek after God" (Acts 17:27). Trust in Him, Not the World.God sent us Jesus to restore the balance between justice and love. Although it is not fair thatJesus died, His sacrifice meant He paid the penalty for the sins of us unrighteous people. "Godwill also count us as righteous if we believe in Him, the One Who raised Jesus our Lord fromthe dead" (Romans 4:24). That is why we trust in Jesus as our Savior - He paid the price; weaccept that gift in faith. The world tells us that we should be angry with a Creator Who allowsbad things to happen, but God gave everything - in the death of His Son, Jesus - to show us Hislove and justice.

A tragic accident.The sudden loss of a great job.TheftUnexpected/unfair death.Betrayal in a relationship.

Prayer, Care and Share JesusThe Bible tells us that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans8:28). But in reality, we see that even people we call “good" based on our human standards canhave bad things happen to them:

The list could go on! These are tough situations for anyone to go through. Some of us become angry with God forallowing bad things to happen. We feel let down by God. This feeling is real, and even fullycommitted followers of Jesus carry these burdens. Jesus understands. Before He was falsely accused, condemned, tortured and died on the crossto pay for our sin, He prayed three times that this responsibility would be taken from Him.(Matthew 26:36-44). Even on the cross, Jesus felt the Father had turned away from Him.Maybe something like this has happened in your life. You may be angry with God or blame Himfor what happened. I want to encourage you to turn to God and know that He has not left youalone. God promised He will work things for your good (Romans 8:28). How do you work through these feelings of anger? Ask God to help you feel closer to Him.Understand that you are not alone and others have gone through this experience too. Lettingoff some steam through physical exercise can help too. Take a walk or run and pray, expressingyour feelings to God. You can talk to us too. We are here to help and encourage you!

Today, pray a prayer like this:God, help me identify any events in my life for which I am angry with You or blame You.Help me feel closer to You, remembering that You have never left me alone. Help me totrust You and Your promises.

We are creatures of habit; and more often than not, it is difficult to get us to change our habits.We love our routine. We like schedules and disciplines and can find great spiritual value inthem. In fact, for most people, it would be very difficult to survive without them. Being stuck athome, not being able to work, go out to restaurants or events, or hang out with your friendsmakes it even worse! Without the daily schedule and distractions, it will be easy to start worrying about what isgoing to happen next. Since we can’t control the health situation (other than our ownbehavior), worry won’t solve the problem. So, How Does Someone Actually Overcome This Anxiety?Overcoming anxiety means allowing the Holy Spirit to overtake your life in a very practicalway. That is easy to say, but not easy to do. Having the patience and personal resolve to orderour life this way is something that requires practicing a kind of spiritual sensitivity to God, HisWord, and His purposes. With the situation we are in, now is a great time to practice! What is interesting is that in the Bible verse at the top, Paul, the writer, clearly provides aspiritual remedy for worry. He says to “let your requests be made known to God” through“prayer and supplication.” The man or woman who has learned to pray - not just during the

DEALINGWITHANXIETY

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer andasking with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known toGod. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, willguard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

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difficult times, but as a lifestyle - will not be prone to being overly anxious. Why? Because theyhave a very high view of God and believe there is no problem that is too great for Him tohandle. That is why they pray to Him as a normal part of their life. Since this may not besomething you are used to doing, we can help! What Happens When Someone Ignores God in Prayer?Growing closer to God in your life works by trusting God, believing in God’s promises, and bydemonstrating that trust by coming to Him in prayer. When you experience anxious momentsbut aren’t yet used to seeking God in prayer, it is easy to forget how great God really is. Rightnow, we're in a very trying and anxious moment, so beginning to learn to trust God will helpyou build up your strength and faith. Faith in God is not something that a person can just haveat will. It has to be learned by maintaining a very meaningful fellowship with God. This isimportant to remember also when the crisis is over. To ignore Him when things are easymeans that a person will not be trained to go to Him when things get hard. These difficultmoments are unavoidable, so it is critical to learn how to walk with God. What Does Paul Mean When He Uses the Word “Thanksgiving”?Thanksgiving is simply giving thanks to the person who has given you something. Day by day,as you learn how to pray and talk to God about what you need, you will be able to give Godthanks for this trial.  Why? Because you can trust God and understand there is a greaterpurpose. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, God can begin to oversee your life. This is agreat place to be spiritually, but it still requires a certain level of focus and willpower to choosea life of meaningful prayer and give God control of your life. It is the cure for anxiety and fearand should be developed in every believer’s life.

Today, pray a prayer like this:Father, would you please help me to see the importance of making it a way of life toconstantly be coming to you in meaningful prayer? I need Your help to be focused onwhat is spiritually important as You develop the character of Christ in my life.

