Jesus Has Risen

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

Luke 24:1-12

Image credit: geralt Resurrection Cross Crucifixion – Free image on Pixabay

Hide and Seek

O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I need you the most?
Psalm 10:1

The psalmist’s question is not an uncommon one to ask when our lives turn upside down. It is difficult to grasp the idea that a loving God might hide away while chaos seems to be reigning. The psalmist was honest with God. He didn’t conceal his fears or the feeling that he was alone in his battle. Yet he also encouraged himself with these words: “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry” (Psalm 10:17, niv, niv). This assurance was birthed out of past experiences when God heard him in his time of need and responded.

Sometimes we are frustrated or overwhelmed when we cannot fix the battles that threaten us or our loved ones. Honesty with God is not a lack of faith but rather an admittance that we are powerless to turn the situation around. The good news is that producing strength and beauty out of darkness is God’s specialty. When we seek him in the hard times, we find that he is not far away and that he is faithful.

ABBA, FATHER, sometimes I feel abandoned when I can’t fix my circumstances. Please help me to trust you, to place this situation in your hands, for you can see this battle from a perspective that I do not have. Lord, though I feel weak, I know that I am strong as I lean on your strength rather than my own.

You say, “But he has not answered.” He has, he is so near to you that his silence is the answer. His silence is big with terrific meaning that you cannot understand yet but presently you will. Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)

Source: https://tecartabible.com/share/2006/194/398
This is an excerpt from: The One Year Prayer, Praying through the Bible.

When Words Won’t Come

I would like to share this daily devotion from Tecarta Bible (https://tecartabible.com/share/2006/183/1031). Excerpt from Praying through the Bible.

When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have always tried to be faithful to you and do what is pleasing in your sight.” Then he broke down and wept bitterly. But before Isaiah had left the middle courtyard, this message came to him from the Lord: “Go back to Hezekiah, the leader of my people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal you, and three days from now you will get out of bed and go to the Temple of the Lord.’ ” 2 Kings 20:2-5

Have you ever been so upset about something that you couldn’t even find the words to pray? Hezekiah was. News of his impending death was more than he could handle. When he tried to talk to God about it, his emotions got the best of him. He was too choked up for the words to flow, so his tears gushed out instead. But look what happened: God heard. God saw. God responded.

Isn’t it great to know prayers don’t have to be pretty or polished to get God’s attention? Oftentimes we feel we must be articulate for our prayers to be powerful. But prayer is not an English assignment, and God doesn’t grade us on our vocabulary and grammar. God hears us even when our words are inaudible. Why? Because he sees beyond our words and into our very hearts. He knows our pain before our first tears fall. And what’s even more incredible is that his love compels him to respond.

Find comfort today in knowing that even when your tears drown out your words, God still hears. God still sees. God still responds.

GOD, sometimes I just can’t get my words to say what my heart feels. Thank you for reminding me that you hear me even when I can’t speak. Thank you for seeing beyond my words and for understanding how I feel even better than I do. Most of all, God, thank you for caring enough to respond when you know I’m hurting.

Prayer is a condition of mind, an attitude of heart, which God recognizes as prayer whether it manifests itself in quiet thinking, in sighing or in audible words. Ole Hallesby (1879–1961)

God’s Heart For You

Think of it…
You belong to a God who has no limitations.

He is able to do things for you,
be mighty in you, and bring blessings to you.
His provisions are endless,
His blessings are measureless,
and His generosity is boundless.

All that is in His heart (for you)
flows out in waves of love.
They are sent to touch you, to fill you, and to cover you.
You cannot contain them for they are
more than your mind can imagine,
more than your arms can embrace,
and more than your heart can hold.

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:24-25

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Source: Email DaySpring Devotion