Devotion:A Still Small Voice

A Still Small Voice

1Kings 19:11-12 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Elijah had run for his life from Jezebel into the wilderness where he asked God to take his life. He was tired and discouraged. God graciously provided food and water and allowed him rest. Then he traveled forty days until he came to a cave where he decided to stay for a while. The voice of God said to him, "What doest thou here, Elijah?" And he began to tell God about how zealous he had been for the Lord and how he was the only one left who was faithful to God. He exaggerated a bit. Later the Lord says in 1 Kings 19:8, "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him."

God told Elijah to come out on the mount and the Lord passed by. He wasn't in the wind. He wasn't in the earthquake. He wasn't in the fire. God came to him in the still small voice. I see some things here that we can learn from this.

1. When we are tired and discouraged, take time to get adequate nourishment, water and rest. God allowed Elijah to rest, gave him food and water.

2. Realize that you are not alone. When you are overwhelmed you may feel like you are the only one who feels like this. Elijah said he was the only one left who was zealous for God and they were seeking his life. It wasn't true.

3. Understand that God doesn't always work in dramatic ways. He often works in quiet ways behind the scenes and we must be still to hear him. God says, "Be still and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

It requires patience and trust on our parts to be still before God and wait for Him to work. Often His work is

done in still, small imperceptible ways. Can you wait for Him?

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"Truth to Hang Your Hat On" is a 64 page pocket-sized book full of scripture that will encourage you. In it, I have searched for and listed all the Bible verses I could find that tell us who God is, His character and His attributes. I have found much comfort in studying and meditating on these scriptures. The more you know who God is the better you come to trust Him and that is great comfort in trials. Also in this book I have included twenty Biblical purposes for suffering. This is great comfort as you see there is purpose in your trials. I have included scripture on prayer with some observations straight from God's Word. The pocket size is perfect for purse or briefcase, car glove box or overnight bag. It's the kind of book that if you only have a few minutes, you can take it out, read a scripture and meditate on it. It sells for $6.50 and you can see it at the web address below.

Books by Marsha
http://www.lulu.com/Marsha-Iddings

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Christian Memorials - uplifting tribute Web sites

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Devotion: Set-Backs are God's Opportunities

Remember that Set-Backs are God's Opportunities

Part 7 on Discouragement

by Marsha Iddings

 

Nehemiah 2:2-3 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, and said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?

 

Nehemiah was discouraged because he wanted to see the rebuilding of Jerusalem, yet it was not happening.  Instead it seemed to be falling into further ruin and disrepair.  The work was going backwards instead of forward.

 

Do you ever feel like this?  I know I have.  Sometimes it seems my efforts to keep the house and property up go in reverse as my time is limited and my physical reserves don't seem to go very far.  I find myself feeling discouraged with my efforts at home schooling when I look at other home school families and see all they are accomplishing compared to what we have done.  There are also the physical set-backs that slow us down from time to time.

 

God had a plan and He used Nehemiah to organize the people to rebuild the wall.  Once the wall was rebuilt they found the law of God and gathered all the people to hear it read and to give thanks to God. Nehemiah 9:3 says, "And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God."  What seemed like a big setback to Nehemiah turned out to be a big blessing as God helped him and the people to rebuild the wall and then renew their commitment to God through the reading of the law of God.

 

Remember that set-backs are opportunities for God to show His faithfulness and power in our lives.  Nehemiah  wanted to rebuild the wall, but God used this to bring a renewed commitment to Himself among his people.  Next time you have a set-back, look forward to how God will use this to show His faithfulness and power in your life.

 

Dear Father, It seems that difficulties are Your specialty.  You delight to show your power and faithfulness through the seemingly impossible situations of our lives.  Help us to not be discouraged, but to be expectantly waiting and watching for You to work.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

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Sufficient Grace Publishing --books by Marsha

http://www.lulu.com/Marsha-Iddings

 

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Devotion:Remember God is Good & Right

Remember God is Good and Right

Part 6 on Discouragement

by Marsha Iddings

Job 10:1, 3 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

When we think of the trials that Job had to endure, we can scarcely blame him for getting discouraged. But as we look at his complaint, we see a hint of reasoning that God is not fair in what He is allowing Job to go through.