Writte By Gary Fleetwood- Gary Fleetwood

Although you have chosen to follow Jesus, you may not know what to do next. Well, the firstplace to go is the Bible. But how do you start? Here are three simple steps to successful Bible study: 1..ObservationBible study begins with observation. We observe the Bible by carefully reading it daily. NotedBible teacher Dr. James M. Gray said, “There is only one law of Bible study, and that is to readthe Book, and when you have read it, to read it again, and then sit down and read it again, andthen sit down and read it once more, and by and by you will come to know the Book.” Luke is a good book to study at first. Read the entire book in one sitting to get a clearimpression of the book as a whole. Disregard chapter and verse divisions. Read it again andagain, occasionally using different translations to better grasp its message. Ask probingquestions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? 2. InterpretationPray for the Holy Spirit to give you understanding as you interpret the Scriptures, for apartfrom His illumination, proper understanding is impossible (1 John 2:20, 27). Examine thecontext of the passage you are interpreting. You can go online and compare it with differentversions of the Bible and what are called commentaries – experts' analyses of Bible passages.

HOW TOSTUDY THEBIBLE

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Dowhat it says.” James 1:22

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Although the best Bible commentary is the Bible itself, occasionally consult Bible handbooks,dictionaries, and a good atlas to help you better understand biblical lands, customs, andhistory. But don’t spend too much time reading about the Bible without reading God’s Wordfor yourself. 3. ApplicationAs you seek to apply God’s Word to your life, you’ll find your behavior changing. Relate theBible to all areas of your life—your strengths and weaknesses, your attitudes and actions.What does Scripture say to you as a parent or child, employee or employer? James 1:22 tells us: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what itsays.” Obey the Word by prayerfully meditating on it with the goal of better understandingand applying it. Observation. Interpretation. Application. These simple steps are the keys that open the door for exciting, life-changing Bible study.What other questions do you have studying the Bible? Don't be discouraged - it is a life-longpursuit!

Today, pray a prayer like this:Lord, thank You for the Bible and life-changing power that it has. Help me to study itdaily, paying careful attention to what You say. Give me understanding, and let me walkin obedience to You as I apply Your Word to my life.

- Luis Palau

One of the challenges of dealing with this crisis is the loneliness and isolation, which couldeasily lead to depression. Then, if you are like me, you feel guilty that you are depressed. I’msure we’ve never met before, but I wish I could take you to my favorite coffee shop. As wedrank a cup of coffee together and talked, you would know that I’m not here to shame you, butto help you get out of this place that I’ve found myself in before. Depression and anxiety arecomplex issues, and we need to address them with the same love that Jesus embraces us witheach and every day (Psalm 34:18). You see, about four years ago, I was in a dark place. Depression and anxiety had taken upevery space of my life, and it was destroying me from the inside and out. Even withprofessional help, support from family and friends, and praying more than ever before, I stillstruggled.  It felt that I was losing the battle. But I saw God’s grace and redemption (which had been thereall along!) when I took my eyes off of myself, my feelings and circumstances and set them backupon Jesus (Psalm 34:8-10). What Does the Bible Say About Depression?In the Bible, there are many stories that remind us that we are not alone when depression andanxiety come knocking on our door. Let’s take David for example, the king of Israel, a biblicalhero, author of many Psalms...one would think he had it together, right? Far from it! In many ofthe Psalms he wrote, he expressed anguish, grief, loneliness, fear and guilt. Psalm 38:4 says,

DEALINGWITHDEPRESSION

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed inspirit.” Psalm 34:18

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“For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me,"and Psalm 42:11 says, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil withinme? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.” Even Jesus himself faced anguish over what lay before Him. He knew what God had called to ajourney of suffering so that we could be truly free. Did you get that? 

Even the Savior of all mankind faced suffering when He was on this earth. To put it in simplerterms, Jesus understands our weaknesses, suffering, depression and despair because “theLord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).He faced the same circumstances we are all going through when He was on earth, yet withoutsin. So Take Courage, My Friend!I don’t know your brokenness. Maybe you cry yourself to sleep every night, or maybe youmask your depression with lots of activity, and so your family and friends won’t see it. Today, Iwant you to hold onto this truth: He listens, He cares, He loves you, He has compassion, Heoffers mercy, He brings hope, and His character will never change, because He is “the sameyesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). So, when you’re in the midst of depression,cling to His promises and endure, because Jesus has already walked before you and has feltyour suffering. He reminds us, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.In the world, you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John16:33).

Today, pray a prayer like this:Lord, I give You my suffering - take what’s broken and make me new. Today, I choose torely on Your promises. Please help me take my eyes off of myself and set them back onYou.

