Christianity

1 h

𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬

You can experience joy in the midst of difficulty because God is bigger than any challenge you face.

Philippians 1:12-18

While under house arrest, Paul could receive visitors but wasn’t allowed to travel. Despite living in a home, he was more than likely chained to a Roman soldier 24 hours a day. The apostle knew these were his living conditions for the foreseeable future—perhaps for the rest of his life.

Under such circumstances, Paul might have been tempted to pursue every possible channel and press for release. After all, God had called him to preach, to disciple believers, and to reach the Gentiles. But he was stuck in Rome, unable to plant new churches or visit those whom he was nurturing by letter. Surely, if anyone had a right to gripe, it was the apostle, who’d endured persecution, shipwreck, and beatings for the gospel. Yet the letter he wrote while imprisoned—to the church at Philippi—is filled with rejoicing. From Philippians 4:8, we see Paul knew that focusing on God is the way to live above one’s circumstances.

The more we talk and complain about a situation, the worse it looks, until the problem looms larger in our mind than our faith does. Conversely, carrying challenges straight to God keeps matters in perspective. The Lord is bigger than any hardship.

Problems can distort our perspective. God invites us to live above our circumstances by fastening our eyes upon Him.

~~Charles Stanley

https://www.intouch.org/read/d....aily-devotions/livin

1 h

- Heaviness in the heart maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad, Proverbs 12:25

The word "heaviness" is variously translated as "worry" or "grief" or "anxiety." There are many things which can bring heaviness to the heart, anxiety being probably the most common cause. We worry about so many things because we live in a world that is filled with valid and legitimate reasons to fear. Or grief weighs the heart down: the loss of a loved one, dashed hopes and dreams, or sadness in the heart that we can't even account for in terms of its origins.

"But a good word maketh it glad." Not a trite word, not a thoughtless word, not a word detached from a sympathetic heart. Not a false word or Hallmark-like sentiments that sound good but have no real substance. But a good word. It is good because it springs from love and concern and truth, from a person who knows how to rejoice with those who rejoice and also who knows how to weep with those who weep (Rom. 12:15). Our Lord himself knew how to speak a word to those who were weary (Isa. 50:4). To his disciples he said, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full" (Jn. 15:11).

This of course does not discount the fact that sometimes we need to be silent or we just need to listen. But eventually, we will need to speak into the lives of those who are hurting. When you do so, make sure it is a good word, and gladden the heart of your friend.

Above all, we all need the good word of the gospel spoken to us and spoken by us. There is no other balm that will minister grace like this to our heavy hearts. For "that was the grace, softer than oil, sweeter than roses, which flows from the Saviour's lips into the sinner's wounds; and being poured into the contrite heart, not only heals, but blesses it, yea, and marks it out for eternal blessedness. Oh! how sweet is the voice of pardon to a soul groaning under the burden of sin!" (Robert Leighton).

~~Baptist Bible Hour

https://baptistbiblehour.org/r....ead/devotionals/putt