Tag Archives: desperation

ABOVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES!

1 Reply

NGS Picture ID:1181432

 

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I am with thee:… Isaiah 43:1-5

 

One thing for certain, two things for sure: Life happens fast and furious! Preparing for the unexpected is a challenge for any of us! Saved or Unsaved, huh?

Yet as believers in The Lordship of Jesus Christ, we’re taught to do just that! The Word of God warns us that when faced with seemingly overwhelming circumstances, as believers, our first response must be to resist panic and anxiety! How many times has your circumstantial evidence threatened to destroy all hope for recovering the calmness that we once enjoyed walking in the comfort of God’s favor? #bothhandsup!

Nevertheless, time and wisdom have trained us that Satan delights in using  fortuitous turbulent winds and haphazardry waves of chaos, temptations and uncertainty to manipulate and vex the minds of unsuspecting sainted-souls of God’s elect.

From the beginning, The Master of Deceit, has proven himself quite adept in distracting our hearts away from what we know of God, derailing our commitment to trust and  giving way to questioning, doubt, unbelief and ultimately dissipating our hope-filled confidence into pits of of desperation, fear and despair! While it sometimes appears as if Satan has been declared the victor, it behooves you to not fall for the ‘ookey-doke’, and never ever underestimate The Power of God! 

TRUST2KNO, GOD IS SOVEREIGN!! Hence, your enemies can’t intrude into your life, except God allows! And the only way that He’ll permit the demons to invade your personal space, is to prove that His greater purpose excels far beyond your temporary pain and discomfort!

Therefore, Beloved, don’t believe everything you see! The enemy’s arsenal is flanked by confusion, isolation, intimidation and fear.  #AKA #FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL! Chances are, it ain’t what it looks like! Besides, God has not given us a spirit of fear, but as Children of Light, we’ve inherited HOLY GHOST POWER, LOVE AND A SOUND MIND! (Ref. 1 Peter 4:12-14) #Didjaheardat?

Regardless of what attempts to impede your trust and confident reliance on The Presence and Prominence of your Loving Heavenly Father, you cling steadfastly to what you’ve already experienced and sojourn safely through the murky rivers of Life! And even if, some water gets into your boat, keep in mind that your life is anchored in The Rock of Ages!

Faith in God’s Loving Care, gives us eternal assurance that  whenever/whatever the test, trial and trauma of life accost us, we can ride out the storms in quiet confidence that He Who called you ‘MINE’ Will NEVER LEAVE OR FORSAKE US! (Ref. Hebrews 13:5)

JESUS LIVED ABOVE THE CIRCUMSTANCES! SO, WHAT’S UP WITH U?

SELAH!

Pause, Ponder, Pray & Praiz!

Ann Caffee

 

 

THE PERFECT STORM

1 Reply

THE PERFECT STORM 2

SELAH Daily Devotions!

 

“One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.” Psalm 27:4-5

 

Aaawwwww…Fantasy! Believe it or not, that’s where many escape to when the painful realities of life become much more than a person can bear. Perhaps, this might explain why that 1965 Classic American Sitcom “I Dream of Genie” (staring Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman) drew such a faithful following!

Week after week families gathered around their b/w TV’s anxiously gasping for any momentary retreat from the real-time burdens facing our nation. I mean who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to have anything their heart desired suddenly appear simply by swiping a lamp, right?  Yep, those were the good ol’ days, huh?

History records President Lyndon B. Johnson struggling to lead the nation through a multiplicity of vexing controversial challenges and at the same time maintain some semblance of the homeland security that many cleaved to so dearly.

Remember, The First Combat Boots landing in Viet Nam and the Dominican Republic, the arrest of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King along with 2,600 others in Selma Alabama for demonstrating against voter-registration rules. Malcom X was shot to death in a Harlem rally, while the newly recognized Afro-Americans were rioting in Watts and others were rudely awakened to the undeniable existence of racism in The Land of the Free? Yep! Yep! #thoseweredadays!

The point is, despite the torrid winds of time, we survived!

Truthfully, as long as we live and breathe on this earth, there will be storms of adversity. In today’s scripture text, the Psalmist offers a brilliant ray of confident hope, strength and encouragement to those who yet contend for the faith found only in an intimate personal relationship with The God of all flesh.

Having been victimized by jealously, hatred and malicious rejection from those closes to him on numerous occasions, David sticks out in history as a true, honest, God-revealing companion to the desperate and down casts. A recap of God’s servant’s life depicts one who repeatedly finds himself besieged by fear, doubt, betrayal, death and isolation from human kindness. Yet in the midst of chaos, terror and tragedy, The Shepherd boy/King, David discovers the Source of true solace under the watchful care of His Sovereign Lord!

Beloved, we’re living in a day in time where it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of hussle and bustle, striving for the world’s standards of successful accomplishments and accommodations! However,  in spite of those poignant pathetic prophetic voices declaring peace and prosperity, sometimes we are left trembling and shaken by the inscrutable ungodliness of the systems of this world!

Nevertheless, if we keep our eyes pointed Heavenward, we too can be blessed, revitalized and restored by that Peace that passes all understanding, swept over by the unspeakable joy and resting assured in the Presence of the One Savior and Lord that David delighted in, Jesus Christ!  THE PERFECT ANSWER TO THE PERFECT STORM!

SELAH!
 
PAUSE, PONDER, PRAY & PRAIZ!
 
Ann Caffee