Why does God allow trials in our life? They help build our faith and dependence on God. TheBible says our faith is like gold that needs to be purified and refined in fire. The joy comeswhen we realize the fire makes the end product more valuable and beautiful. Expect Suffering.Our hope cannot be based on a comfortable, trouble-free life here on earth. Jesus said, “In thisworld you will have troubles, but have courage! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).Jesus tells us to expect it; He says that we will have troubles, not that we might have troubles.Jesus’ promise is victory over the things of this world, not happiness in them.  Suffering Builds Faith.Jesus died to make us holy and righteous. Our strength of character and faith is moreimportant to Him than our temporary happiness. “We confidently and joyfully look forward tosharing God’s glory. We can also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that trials developendurance; and endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens ourconfident hope of salvation” (Romans 5:3-4). When trials come, we are forced to trust in God. We realize we cannot depend on our ownstrength and knowledge. Jesus wants us to believe in His promises no matter what our currentsituation is.

HAVING JOY INTRIALS

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, considerit an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faithis tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

James 1:2-3

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Focus on Joy.When we focus on Jesus and the things in heaven, we see that our troubles here on earth areonly temporary. They cannot compare to the wonderful things God has ready for us in heaven. 1 Corinthians 2:9 says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined whatGod has prepared for those who love him." We can endure suffering when we have faith inGod’s promises for eternity. Jesus himself was able to endure the cross “because of the joyawaiting him” (Hebrews 12:2). “For I want to understand what really matters, so that I may live a pure and blameless life untilthe day of Christ’s return. May I always be filled with the fruit of my salvation--the righteouscharacter produced in my life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise toGod.” (Philippians 1:9-11)

Today, pray a prayer like this:Help me, Lord, to understand what matters, living a pure and blameless life until Youreturn. Produce in me righteous character - the fruit of my salvation - so that I can bringpraise and glory to Your name.

Pray for them.If you are well, take needed food and items to your neighbors.Text, email or post encouraging thoughts.Share the reason for your hope!

Jesus gives us unforgettable examples of how to care for the sick. In Bible times, peoplediagnosed with leprosy were untouched by any human, forcibly removed from their homesand families and sent into exile. Yet Jesus shows His love for the sick by being willing to touchsomeone with a deadly and contagious disease with His bare hands. Bring Light to the Darkness.The world is filled with darkness. But we can bring light by sharing our hope, which the Biblecalls a “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul” (Hebrews 6:19), with those already sick.  There is not yet a cure for COVID-19, but there are things you can do to share hope withothers:

Bring Love to Those Who Need Your Care.While it is important to use great caution regarding the possibility of infection, it’s alsoimportant for followers of Jesus to continue to express His grace to others. Let us embracethose who are ill as Jesus embraced them, with open arms (from a distance) and open hearts.

CARING FOR THESICK

Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. Hesaid, 'Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only youwanted to.' Jesus put his hand on the man and said, 'I want to! Nowyou are well.' At once the man’s leprosy disappeared.

Matthew 8:2-3

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Today, pray a prayer like this:Lord, I ask you to give me the opportunity to share the hope your Son gives us to thosewho are sick. Let me bring Your light and love to the darkness.

As they deal with illness, a victim’s heart may be broken and tender. Jesus is the only truesource of healing. Let's show those who are suffering the love of Christ! Believe God for His Grace, Mercy and the Pardon of Sin, As You ShareYour Faith.We must be charitable to those who have fallen ill and sympathize with each person. If youknow of someone or have a family member who has fallen victim to sickness, please pray forthem and tell them about Jesus who came to save them.

In the Bible (Matthew 14:22-32), we read about a time where the people closest to Jesusfound themselves in a very stressful situation. They were in a small boat in the middle of thesea when a great wind came up, making their boat toss back and forth. Many of these discipleswere fishermen, so they knew the dangers of the storms on the sea very well. Under theircircumstances, they most likely felt that they wouldn't make it through the storm alive. However, what is often missed in this story is that in verse 22, Jesus “…made the disciples getinto the boat and go before him to the other side.”   Jesus knew full well what was going tohappen to the disciples on the Sea of Galilee, so this could actually be called a “spiritual test.” It should never surprise a believer that God will often test their faith in Him by placing them ina very stressful or uncomfortable situation. Why Should Stressful Moments Not Cause Us to Be Afraid?God is most often the author of what happens in our life. He is always wanting to do somethingin us so that he can do something through us, and many times He is more than willing to placeus in a situation that we did not create and one that we cannot control. So, in the midst ofthose kinds of difficulties, it is such an important lesson to learn that God controls all things.There is nothing He cannot control. He is never caught by surprise by what happens tosomeone, and that is why Paul could so confidently say in Romans 8:28, "And we know that forthose who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according tohis purpose." No matter what may happen to us as believers, the Scriptures teach us that if we truly aretrusting God, we will find that even the anxious and stressful moments are things that Heallows to happen to draw us closer to Him.

