FOOD FOR THE SOUL: JAN. 21, 2014 Todays Devotional (FROM UPPER ROOM): Our Daily Bread Testimony of John D. Bown (Minnesota, USA) In stressful times we easily worry, even though worrying does absolutely no good. Furthermore, the Bible has many passages that encourage us not to worry but instead to trust in God. (See Matt. 6:25, 37.) A phrase from the Lord’s Prayer recently helped me understand this better when we went through a stressful time as my father-in-law’s health failed. In those verses that Jesus taught us to pray, we state the words “Give us today our daily bread” (NIV). It occurred to me that the prayer does not say, “Give me adequate bread,” or “Never let me run out of bread.” The emphasis is on daily bread — enough for the day at hand, and that day only. The clear message is that we are to renew our relationship and our trust in God every day. While times of anxiety will continue to occur for all of us, excessive worry separates us from God by focusing our energy on the problem instead of focusing on God. The principle of daily bread is about seeking and trusting God anew every day. Thought for the Day: Like God’s mercies, our trust can be “new every morning.” Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”* Amen.” *Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV). Prayer Focus: Those consumed with stress and worry. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.— Lamentations 3:22-23 (NRSV) ---------------------------------- SCRIPTURAL REFERENCE: Matthew 6:7-15 6:7 When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. 6:8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 6:9 Pray then in this way:Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 6:10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 6:13 And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one. 6:14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 6:15 but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. -------- SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT ----------- Matthew 16:26, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?—Be a part in spreading the gospel of God. Share this devotional message to your Facebook Friends. Matthew 28:18-20, Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Posted on: Mon, 20 Jan 2014 23:49:21 +0000
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