Beyond hopelessness

The 17th Sunday after Pentecost

Lord All-Powerful, I am your servant, but I am so miserable! Please let me have a son. I will give him to you for as long as he lives, and his hair will never be cut. ~ 1 Samuel 1:11 (CEV)

We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn’t that what we’ve always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, “I set you up as father of many peoples”? Abraham was first named “father” and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. ~ Romans 4:17 (MSG)

KEY IDEA:

God often turns the hopeless situation into an example of power. So put your trust in him.

PRAYER:

Lord, our spiritual ancestors Abraham, Sarah, and Hannah all had to trust you for children. It appeared at first that nothing was going to happen. But because it was a part of your plan you turned hopeless situations into examples of your power. I wish I had that kind of faith to trust you. My faith is weak. Please make it stronger. I'm going to start by trusting that you will build up my faith. And then I am confident that you will be able to turn what is hopeless into a parade of hope. Thank you in advance for what you are going to do in my life. Amen.

Whether I live or die

If disaster falls on a city, is it the Lord who has done it? ~ Amos 3:6b (CEB)

If we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we belong to God. ~ Romans 14:8 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

No matter what happens we still belong to the Lord and are under his care.

PRAYER:

Soverign Lord, thank you for looking out for me. Help me to remember that you are always on duty -- regardless of what happens. I confess that I tend to get worked up over every little problem. I talk up the worries and feel offended at all the problems. But that is because I am not thinking about how you are involved -- no matter what happens. I am leaning on you -- trusting you so that whether I live or die I will be doing it for you. Amen.

Opportunists

Remember the long road on which the Lord your God led you during these forty years in the desert so he could humble you, testing you to find out what was in your heart... ~ Deuteronomy 8:2a CEB)

So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly. Take advantage of every opportunity because... ~ Ephesians 5:15-16a (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Even the hard times are opportunities to grow so the wise thing is to let the Lord lead you through them.

PRAYER:

Thank you, God, for faithfully leading me through the wild places of this life's journey. Forgive me for wasted time and unwise decisions. As I go forth into this day that you have made, keep my eyes trained on you. I may not know where I'm going, but you do. Grant me the carefulness that trusts you. Amen. (Daily Texts, Mount Carmel MInistries edition)

Parental

For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights. ~ Proverbs 3:12 (NLT)

We didn’t ask for special treatment from people -- not from you or from others -- although we could have thrown our weight around as Christ’s apostles. Instead, we were gentle with you like a nursing mother caring for her own children. We were glad to share not only God’s good news with you but also our very lives because we cared for you so much. ~ 1 Thessalonians 2:6-8 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God's way is to gently and firmly care for people -- as parents lovingly care for their children.

PRAYER:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being kind to us. Help me to receive your correction without resentment. Like a child, I often think I know more than I do. Help me to follow the lead of the apostles in imitating your kindness. I'm hoping that people will see your love through how I live. Amen.