STRESSFULSITUATIONS

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”1 Peter 5:7

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Don’t Be Anxious.So, what does it mean to cast your anxiety on Him? Our normal behavior is to worry aboutthings that are temporary, making it difficult to stay focused and ignore the issues that willdefine our eternity. When I read a statement like “Do not be anxious about anything,” Iimmediately realize that God is staking His reputation on this statement. He is an all-powerful,all-knowing, and compassionate God who simply does not want us to somehow miss thereality of His control over whatever may happen in our lives.  This is what is so amazing about these verses. They are God’s way of saying that we can castour every care on Him no matter what our stressful circumstances may be saying to us. 1 Peter5:6-7 explains it this way: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God sothat at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because He caresfor you." Dealing with LossNot long ago, the nuclear plant where my oldest son had worked for seven years was shutdown. Everyone that worked there lost their job – 5,000 people in one day without any notice.My son and his family were traveling home at the time when he received the phone call and hiswife called us to let us know. In that process, she made the remarkable statement that Godcauses all things to work together for good for those who love Him. They never becameanxious about what my son losing his job was going to do to their life, but they sincerely foundthey could trust God in the middle of an outwardly stressful reality.  If we can trust Him completely with our eternity, then surely we can trust Him with ourpresent circumstances. The Bible never promises believers that life will be easy and it never promises that there willbe no problems. However, what it does promise is that when life is difficult and when there arevery real problems affecting our life, God has all of the right answers and all of the resourcesto see us through those stressful moments in our life. It is His way of helping us to trust Him.

Today, pray a prayer like this:Father, I come to you seeking the grace that I know I will need for the difficult times inmy life that will challenge both my faith and my confidence in You. Great God, give methe strength, courage, and wisdom I need to trust You fully with my life.

- Gary Fleetwood

My husband and I took off for our routine evening walk the other day. And as we rounded thewalking trail, he repeatedly had to duck to avoid smashing his head against the branches thathung low. He endured this annoyance for a while. However, that all changed when God showed him not to worry or be anxious... The next day, before we headed out, he grabbed the trimming clippers from the garage. Armedwith this weapon that he carried rifle-style, we set off for our walk. As we drew closer, he gavea gasp of surprise. The maintenance folks had taken care of the trimming. I couldn’t suppressmy laughter as he carried the clippers back home. We all do that, don’t we? When the branches of life annoy us, we get fed up. Sometimes webecome anxious because the problem persists. Maybe we lose our job and spend night and daylooking for another, or maybe we make poor decisions in our finances because we’re so upsetabout being without enough money. Then anger flares up, and we wonder if God is watching.Frustrated, we ask ourselves if He’s planning to do anything about it. Dealing with this pandemic may be incredibly frustrating. The news constantly changing maymake you anxious. But through David’s words in Psalm 139, God reminds us He is in fullcontrol.  1. He’s Aware of Our Every Move. “You know when I am resting or when I am working... (Psalm 139:2) 2. He Reads Our Minds. “From heaven you discover my thoughts..” (Psalm 139:2) 3. He Follows Us Wherever We Go. “...You notice everywhere I go.” (Psalm 139:3)

CONTROLBefore I even speak a word, you know what I will say.”

Psalm 139:4

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Today, pray a prayer like this:Lord, help me let go of my worries and trust You to take care of me and all of my needs.Thank you for being a gracious God who knows my thoughts from afar.

4. He Knows Our Habits, Quirks and Flaws. “You notice everything I do...” (Psalm 139:3) 5. He Is Ahead of the Game. “Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say,” (Psalm 139:4) Remember that God is always in full control regardless of what we allow our insecurities to letus believe.

- Janet Perez Eckles

Some time ago a friend of one of my boys put a gun to his head and shot himself. The son of awealthy, notable doctor, he was only 16. A few days before this young man’s death, our local newspaper reported that a well-knownclinical psychologist in Portland had committed suicide, leaving this note to his staff:" Tonight,I feel tired, alone, and suddenly very old. The full understanding of these feelings will comeonly when you, too, are tired, alone and old." French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre expressed the despair many feel when he wrote, "Now Iknow, things are entirely what they appear to be, and behind them there is nothing." Thousands of people feel like Sartre, the clinical psychologist and the high school boy. Theyfeel that life is empty. Stuck at home with no distractions, no sports to watch, unable to go towork and struggling with finances, they may be overpowered by the idea of "nothingness," andmay think about killing themselves or seeking escape through drugs or alcohol. Why do people surrounded by friends and family suddenly despair of life itself? Psychologistsoffer many solutions to that question, but only one true solution exists -Jesus Christ. Only Hecan meet our deepest needs when our world falls apart. God Is Sufficient for the Pressures of Life.God has plenty to say about our outer pressures, inner despair and everyday struggles, as weread in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, which says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