I know I have felt like that at times and I suspect there are times when we perhaps have all felt that way to some degree, but just have not verbalized it. When we think that God is not being fair with us, we doubt his goodness and righteousness. The Bible says that God is good and righteous.

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Psalm 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Regardless of how the circumstance seems to us, to fight discouragement, we must trust that God is good and right. We may not understand it this side of heaven, but one day it will all be clear to us. 1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Dear Father, You are good and right in all that You do. Give us eyes to see this when difficult times come upon us. Help us to hang on to this truth that we might not become discouraged in our difficult times. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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Books by Marsha
http://www.lulu.com/Marsha-Iddings

My newest book is "Truth to Hang Your Hat On". It includes a large list of scripture verses detailing Who our God is. Also included is twenty purposes for suffering, poems and other encouragement to meditate on.

Christian Memorials - uplifting tribute Web sites

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This is a weekly devotional. Feel free to forward this to your friends.

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Devotional:Remember to Wait on the Lord's Timing

Remember to Wait on the Lord's Timing

Part 5 on Discouragement

by Marsha Iddings

 

1 Kings 19:2-4 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

 

We see Elijah running for his life into the wilderness.  There is no indication that God had told him to run.  Elijah was physically and emotionally exhausted and it seems he just made the decision based on how he felt.  He became so discouraged he asked God to just take his life.

 

When you find yourself discouraged, see if maybe you are just physically and emotionally exhausted for some reason.  What stresses are happening in your life that may be contributing to your burn-out?  Is there something you can do to ease the stress?  We find that God allowed Elijah to rest and then encouraged him to eat and drink some water.

1 Kings 19:5-6 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

 

It is important during times of stress and discouragement that we make sure we get adequate rest, nourishment and water.

 

It was fear and discouragement that sent Elijah running for his life to the wilderness.  We need to be sure that we are not making major decisions based on fear, doubt or discouragement.  It is important that we wait on the Lord's time.

 

Dear Father, We are fragile beings at best.  Help us to remember to wait first of all on Your timing and secondly, to make sure we are taking care of our bodies so that we can be at our best to combat discouragement when it comes out way.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

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Sufficient Grace Publishing --books by Marsha

"Finding Fulfillment in God When My Arms Were Empty" 

 "Home & Family Life Planner"

 "Sufficient Grace for Suffering Saints: 40 Day Devotional/Journal" 

 My storefront address is: http://www.lulu.com/Marsha-Iddings

 

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This is a weekly devotional. Feel free to forward this to your friends.

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Devotional:Remember God's Character and Attributes

Remember God's Character and Attributes

Part 4 on Discouragement

by Marsha Iddings

 

1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

 

David became discouraged because those he cared about rejected him, turned against him and talked of stoning him.  He talks about an experience like this in the Psalms.  "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." (Psalm 41:9)  Have you ever experienced misunderstanding or rejection from those you care about?  It's not a fun place to be and it can cause great discouragement.

 

The good news is that David didn't let that discouragement keep him down.  The Scripture says he encouraged himself in the Lord his God.  We see evidence of this all through the Psalms.  Psalm 42:5, 7-8 says, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life."  David focused on God's lovingkindness here and throughout the Psalms we see him focusing on the character of God in times of discouragement.

 

As you read your Bible make a list of the references that show God's attributes and character.  I have about three pages of them in my journal and find it a great encouragement to read through these when I am struggling with discouragement. I've learned that no matter how bad my circumstances are, God is still good because He does not change.

 

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

 

Encourage yourself in the Lord today.  Start that journal listing God's attributes and character so you will have it ready when you need it.

 

Dear Father, You sent Jesus to suffer the greatest misunderstanding and rejection there was as He died on the cross in our place for our sin.  Help us to never take that for granted and to remember this when we are misunderstood and rejected by those we care about.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

 

Sufficient Grace Publishing has two books released.

"Finding Fulfillment in God When My Arms Were Empty" and "Home & Family Life Planner".  Coming soon, "Sufficient Grace for Suffering Saints" and "Sufficient Grace for Home School Moms".

 My storefront address is: http://www.lulu.com/Marsha-Iddings

 

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This is a weekly devotional. Feel free to forward this to your friends.

If you would like to be added to the email list send an email to truthsetsfree@clarkston.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.

If you would like to be removed from the list send an email to truthsetsfree@clarkston.com with "remove" in the subject line.