September 11 2018

Miserable Comforters

Then Job answered and said: “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all! Shall words of wind have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer? I also could speak as you do,
If your soul were in my soul’s place. I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you; but I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the comfort of my lips would relieve your grief. Job 16:1-5

Job’s friends were awesome comforters when they sat in silence with Job. 
They became, according to Job, miserable comforters when they opened their mouths and spoke endlessly.
How do we comfort those around us? 
Job’s friends spoke on and on and on, pointing fingers, assigning blame and giving advice. 
Often times, those we are comforting require less speaking and more listening.
The ability to be comfortable sitting in the silence together is also a great asset.
Most often we don’t have the answers. 
Admitting that we don’t have the answers is often much better than trying to find an answer. 
We must learn to sit with people in their situations, not assigning blame or judgement or giving advice. 
The best comfort we can offer is our presence, unhindered with a whirlwind of word and thoughts and opinions. 
Don’t be a miserable comforter today!

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September 10 2018

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.1 Sam 30:6

David and the men came back to the city of Ziglag to find that the Amalekites had invaded, burned the city and taken the people captive (including their wives and children).  
The people were in distress and spoke of stoning David.  
David finds himself in the midst of a difficult situation.  
Not only were his wives and children taken by the Amalekites, but now the men blamed him and wanted to kill him.  
What does David do? 
“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”  
It doesn’t say that David sought out his best friends and asked their advice or asked them to pray. 
It doesn’t say that David posted all his concerns on social media. 
It doesn’t say that David found solace in his work. 
It doesn’t say that David sought to drown his sorrows in any variety of things that people often do.  No.  
It says very clearly, 
“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”  
And that is what we must learn to do.  
We must learn to first take our concerns to the Lord.  
He is our God and He is waiting for us to bring those concerns to Him.  
He has an answer for every concern.  
He has a direction for every path.  
He has a comfort for every sorrow.  
There is nothing we can take to Him that He doesn’t have a response for.  
Sometimes when we are in the midst of a situation, it is a hard thing to take the time to sit quietly and seek the Lord.  
We want to be active, to fix, to solve things ourselves.   
But in waiting on the Lord we will find not only the comfort for our hearts but a clearer direction for our paths.  
That way we will have a better sense of how to direct our actions.  
Are you in the middle of a difficult situation today?  
Before you do anything else, make the choice to 
“strengthen [yourself] in the Lord [your] God”.

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September 10 2018

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.1 Sam 30:6

David and the men came back to the city of Ziglag to find that the Amalekites had invaded, burned the city and taken the people captive (including their wives and children).  
The people were in distress and spoke of stoning David.  
David finds himself in the midst of a difficult situation.  
Not only were his wives and children taken by the Amalekites, but now the men blamed him and wanted to kill him.  
What does David do? 
“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”  
It doesn’t say that David sought out his best friends and asked their advice or asked them to pray. 
It doesn’t say that David posted all his concerns on social media. 
It doesn’t say that David found solace in his work. 
It doesn’t say that David sought to drown his sorrows in any variety of things that people often do.  No.  
It says very clearly, 
“But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”  
And that is what we must learn to do.  
We must learn to first take our concerns to the Lord.  
He is our God and He is waiting for us to bring those concerns to Him.  
He has an answer for every concern.  
He has a direction for every path.  
He has a comfort for every sorrow.  
There is nothing we can take to Him that He doesn’t have a response for.  
Sometimes when we are in the midst of a situation, it is a hard thing to take the time to sit quietly and seek the Lord.  
We want to be active, to fix, to solve things ourselves.   
But in waiting on the Lord we will find not only the comfort for our hearts but a clearer direction for our paths.  
That way we will have a better sense of how to direct our actions.  
Are you in the middle of a difficult situation today?  
Before you do anything else, make the choice to 
“strengthen [yourself] in the Lord [your] God”.

Category: Uncategorized | LEAVE A COMMENT