COMFORT IN THECRISIS

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man."1 Corinthians 10:13

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Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all ourtroubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves havereceived from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also throughChrist our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if weare comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the samesufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share inour sufferings, so also you share in our comfort." Are You Hurting Inside? Do You Ever Feel Like Giving Up on Life?When a crisis arises, the worst mistake you can make is to pretend that nothing is wrong. Tofind relief from your problems, you must first acknowledge them and the inner despair theycause. Only then can you embrace the "Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort." Paulreminds the Corinthian church that it is God’s nature to be merciful. God Himself is thebeliever’s source of encouragement, consolation and forgiveness under all circumstances. The Secret of Discovering God’s Sufficiency Is Found in Spending Timewith Him.Begin spending time alone with God every day. Learn to share all of your problems and needswith Him. Say, "Oh, Lord, I believe You are the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort.Please help me today, especially in this situation." You may be saying, "But you don’t understand. My situation is different." Certainly, almosteveryone today is in a similar situation due to coronavirus. No problem is unique. 1Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man." ForGod, one situation is not more difficult than another. God testifies of His own problem-solvingability in all mankind, saying "Is anything too difficult for me?" Look to God in Times of Desperate Need.Paul experienced desperate need - physically, emotionally and financially. Yet he declared,"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus"(Philippians 4:19). From personal experience Paul spoke of a God who proved sufficient forthe pressures of his life. Even Paul was not exempt from the temptation to despair, but heknew how to flee to his Heavenly Father for comfort. How else could he write that God"comforts us in all our troubles" (2 Corinthians 1:4)? Paul knew God’s keeping power so well that he did far more than endure his problems. He wasstrengthened and blessed by them! In turn, he was able to comfort others in their hardshipswith the same comfort he had personally received from God. Little wonder that in 1Corinthians 1:3-7 the word "comfort" appears no fewer than nine times. And each time, the

Today, pray a prayer like this:Jesus, thank You for caring for us, no matter what we are dealing with. Take all myburdens, anxieties, and cares. Help me, God, to look to You when I'm hurting and sharewhat You teach me with others.

verb is used to illustrate how God stands beside us and encourages us in the midst of ourseverest trials. Unfortunately, when many Christians face trials, they forget to look to God for comfort. One reason we experience trials is to enable us to comfort others who are hurting. Christianswho are walking with the Lord have much to share regarding the blessings God has given themin times of deep need or despair. As a Christian, have you met the true Comforter? Do others turn to you for counsel becausethey sense God’s comforting presence in your life? It’s powerful when a Christian can tell someone, "Because of a similar situation I’veexperienced, I think I understand what you’re going through. Let me share with you what Goddid for me." In the ministry of comfort, God’s Word comes alive, and His promises becomeactive and real. Suddenly you understand why you went through your hardship. And, praiseGod, it was worth it! Paul wrote that even the most severe pressures of daily life never separate us from thetenderness and compassion of our Heavenly Father. On the contrary, when we feel like ourworld is falling apart, God’s power and grace are magnified. As a missionary once said, "Peaceis not the absence of conflict. Peace is the ability to cope." The God of all comfort can providethat "copeability" in any crisis. Paul is not saying that we won’t face disappointment, suffering or conflict in life. But he issaying that no Christian need ever despair. Why? Because we worship the God of all comfort -the God who is sufficient for every pressure of life. The Bible says that we are to cast all of our anxieties and cares upon Jesus because He caresfor us. Pray that Jesus will take the burden off your shoulders.

Time after time, the Bible teaches valuable lessons on how we should live our lives usingexamples from God's creation, like plants and animals. In one instance, we are called to be likecows, strange as it may seem. Why would we want to be like the cow? The reason is that aftereating a stomach full of grass, the cow brings back the grass to its mouth to chew it again anddigest it completely. Digesting What We ReadWhen we read God’s Word, we have to “digest” what we read. Psalm 1 tells us to think aboutGod’s law day and night. This means we should “meditate” on Scripture – think about it overand over again, so we can understand it. If we go beyond reading and actually keep His word inour heart, the Holy Spirit can bring Scripture back to our mind anytime. This is why it isimportant to read the Bible every day, if possible. Take Jesus for example: when He was beingtempted in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13), He resisted Satan’s attacks by quoting Scripture thatHe had memorized. So, what are some practical ways we can start to memorize Scripture? 1. Choose a Passage and Set a Goal.Memorizing a bible verse here and there is valuable. But a verse is just one small part of a bookof the Bible. God’s word is better understood when we read the text around one verse.Choosing a longer passage of scripture helps you avoid changing the meaning of scripture ormisunderstanding it. So, try to select a paragraph or even a short chapter. You might look for a passage containingattributes of God, or one which will help you in an area of weakness. For example, if you lackjoy in your life, you might choose Philippians 4, where it says “Rejoice in the Lord always . . .”

MEMORIZESCRIPTURE

Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they thinkabout it day and night."

Psalm 1:2

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Today, pray a prayer like this:Dear Father, thank You for Your wonderful Word, the Bible. I do want to hide Your wordsin my heart and let You speak to me often. Help me to do this by the power of the HolySpirit and for Your glory.

Type it on the computer and print it out. Then fold the paper so it fits your pocket or purse. Tape a copy to your bathroom mirror where you brush your teeth.Use a Bible app on your phone or tablet. Make it easy to find on your device.Make an audio recording of yourself reading the passage, or use an existing audio Bible.You can then listen to it while exercising, cooking, or walking.If you don’t have access to all that technology, you can write your passage out with penciland paper!

Other suggestions are: Colossians 3:1-17; Matthew 5:3-12 (the Beatitudes); Ephesians 1:3-14. Also, be sure to use a Bible version that is easy to read and understand. If 17th century Englishis hard for you to understand, then don’t choose the King James version! Finally, decide how quickly you want to memorize your passage. Adding one verse a day maybe good. A little bit of daily progress adds up fast! 2. Make Multiple Copies of It.You probably don’t carry your Bible everywhere. Here are some other ways you can keep yourmemory passage with you at all times:

3. Read, Listen, and Speak It Over and Over.As you review your passage in all these different ways, think of the words and how they sound(this helps you remember it), and also think about the meaning of the passage. Try to hearwhat God is saying to you through it. The more you go over it, the more God can speak to you. Scripture memory can help you with patience! Maybe you are in your car sitting in traffic, or inline at a store, or waiting for someone who is late. Instead of being annoyed at having to wait,pull out your Scripture passage and go over it again (but please don’t read while driving!). When you have memorized the passage, review it often. And then choose the next passage towork on. We pray that as you memorize God’s Word and meditate on it often, the Holy Spiritwill do His work in you, and you will truly be “transformed by the renewal of your mind”(Romans 12:2).

As a child of God, you are on the road of life following Jesus. You are to walk out each sectionof the path chosen for you by the Lord. Sometimes your way can be so lonely, but I havenoticed that I feel this way when I would not have chosen such experiences for myself. Did You Know That God Tests Our Faith? Take a look at the life of Joseph: “He sent a man before them even Joseph, who was sold for aservant: whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his wordcame: the word of the LORD tried him” (Psalm 105:17-19). Missing OutWhen we feel lonely, we feel we are “missing out.” Given the current circumstances, you maybe on complete lock-down, perhaps even separated from your family. You may feel God hasturned his back on you. Joseph the son of Jacob had a long test in Egypt. His whole life andcircumstances were changed completely by the treachery of his brothers and the hardships ofhis life as he was taken into isolation and prison for years. But Joseph won through test aftertest. He came to understand the work of God in His life and was able to tell his brothers whohad sold him into slavery, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (Genesis50:20). “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.”  (Psalm 130:5) Know the ScoreTests and trials are temptations to lose our faith. One trial that is most often used by ourenemy against us is the one that makes us question the will of God for us. We will be delugedwith feelings, thoughts, and desires that try to push us out of our faith and obedience to the

FEELINGLONELY

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when hehas stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God haspromised to those who love him.

James 1:12

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Today, pray a prayer like this:Father, I will follow you waiting upon you and your will for me. I trust you! Thank you foryour purposes and for always hearing and loving me. Blessed be the name of the Lord. 

word and commands of Jesus. We have an enemy that wars with God through us. We do nothave to affirm those thoughts, feelings or desires. We can battle back by saying in our heart, “Iwill not receive it,” and asking Jesus to remove that feeling or desire.  We can also thank the Lord for His purposes in our trial of loneliness because we love Him andHe loves us. He tells us in Scripture to give thanks in all things, for this is His will for us (1Thessalonians 5:16-18). We must conquer with the truth of Scripture. Seek the Lord with yourwhole heart, making Him your greatest need, and you will find Him. He is the Comforter. "And we know for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who arecalled according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) TruthThe truth is, a child of God is never alone. God loves His children, and He is always with us. Hewill never leave nor forsake us. You can trust His love and timing and wait upon the Lord andnever give up. He has the plan.  Our Heavenly Father is in control. He chooses our entire road. He is with us, leading us evenwhen He seems unresponsive to our prayers. We’re never really alone because Jesus is still onthe road with us. Our faith is tested to see if we will keep on moving forward believing,following. At the end of the road, He’ll be there waiting for us! It’s not heaven that is thegreatest prize - it’s Him. He is our reward and He is so wonderful! "…for He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5)

The doctor’s news crushed me. I squirmed on the examining chair. “There is nothing that can be done for this retinal disease,” he said as he pulled back fromexamining my eyes. “No one knows how long you’ll have your sight. You need to prepare forthe inevitable.” He was right. Despite my frantic search for a cure, a few months later my vision closed incompletely. Horrified, anxious and desperate, I trembled at the notion that without sight, Iwould not be able to care for my three small sons. I tossed awake at night questioning God. Where was He?  Why didn’t He hear my prayers as Ibegged for a miracle? Hope threatened to leave me. But one day, God showed up. That day a friend invited me to a Christian church, andeverything changed. My eyesight wasn’t healed, but my heart was. I faced my need to knowChrist. I realized the emptiness that ruled my life was because I had prayer all wrong. I hadasked and asked some more. But prayer required something more, something that made ourcommunication powerful. And that involved listening. To my relief, after months of soaking my soul in His Word, I added listening to my prayer time.And through that prayer relationship with Him, He revealed these five promises to calm mysoul: 1. He Will Transform.Psalm 34:15 says, “If you obey the Lord, he will watch over you and answer your prayers.” Godwas about to transform me as I invited Christ to be my Lord of all. And through Him, God made

PRAYER ISTHE ANSWER

The Lord is there to rescue all who are discouraged and have givenup hope.”

Psalm 34:18

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Today, pray a prayer like this:Father, I praise you because you hear my cries at night. You see my struggles as You’reaware of my inadequacies. And I praise You because our conversation-filled prayer givesme the confidence to believe that there is no battle I face that You won’t win for me. Andthere is no struggle I encounter where You won’t bring victory.

me righteous. He saw my tears, knew my desperation, and heard my cries. 2. He Reassures.When loneliness tried to come in, God reassured me I wasn’t alone. Psalm 34:73 says, "“If youhonor the Lord, his angel will protect you.” His army of angels would stand with me, by me, andaround me. 3. He Strengthens.1 Chronicles 29:12 says, “You rule with strength and power. You make people rich andpowerful and famous.” Those days when I lacked the emotional strength to be a mom and wife,God’s promise to provide soothed me. 4. He Guards.When I was tempted to succumb to anxiety, worry or fear, God’s instructions were clear andbeautifully reassuring. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Don’t worry about anything, but pray abouteverything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, becauseyou belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completelyunderstand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” 5. He Answers.When I needed comfort to face a lifetime of blindness or even just to do small things likesorting my sons’ clothes or finding rides to doctors’ appointments, I trusted. I believed. And Iwas confident that God would help me because “we are certain that God will hear our prayerswhen we ask for what pleases him. And if we know that God listens when we pray, we are surethat our prayers have already been answered” (1 John 5:14-15). God’s healing came, not through my physical eyesight, but through the spiritual eyes of myheart. I saw how prayer is a sweetly personal conversation with Him. It’s the direct connectionbetween me, a mere human, and the divine Lord. And it’s the channel through which I receiveall that’s good in order to bring peace to my nights and joy to my days.

- Janet Perez Eckles

There are many wonderful stories of healing in the Bible. Jesus healed many people of leprosy,blindness, lameness and other ailments. He even raised Lazarus from the dead! No doubt you have also heard of God healing people today. God still hears our prayers forhealing and has the power to heal and do all kinds of miracles. What About Me?I, or someone I love, have been struggling with (name the disease) all these years. And I haveprayed for healing, fasted, had people lay hands on me. So why have I not been cured? I’mafraid that there is no simple, easy answer. But there are some principles we can learn fromthe Apostle Paul’s example. We hope you will find them encouraging. 1. God Has a Purpose.Earlier in this same chapter, we read: “Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things Isaw. One of Satan’s angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel tooproud” (2 Corinthians 12:7). It’s interesting that though Paul’s affliction is never specifically named, the purpose for the

WHY WON'T GODHEAL ME?

But He replied, ‘My kindness is all you need. My power is strongestwhen you are weak.’ So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I willgladly brag about how weak I am. Yes, I am glad to be weak orinsulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is forChrist. Because when I am weak, I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

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affliction is given twice — at the beginning and at the end of verse 7: “so that I would not feeltoo proud.” In the beginning of the chapter, we see that Paul had some amazing revelations — he was“caught up into the third heaven” and also “caught up into paradise” (2 Corinthians 12:2-3).These experiences were so spectacular that he would have been tempted to boast about themor to feel superior to those who had not had these experiences. So, God chose to humble Paul with a “thorn in the flesh.” It was not random, nor a whimsicalact on God’s part. It had a very specific purpose. Similarly, your illness has a purpose - one thatmay directly affect you, or perhaps someone else. 2. God Can Use Anything.This same verse tells us that Paul’s thorn in the flesh was “a messenger of Satan.” How can thatbe? Was it from God or from Satan? The answer is it was both! Satan, of course, is set againstGod, His purposes and His people. Satan probably enjoyed tormenting Paul. But, just as at thecross, Satan’s evil plans were turned around 180 degrees to serve God’s purposes. Satansucceeded in harassing Paul, but the result was that God used it to bring humility in Paul’s life. 3. God’s Strength Is Displayed.This principle is stated three times in these two verses, in different ways: “But He (Christ)replied, ‘My kindness is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.’ So if Christkeeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. Yes, I am glad to be weak orinsulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I amweak, I am strong.” God wants us to develop our gifts and talents and use them for His glory. But when weak andafflicted people achieve great things, it is clear that God is the one behind them, and Hereceives the glory. Our purpose in life is to glorify God — to show His power and His greatness. And even thoughour circumstances may be painful or uncomfortable for us, God wants to remind us that it’s theeternal things that matter. “Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seenare eternal. That’s why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen” (2 Corinthians4:18). 4. We Can Be Content.“Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is

Today, pray a prayer like this:Lord, I don’t like this sickness or affliction, and I wish I didn’t have it. But I trust that Youhave a higher purpose for my life, just as You did the Apostle Paul. Lord, humble me andshow Your great power in me through this affliction. Use everything in my life, good andbad, to bring You glory.

for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10). Look at that list — a lot more things than just sickness! And yet in all those things, Paul wascontent for the sake of Christ, because his ultimate goal in life was God’s glory. So when you or those you love are battling sickness, by all means, pray. But if God chooses tolet an affliction persist, look for what He wants to do in you and through you – to help youlearn humility, to show His great strength in you, and ultimately to give Him the glory.

All people long for direction and purpose in life. As Christians, we can ask the Lord to guide us -we do not have to live without purpose. What are some ways God guides us in His will? Howshould we be listening for His leading? Get Quiet with God and Examine Your Desires.Hearing God’s guidance begins with our minds and hearts. The Bible reminds us to “be still”(Psalm 46:10) as we listen for His leading, and to “be transformed by the renewal of yourmind” (Romans 12:2). The Scriptures are full of prayers you can use to ask God to focus onHim, such as: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts” (Psalm139:23). Genuinely seek the Lord and “ask our generous God” (James 1:5) to put yourthoughts in line with His desires for you. Ask Yourself: Would Jesus Think This Way?It’s easier to hear God when your thoughts are in line with His. Choosing God as the ruler ofyour thoughts is important. Jesus said, “Whatever is in your heart determines what you say”(Matthew 12:34). We must also put God as the ruler of what we say, because “the tongue canspeak words that bring life or death” (Proverbs 18:21). Again, we can look to Scripture forprayers that God will guide our words: “Let the words of my mouth be acceptable in Yoursight, O Lord” (Psalm 19:14). Seek God’s guidance for what you say; think carefully before youspeak, making sure each idea is in line with God’s teaching. Let God’s Word Guide You.Thinking and speaking God’s Word helps us live it out! The Bible promises that you can “seek

LISTENINGTO GOD'SGUIDANCE

Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”Psalm 119:105

day 14

Today, pray a prayer like this:God, help me listen for Your leading. Help me be still and focus on You, seeking after Yourdesires. Please teach me to do Your will, and help me depend on You to guide my path.

His will in all you do” (Proverbs 3:6) and depend on Him to guide your paths. As you seek God’sguidance for your actions, pray back to God the requests found in the Psalms: “Lead me, OLord, in Your righteousness”; “Teach me Your way, O Lord”; “Teach me to do Your will, myGod” (Psalms 5:8, 86:11, 143:10). God can build up your life so that depending on His leading issecond nature!

Times like this feel like a gathering storm. News of the latest country on lock-down, bordersclosed, sheltering in place and the death toll rising make us wonder - when will it all end? Confusing Times Require Honest Questions.This pandemic has taken us by surprise. Any of us could be among the victims who lose theirlives or their loved ones in a moment. Where is God in all of this? Does He even care about us or that people are scared, traumatized,lost and insecure? Where do we go for answers? For protection? How do you ride out such astorm, knowing you’re so vulnerable? Calling on God – and Finding Him Close at HandTwelve men faced an overwhelming storm over 2,000 years ago - one that threatened to endtheir lives. They were out at sea in an open boat when a great storm suddenly arose. As thewaves crashed over the boat, threatening to sink it, they remembered that they were notalone - Jesus was also there. He was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. They shook Himawake, demanding, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38) We may ask that same question in the midst of the storm we’re witnessing. “God, do you notcare that we are perishing?” As we read on in the story of the disciples’ storm, we find out thatGod does care, for Jesus rebuked the wind and waves with just a word: “Peace. Be still!” (Mark4:39) The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

IN THEMIDST OFTHE STORM

….We found trouble all around us. We had fighting on the outsideand fear on the inside.”

2 Corinthians 7:5

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Today, pray a prayer like this:Lord Jesus, you were moved with compassion on the great crowds because they weretroubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Comfort Your people, still our fears,that we may fear no evil, even in the valley of the shadow of death, because we know Youare with us.

Asking His Help for the Troubled World and the Troubled HeartWhen we see the storms raging around us, we can become overwhelmed by storms of fear andinsecurity. Such storms can only be calmed by that same soothing voice of God: “Peace, beStill. I am in the boat with you.”

A GodLife E-Bookgodlife.com

2020